Can Kilian Jornet break the WR for the marathon?

The Waterboy wrote:

It's an entirely accurate statement. If any of us had the speed to run under 10 seconds in the 100m we would do that instead, no matter how much we love cross country or long distance running and the spirit of the marathon etc. If you had the ability to be world class in something you would go do that even if it isn't "your passion." There are no 400m runners who are capable of the WR 100m but their "passion" is 400m; they are 400m runners because that is what they are good at. If they could be world class 100m runners then they would but they can't so they aren't. Same thing goes with Jornet.

Um, Jornet is world class, at ultras.

And nobody picks between being a world class sprinter and a world class marathoner. What kind of argument is that?

Right, just like Usain Bolt runs the 400m rather than the 100m, because his coach realized early in his career that he was better suited to the 400m, even though his passion was for the shorter sprints.

Wow, I guess I'm just glad there are no prominent exceptions to your logic, because I agree with you, and I wouldn't want anyone trying to bring forth something which might invalidate my opinion (which I obviously share with you).

The title of this thread was good for a laugh.

8/10 because nobody has called out the OP yet.

The Waterboy wrote:

If any of us had the speed to run under 10 seconds in the 100m we would do that instead, no matter how much we love cross country or long distance running

That is total nonsense.

There is no way in He2L that I'd want to be a 100m sprinter.

Maybe she thinks its fine wrote:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/24/magazine/creating-the-all-terrain-human.html?pagewanted=1&_r=0&smid=tw-share

He is also fast

"Aunque podemos definir a Kilian como un corredor de fondo o larga distancia, es capaz de hacer 1km llano, en 2'45'' (como veis, para ser un corredor que trabaja la larga distancia, tiene una calidad de ritmo muy alta)."

http://www.corredordemontana.com/ultimo-articulo-firma-invitada/727-kilian-jornet-iun-ser-sobrenatural.html

bulllll wrote:

BS this kid can't run 2:45 k reps I'm sorry if he was able to do that he would have won Sierre Zinal and broke 2:30 easily on that course. Complete lie

It doesn't say 2:45 k reps. It says he's able to make a flat mile at 2:45 k, which is 4:25 for a mile.

Sweet'n'Sour wrote:

Right, just like Usain Bolt runs the 400m rather than the 100m, because his coach realized early in his career that he was better suited to the 400m, even though his passion was for the shorter sprints.

Wow, I guess I'm just glad there are no prominent exceptions to your logic, because I agree with you, and I wouldn't want anyone trying to bring forth something which might invalidate my opinion (which I obviously share with you).

Show me where Bolt's coach said early on in his career that he is better suited for the 400m. There's stuff with his coach saying that he might break the WR NOW at the 400m and should move up later in his career (since he won't be as fast at 100m as he ages), but show me as you say, years ago where Usain Bolt's coach said that he would be a better 400m runner instead of 100m. Until then I'm calling B.S. on your claim.

And as for J.R., so you're saying there's no way in Hell you'd want to be a sprinter.

So you're telling me, if you had the talent/ability to win the Gold Medal at Rio in 100m and set the World Record, you wouldn't do it because you don't like sprinting? No one goes to the Olympics and enters an event that they don't have the greatest chance to medal at just because they like it better.

So calling B.S. on your claim as well

Sludgy wrote:

Oh, by the way, I could run a 3:20 mile but, you know, I don't like running on tracks and can't be bothered with showing off just to garner accolades.

+1 for this comment

Has he squared off against Max King? I would think Max would kill him in a flat race, hang with him on shorter Mt stuff, and cede to him the 100 milers.

"I'd be amazed if he did 2:30, but we'll probably never find out because these fringers are too smart to show up at a standard race and risk revelation of their true talent."

So true. How about Matt Carpenter? Another VO2 max show off. He cannot even be considered local talent in a real race. Those who can't go long or add 2 more events.

Taco Truck wrote:

"I'd be amazed if he did 2:30, but we'll probably never find out because these fringers are too smart to show up at a standard race and risk revelation of their true talent."

