Western States Live

Have you watched the livestream of the first 2 aid stations? Of all the races to call a "hiking contest", WS is not the one

I believe pacing strategy does in fact exist both in concept and in practice

What's the official reason Jim is out this year?

Duncan Canyon - gap to Jim's time last year has shrunk again. Still 4 mins ahead of it for the leaders, so still speeding along.

Jeff Mogavero and Rod Farvard comes flying in and out 1st and 2nd in the aid station.

Top 10 still within 90s.

Mogavero and Farvard out front with a small (30s) lead. Roche and Kilian in the group 30s back.

Tendonitis in his knee. Got PRP injection a few weeks back and is on the mend.

Aid station execution was insane. New vest, water, ice, food and gone in 20 seconds

Still 14 within 95s! Yeesh.

That's every YouTube Livestream for some reason. It brings the lowest of the low. Lots of Truett Hanes fanboys in the chat and he's not even running this race

I would assume the more educated about the sport don't follow the chat but rather have it steaming on the TV or phone full screen.

It's what I do anyway

Lead group of 3 in the women's at Duncan Canyon. Martyna M joining Abby Hall and Ida Nilsson up front. 4th place 3 mins back.

Things are going to get interesting in the canyons.

Even with the logistical challenges of covering a 100 mile race, this livestream is better than many of the marathon majors. They've got a split screen, some drone coverage. They're featuring different groups in the race, and not exclusively focusing on the leaders. It's really impressive.

Even more so when there's so little cell signal on so much of the course. They get better every year.

It was really interesting listening to Walmsley's perspective. This coverage has been great...

I'm rooting for Roche. He and Megan have most of the Strava records for the trails behind my house; so fast.

Roche looks like he's about 15 miles away from "rolling his ankle". I really don't think his ego can handle him not being in the top 5 for very long.

Robinson flat (30.3 miles) - still a big group up front but trimmed slightly, top 10 within 100s. Time for some downhill.

Aid stations looking like the most stressful place to be today.

Most of this course is basically a dirt road in terms of technicality, if Roche drops it's due to having a fragile ego not weak ankles. Besides if Roche has such weak ankles, hire a PT to tape them up for races.