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

So Pommeret came up and caught Miller at 142 km, Miller went into a deep hole, but kept on though guys passed him. Temps up into the low-90's. Tim Tollefson looked fresh and frisky at the finish in 3rd, his first 100-miler. Lithuanian Grinius in third. Dave Laney toughed it to 4th, coming up from 46th at the first checkpoint. Spaniard Javier in 5th. Miller still out on the course, looks like 6th, and probably in some serious pain. He really made this a race this year!

French woman leading the woman, with Boulet in 5th.

So Miller is in under 23 hours (winner was just over 22 hours). Nike team was 3rd, 4th and 6th, pretty impressive. Reminds me of USA depth in distances at Rio.

asdfasdfaaa wrote:

Loofa Dog wrote:

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!

As compared to runners who can run no further than a marathon who require people to hand them water, gels, etc, and wear hats, and have smart watches on while they run for less than 3 hours. Weak.

Finished according to to speed and talent. Miller is definitely the slowest of the Americans.

That's not a bad lineup for the US nike guys to place in that order.

Anyways, looks like a thunderstorm just hit the UTMB course for the mortals who are still running it! Weather is crazy.

Nfl wrote:

Finished according to to speed and talent. Miller is definitely the slowest of the Americans.

I think "finished according to talent and experience" is a little more accurate. Gutsy front-running by Zach and didn't drop when things went south (like so many do) = salute! And of course major props to both Tim and David as well - we're getting very close. We might finally see an American male take the title soon, very soon.

Zach is the modern day Pre!

Not that going from the front is always the best strategy, but ZM puts it on the line and goes for it every race. Sometimes you make it to the end in one piece and sometimes you don't.

Barr Trail........ wrote:

Zach is the modern day Pre!

Not that going from the front is always the best strategy, but ZM puts it on the line and goes for it every race. Sometimes you make it to the end in one piece and sometimes you don't.

I'd say he still made it to the end in one piece, all things considered, just not in first. Compared all the spectacular meltdowns in ultra racing history, he held it together quite well when things went bad, just a slower pace to the finish. Heck look at all the hot shots who dropped this year before even going over Col de Ferret!

I am only recently an ultrarunner, but I have followed it with some interest over the years. I watched this film this Winter, and thought it a little pretentious (the "inspiring" music seemed overblown). After their performance today, I bow to these guys...they are the Real Deal. In particular it gives insight as to Zach Miller's "balls-to-the-wall" racing approach:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUpRzyUrrlw

And congrats to Tim Tollefsen for third place finish in this race, his first 100! I know he was a contender but he ran a great race, under the radar, like Laney. Last year Laney had third and this year Tim has third. Laney fourth, awesome as well. I can tell they learn from each other and seem to be great teammates. Now let that be a sign for next year... US male to win... just take the slow approach and finish strong. Who will do it?? I know ultra runners start planning and training like a year out. Get it!

nike's team? never impressed by this corrupted company and its runners.

Good post-race interview with Miller:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSKIf3TzFyw

corrupted nike wrote:

nike's team? never impressed by this corrupted company and its runners.

Seems like some Nike employee(s) keeps posting over and over again reminding us it's a "Nike" group.