Will Jim Walmsley break 14 hours at Western States?!?!

Ultradude wrote:

I am revising my prediction based on the temperature forecast of 104F for Saturday in Sacramento. I'm now predicting he won't break 15hrs.

snow + heat indicate a 14:30+ finish.

Bring Walmsey to Mt. Washington RR and see what happens.

Coconino wrote:

He definitely will crack 14, his strava has been unbelievable this year. 20+ mile runs every day with sometimes 5000 vertical. Not to mention at altitude.

Hes pretty much destroyed every course record he said he would

and Rob Krar? come on! Walmsley ENDED his R2R AND R2R2R FKT, I mean he freaking buried it.

Coconino...hmmm I see you, Jim and/or his crew lol.

That being said, I think he'll pull a Kipchoge and do 14:00:25 ;)

Carrot Top wrote:

There was concern about snow on the course later than usual this year. Does anyone know if that is still a problem?

THE LAST 6 WEEKS HAVE BEEN HOT, SO NO SNOW:

I predict a DNF. Goes out too fast, gets too hot, explodes.

Ultra Man wrote:

Well what if he has a legit pacer that he won't drop? He could be running totally out of his mind and only have to focus on that pacer who will know where to go and not bonk.

This is the oldest stunt in Western States coverage history. Every year, without fail, irunfar throws a tweet in regarding a pacer being dropped. Just like Walmsley "dropped" his pacer so did Krupicka, Roes, Jornet, Olsen, etc.

it's been over 100 degrees in that area lately.....keep that in mind before you start getting excited about recordshe got crushed at the river crossing last year and wasn't close to the time he started at, so speculation should be done very carefully very carefullythat being said, he's in amazing shape

Ultra Man wrote:

He blew everyone away last year but made a wrong turn near the end and lost it all. His training this year, based on his Strava, is incredible. He's said that a sub 14 hour WS is possible, and if there's anyone that can do it right now, it's probably him. Will there even be anyone near him? Some tried following last year but blew up (Sage). Will Jim's injection of speed into the trail-ultra world bring more post-collegians to the sport? Will he break 14 hours or will it break him?

His training has been incredible. I think Jim is very capable of sub-14 based on ability. Maybe not this year however. He either wins by an hour+, or DNFs.

If I was a betting man - I'd actually put my money on someone like Brian Rusiecki, or maybe Alex Nichols - only because the odds makers would put them as long shots compared to Walmsley. And I don't think he's as a sure thing as one might believe.

I live next to the course, it has been over 100 degrees here for the past three days and it will continue the next two to three days, this will be a factor for sure. It is 5:20 right now and still 103 out there. Temperatures in the canyons will be severe, good luck to all the runners.

He won't break 14. He flops in big races and under pressure. Definitely not a lock to win.

I say he wins easily but 14 is tough with the heat. He definitely sounds like he wants to go all out from the gun and with no-one there to push him I'd say he breaks the CR in 14:30 or so. On another note, how fast will Mocko go? I say sub 15:45

I don't think he will go sub 14 this year, it's just going to be too warm, even if the temperatures don't go above 100, it's still going to be in the 90's, especially in the canyons. If he doesn't blow up, I think 14:30 is possible.

I think Elov Olsson is going to put up a good fight, he's actually run a sub 14 hour 100 miler (albeit flat), but he's going to be one to watch.

Mocko can definitely go sub 16, I think.

broken arrow wrote:

I live next to the course, it has been over 100 degrees here for the past three days and it will continue the next two to three days, this will be a factor for sure. It is 5:20 right now and still 103 out there. Temperatures in the canyons will be severe, good luck to all the runners.

In that weather, a sub 15 sounds like rock star status.

I just don't get it. I find him highly unlikable. He got a DUI while he was in the Air Force, couldn't cut it so he got kicked out. He pouts and whines. And I think the thing I hate the most about him is all the dumb clothing he wears in order to look "cool" or different. It's so irritating. Dude, just put on some shorts and a singlet and do work.

He's no Jim King, but he's got a shot at it...

Moby Dick wrote:

I just don't get it. I find him highly unlikable. He got a DUI while he was in the Air Force, couldn't cut it so he got kicked out. He pouts and whines. And I think the thing I hate the most about him is all the dumb clothing he wears in order to look "cool" or different. It's so irritating. Dude, just put on some shorts and a singlet and do work.

Getting irritated for stupid reasons must be fatiguing after awhile.

Oldest Trick wrote:

Ultra Man wrote:

Well what if he has a legit pacer that he won't drop? He could be running totally out of his mind and only have to focus on that pacer who will know where to go and not bonk.

This is the oldest stunt in Western States coverage history. Every year, without fail, irunfar throws a tweet in regarding a pacer being dropped. Just like Walmsley "dropped" his pacer so did Krupicka, Roes, Jornet, Olsen, etc.

I wouldn't call it Jim "dropping" his pacer last year; my understanding is that his pacer had stomach issues and couldn't go on.

Moby Dick wrote:

I just don't get it. I find him highly unlikable. He got a DUI while he was in the Air Force, couldn't cut it so he got kicked out. He pouts and whines. And I think the thing I hate the most about him is all the dumb clothing he wears in order to look "cool" or different. It's so irritating. Dude, just put on some shorts and a singlet and do work.

Moby Dick or should I just say Dick...?

Moby Dick wrote:

I just don't get it. I find him highly unlikable. He got a DUI while he was in the Air Force, couldn't cut it so he got kicked out. He pouts and whines. And I think the thing I hate the most about him is all the dumb clothing he wears in order to look "cool" or different. It's so irritating. Dude, just put on some shorts and a singlet and do work.

Really? I actually like him a lot. He's a pretty good interview (doesn't give copy-and-pasted answers like every other runner), he's honest, and he handled himself very well after the WS100 last year, giving the guy who won full credit.

The DUI wasn't a real DUI - just bad luck having a cop knocking on his window while trying to sleep off a buzz.

leaup45 wrote:

Moby Dick wrote:

I just don't get it. I find him highly unlikable. He got a DUI while he was in the Air Force, couldn't cut it so he got kicked out. He pouts and whines. And I think the thing I hate the most about him is all the dumb clothing he wears in order to look "cool" or different. It's so irritating. Dude, just put on some shorts and a singlet and do work.

Really? I actually like him a lot. He's a pretty good interview (doesn't give copy-and-pasted answers like every other runner), he's honest, and he handled himself very well after the WS100 last year, giving the guy who won full credit.

The DUI wasn't a real DUI - just bad luck having a cop knocking on his window while trying to sleep off a buzz.

If i understand the story correctly, he had a few, drove back into town, got sleepy, and THEN pulled over to sleep it off. he still blew over the legal limit after sleeping some off. so sure sounds like he still drove around drunk, and more drunk then he eventually blew. He also got tossed from the navy due to the cheating scandal, but sounds like he would have been tossed on the DUI as well.