Although I hate to say it, I have to agree that Rojo's criticism is absolutely valid, especially as ""both said they felt they could have continued to run. “I think it would have been easy to do 102 yards, 103, 104…” said Steyaert." On an easier course, and with AlphaFlys and pacers, perhaps they could have continued for 200 yards. Canadian Trail Running explains that "While out on yard 101, they decided that with all the distressing things happening in the world right now, they wanted to end this event with positivity." Fair enough, but I agree that it doesn't make sense to change the rules - Laz Lake is going soft, or perhaps he was just getting tired himself. In my mind, the silly event isn't about winning or losing, it is about people pushing themselves to their absolute limits, and that did not happen in this instance because they both decided to quit. Quitting is ok, and the accomplishment of the two of them - one 52 years old - is absolutely inspirational. There is no shame in a DNF, and I think it would actually have been a better story if Laz is characteristic fashion followed his rules and DNFed both of them.
I see no official word that they were both declared the winner. The Running Mag article says Laz said it was a valid decision for both to stop but no mention of them both being winners. The official results workbook show RTC (refuse to continue) next to both of their names on the Last Drop tab. Also the leaderboard tab does not have either one in yellow which designated the winner for each country. I'm not so sure Las said both win, but rather both had amazing performances which could not have been accomplished without the other.
Honestly Lazarus Lake has always struck me as a light sociopath/masochist so I don’t mind this. Doesn’t he also do that VERY realistic haunted house that requires a release form?
Yiannis Kouros ran over 600 miles in 6 data several times. I'm not sure on the specifics of the backyard course in Belgium, but I think a week should be feasible in a backyard ultra if the course is relatively easy. Kouros talked about how 1000 miles in 10 days was achievable. Yes, a multiday race gives some more opportunity for rest, but Kouros and others in many of the multiday races almost never rest. At across the years last year, one of the silly kids, John Geesler at 62, managed to run at least a mile every single hour for 10 days straight.
Yiannis Kouros ran over 600 miles in 6 data several times. I'm not sure on the specifics of the backyard course in Belgium, but I think a week should be feasible in a backyard ultra if the course is relatively easy. Kouros talked about how 1000 miles in 10 days was achievable. Yes, a multiday race gives some more opportunity for rest, but Kouros and others in many of the multiday races almost never rest. At across the years last year, one of the silly kids, John Geesler at 62, managed to run at least a mile every single hour for 10 days straight.
Almost never means they rest... The difference between get 30-45 mins of rest and zero is huge...
Yiannis Kouros ran over 600 miles in 6 data several times. I'm not sure on the specifics of the backyard course in Belgium, but I think a week should be feasible in a backyard ultra if the course is relatively easy. Kouros talked about how 1000 miles in 10 days was achievable. Yes, a multiday race gives some more opportunity for rest, but Kouros and others in many of the multiday races almost never rest. At across the years last year, one of the silly kids, John Geesler at 62, managed to run at least a mile every single hour for 10 days straight.
Almost never means they rest... The difference between get 30-45 mins of rest and zero is huge...
Precisely. The rest constraints in the backyard make all the difference. Being able to nap for 30-60 minutes at a time, exactly when your body needs it, is absolutely essential in a 6 day performance. The backyard basically guarantees no more than 10 minutes sleep at a time, and it must come at pre-specified points.
At least our ancestors ran to get places. Running for 101 hours and 400+ miles just to wind up in the same place you started is the very definition of stupidity.
Although I hate to say it, I have to agree that Rojo's criticism is absolutely valid, especially as ""both said they felt they could have continued to run. “I think it would have been easy to do 102 yards, 103, 104…” said Steyaert." On an easier course, and with AlphaFlys and pacers, perhaps they could have continued for 200 yards. Canadian Trail Running explains that "While out on yard 101, they decided that with all the distressing things happening in the world right now, they wanted to end this event with positivity." Fair enough, but I agree that it doesn't make sense to change the rules - Laz Lake is going soft, or perhaps he was just getting tired himself. In my mind, the silly event isn't about winning or losing, it is about people pushing themselves to their absolute limits, and that did not happen in this instance because they both decided to quit. Quitting is ok, and the accomplishment of the two of them - one 52 years old - is absolutely inspirational. There is no shame in a DNF, and I think it would actually have been a better story if Laz is characteristic fashion followed his rules and DNFed both of them.
The primary objectives of this event were to award the 2022 World Backyard Ultramarathon Team champion and the individual champion. Every runners’ completed laps counted toward the their teams’ total. The Belgian runners’ laps counted and were the primary reason Belgium got second. The grey area here is what does the term “DNF” mean when it comes to the individual outcome. If DNF means they are not eligible for individual awards, then the Japanese runner, Daiki, should be awarded the individual award. However, he only completed 86 laps. The two Belgians ran 15 hours and 60+ miles more than he did! I find it strange that they would be disqualified just because they quit later than he did. The outcome of this particular event pushes not only human endurance further than it has ever gone before but should also push Laz to author new rules that clarify and prevent this grey area from being contentious in the future. Maybe a tie-breaker for the eventuality that the last two runners decide to quit on the same lap happens again suchj as total aggregate moving time or just the fastest previous lap time would suffice. Criticism of Laz for the unanticipated outcome is unwarranted in my mind. Aren’t all events/competitions subject to the same stresses and strains of progress and what the creators/organizers do to respond to these unanticipated outcomes should be the real judgement tripwire.
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