Alfredo wrote:
This is why Jim DNF'ed, imho. Going backward from his day at Western States to 8 days out:
WS 100: heart rate consistently in the 160s-170s. Threw down some seriously fast miles early on, as fast as 6:02. Essentially did intervals for 60 miles. With the heat, no wonder he crashed so spectacularly.
He paid lip service to tapering. He 'tapered' the last week with four mile runs on W/Th/F. He did Camelback mountain 4 days before on Monday (1.2 mi, 1300' climb) at 120 degrees. I was there when he was there. It was an oven.
5 days out he does an Echo/Cholla yo yo on Camelback at quite an insane pace in 117 degree heat. 3000 ' climbing in 4.5 mi. Averaged 162 bpm, heart rate got up into 180s. Quite stressful on system both with pace and heat.
6 days out does a 14 mile run in 115 degree heat at 6:17 pace. Heart rate got into 170s, averaged 156.
7 days out does a 'jog' up Squaw Peak (1.1 mi, 1200' climb) at 109 degrees at an insanely fast pace. 14 min to top, 25 min round trip. Earlier that day did a 9.5 mile loop in McDowells, 2000' climbing at 10 AM at quite an insane pace. 159 avg, got up into 180s.
8 days out, mile intervals on track in the heat. 14 miles total.
So his 'taper' involved virtually ALL anaerobic running, in extreme heat. So stressful on the body no matter your age. AND he was drinking beer and probably eating like shit. Not a smart taper IMHO.
Analysis of his daily training prior to those 8 days showed a LOT of anaerobic running. There was no aerobic base building period dating back to 2015. Lots and lots of interval training and racing with virtually no down time. Combine all that with his diet of eat whatever you want including lots of sugar and garbage. NOT surprising that he blew up. Honestly, I can't believe he went as long as he did. This could be another Geoff Roes in the making.