So true. How about Matt Carpenter? Another VO2 max show off. He cannot even be considered local talent in a real race. Those who can't go long or add 2 more events.

i hope this is sarcasm. matt started as a solid road runner and can still move pretty darn well on the flats despite being 48

Taco Truck wrote:

"I'd be amazed if he did 2:30, but we'll probably never find out because these fringers are too smart to show up at a standard race and risk revelation of their true talent."

So true. How about Matt Carpenter? Another VO2 max show off. He cannot even be considered local talent in a real race. Those who can't go long or add 2 more events.

Really? Maybe you should make the trip to Manitou Springs this August during Pikes Peak weekend and see if you can match up with the "local talent".

Well, the fact is that Matt was never a solid runner, did he even break five minutes in high school? Show us documented times in legitimate races.

Carpenter should show us how good he is by running Peachtree or Bolder Boulder or showing us posted times from any legit race. Did he ever go sub 33?

Forfeit wrote:

Carpenter should show us how good he is by running Peachtree or Bolder Boulder or showing us posted times from any legit race. Did he ever go sub 33?

He's 48 years old and a mountain racer. He's not known for his flatland races....but rather for his absolute dominance in the mountains. I guess you don't believe those races are "legit". I don't believe he has anything more to prove.

1.06+ half marathon, 2.19+ marathon and an Olympic Trials qualifier. So yes, he's gone sub 33. I'm pretty sure he's broken 5 minutes for the mile as well:)

That's right, and that's what I said.

That's right, because it would mean nothing to me.

But more important than that it would destroy the life that I have, which is the life that I WANT TO HAVE. If I wanted the life of a sprinter then I would do that, but I choose to not do that because I like to do something much better with my life!

I think for any person the same thing is true. Some people want to be sprinters BECAUSE that is what they choose for their lifestyles.

To me, that is a very lazy lifestyle, which is OKAY if that's what a person wants to do. But for me it is not, because I like to be healthy and active, able to move around and do a lot of things ALL MY LIFE. You have some wrong conception that because someone can not even run 10 seconds that it is some kind of ideal, but to me it is NOTHING, and is the opposite of being something important.

This statement makes no sense. Of course if I went to any competition I would do the event that I WANTED TO DO, nothing else. It would be stupid to do some event that I had no interest to do.

High Wire wrote:

Has he squared off against Max King? I would think Max would kill him in a flat race, hang with him on shorter Mt stuff, and cede to him the 100 milers.

He beat max king by 9 min at speedgoat 50k and by 10 min at the pikes peak marathon. Both last summer. I guess you never know about doping, but from what I understand he's been doing all day hikes in the Pyrenees since he was a toddler. Ultra style mountain racing is all he knows. On steep technical ascents and descents he's in a class of his own. Also a very good runner, but nothing amazing on flat land. That most dominating endurance athlete comment in that article was an eye roller, but he's genuinely exceptionally good at what he does.

Of all the runners in the world, the last one the LR community should be picking on is Jornet. I know him well, we spend time together whenever he is in the US. He is the most humble runner on the planet, He's literally slowed down during races because he has wanted to run sections of trail with others in order to share the experience with someone. He's cut his race schedule massively down because he's accomplished all the race goals he had set for himself and now chooses to focus on FKT up mountains including Everest. Could he break the world record at the marathon? No. But to say he doesn't show up to a world class marathon for fear of ruining his stature in the ultra world is comical and ignorant. He's never even set foot on a track, it doesn't appeal to him. I guarentee there's not a single runner on here that, given time to train, could ever compete with him in a race he decided to win in the mountains.

Mountain running and really hilly ultras are both just Vo2Max competitions.

http://www.runnersworld.com/health/energy-stored-your-legs

Running economy is a much smaller factor as the steepness of a climb increases.

Do you really think that Jodee Adams-Moore would have the slightest chance of beating Alicia Shay on the roads or track?

http://www.ultrarunning.com/ultra/features/news/records-fall-at-chuckanut.shtml