David Laney and Zach Miller are in the same 100 mile race tomorrow - Ultra Trail du Mount Blanc

Miller was 2:22 up on the field at 31k. By 39k, he was 7:59 up on the field. So in that stretch he was going 42 seconds faster per k over that stretch (68s faster per mile!)

Agreed, this will be fun to watch!

Callow youth or new superstar? Time will tell...

sleeeper wrote:

Miller was 2:22 up on the field at 31k. By 39k, he was 7:59 up on the field. So in that stretch he was going 42 seconds faster per k over that stretch (68s faster per mile!)

Agreed, this will be fun to watch!

Trail Tripper wrote:

Shades of that knucklehead who went bombing out in WS100. Get out the popcorn *munch munch*.

theweekend wrote:

The rationalist in me agrees.

But the race fan in me likes to see the spectacle. He's definitely an exciting guy to watch at these events.

I know, I'm excited. I want Zach to set a CR on his debut but like Walmsley, he might succumb to 30 min miles in the last 5 hours, rofl

What does Miller need to do to get a BLACK PAGE!!!!! on Letsrun? or any ultra-runner for that matter...

Shlarb dropped? Makes sense, wasn't Hardrock like a month ago? You can't win, let alone even race two mountain 100's that close together.

The one thing in his back pocket is his CCC win last year, which is on the back half of the course, so he knows how to run that.

blojupdoll wrote:

I know, I'm excited. I want Zach to set a CR on his debut but like Walmsley, he might succumb to 30 min miles in the last 5 hours, rofl

I just started noticing the ultrarunners have been wearing their smartphones on their wrists in the same type of case that goes on the back of the arm. I guess it makes sense if you are out there for 24 hours or so to have your phone handy for photos or music?

Trail Tripper wrote:

The one thing in his back pocket is his CCC win last year, which is on the back half of the course, so he knows how to run that.

blojupdoll wrote:

I know, I'm excited. I want Zach to set a CR on his debut but like Walmsley, he might succumb to 30 min miles in the last 5 hours, rofl

I believe he does know how to run the land. He also seems to be able to scarf down loads of food when he's hungry but the distance of 100+ miles compared to 60+ miles is so much more on the body.

Right now he's ~7 minutes ahead of the lead pack and about 7 minutes behind that pack is another, with Laney in like 5th. And they're about what 30 miles in? This is a great race as it's hitting night. I think Miller is going to push the pace while Laney will let some people pass him but then in the morning Zach will fade and Laney will catch him then they'll run together the last half of the race. I'm not sure how the race will play out until we see them tomorrow.

nightwatch wrote:

I just started noticing the ultrarunners have been wearing their smartphones on their wrists in the same type of case that goes on the back of the arm. I guess it makes sense if you are out there for 24 hours or so to have your phone handy for photos or music?

At UTMB runners are required to carry a phone now, plus a bunch of other gear too. Very different then in the USA.

Loofa Dog wrote:

nightwatch wrote:

I just started noticing the ultrarunners have been wearing their smartphones on their wrists in the same type of case that goes on the back of the arm. I guess it makes sense if you are out there for 24 hours or so to have your phone handy for photos or music?

At UTMB runners are required to carry a phone now, plus a bunch of other gear too. Very different then in the USA.

Yes, they carry all this stuff because they are hiking not running!

The gear list is pretty exhaustive but it does look like the leaders are travelling with light packs. Hope Miller can hold on.

I did UTMB in 2013 = fantastic event. From a purely competitive point of view not my best race ever, but absolutely the experience of a lifetime. Imagine being in the Tour de France with fans lining the streets cheering you on. Surreal.

30 miles is generally too soon to start predicting the podium - the course gets decidedly more rugged on the backside. And as those who've done a 100 before know, the 100K mark is the rough equivalent to the 20M mark of a marathon = that's when the action begins. For strong downhillers the Col de Ferret>La Fouly segment is a common breakpoint, for strong climbers it's the La Fouly>Champex Lac segment. Good luck to Zack and David, and the rest of the 2500 out there.

16 FREAKING MINUTES ahead at 79K. Don't forget Zach crushed JFK on his first attempt. He has also been winning races all over the world when he is well rested. Would like to know how many hours he has been running on his training runs where he said he occasionally bonks.

Yum.....donuts.... wrote:

16 FREAKING MINUTES ahead at 79K. Don't forget Zach crushed JFK on his first attempt. He has also been winning races all over the world when he is well rested. Would like to know how many hours he has been running on his training runs where he said he occasionally bonks.

Awesome - totally rooting for Zach and hope he holds up. But 79km isn't even halfway and 16 minutes is nothing in a 100 - you can lose all that a single aid station (re: GI, dehydration, etc... type issues), so for now I'm going to stay in the cautiously optimistic camp.

If he's able to build on that and is pulling away by Champex then the American male jinx may finally be over (ala Centro!). That would be awesome.

Kid is certainly going for it. When did he grab the lead?

Almost 2 miles ahead of 2nd place at 92K.

12 minute miles...... wrote:

Almost 2 miles ahead of 2nd place at 92K.

Cool, that sounds like approaching the Col de Ferret climb (highpoint and the Italian/Swiss border) to me. 8 miles from the pass down to la Fouly, then the climb up to Champex. If he can get there still strong then it's probably his!

CdF wrote:

12 minute miles...... wrote:

Almost 2 miles ahead of 2nd place at 92K.

Cool, that sounds like approaching the Col de Ferret climb (highpoint and the Italian/Swiss border) to me. 8 miles from the pass down to la Fouly, then the climb up to Champex. If he can get there still strong then it's probably his!

Yep, just checked the live tweets and Miller has just topped out on CdF, and was 23 min up on Chorier at the bottom of the climb. Chorier is gritty and consistent, but lacks top end speed. If Miller holds it together Chorier probably can't reel him in, but if Miller cracks...

Go Zach!

I'm starting to BELIEVE in ZACH MILLER! Look at this guy...just BEASTING it out there!

https://twitter.com/iRunFar/status/769398413419024384