Sandra Vi going for record across America

Yes indeed this is a FKT type record. These kind of records are a lot softer than a World record on a track or the World Record for Marathon. The competitiveness for the Marathon World Record is a LOT higher than for the fastest run across America.

The issue with the Trans America run is that it is very expensive and it takes a lot of time. The main reason why not more people have done it. If you look at the Sri Chinmoy 3100 mile race, there are some people who could do similar things.

I am not saying this to downplay Sandy Villines run. She has done incredibly well, considering the short amount of years she is doing ultramarathons. 56.3 miles per day (the current number) is a great achievement and probably can't be understood by ultrarunners who have not done something like this.

Markus wrote:

I am not saying this to downplay Sandy Villines run. She has done incredibly well, considering the short amount of years she is doing ultramarathons. 56.3 miles per day (the current number) is a great achievement and probably can't be understood by ultrarunners who have not done something like this.

Do you think when Pam Smith who has run 2:40 for marathon will easily beat the record Sandra will likely set on Saturday when Pam runs in 2018? Pam is taking the short course from LA to NYC.

Time: Miles ~Split Time +/- 3 minutes (Overall Pace in min/mile based on total miles run today)

02:01 AM: 00 Elapsed time since start: 51:20:00 (days:hours:minutes)

03:22 AM: 05 ~81 min (16:12)

04:34 AM: 10 ~72 min (15:18)

05:45 AM: 15 ~71 min (14:56)

06:01 AM: -- Start of Day 52 per elapsed time since start

06:52 AM: 20 ~67 min (14:33)

07:59 AM: 25 ~67 min (14:19)

09:07 AM: 30 ~68 min (14:12)

09:49 AM: ~33 Lunch Break Start

10:22 AM: -- Lunch Break End (33 minutes)

10:48 AM: 35 ~68 min (14:07)

12:01 PM: 40 ~73 min (14:10)

01:16 PM: 45 ~75 min (14:16)

02:32 PM: 50 ~76 min (14:22)

Next year 2018 wrote:

Markus wrote:

I am not saying this to downplay Sandy Villines run. She has done incredibly well, considering the short amount of years she is doing ultramarathons. 56.3 miles per day (the current number) is a great achievement and probably can't be understood by ultrarunners who have not done something like this.

Do you think when Pam Smith who has run 2:40 for marathon will easily beat the record Sandra will likely set on Saturday when Pam runs in 2018? Pam is taking the short course from LA to NYC.

I think you're referring to Pam Reed (who's been running ultras forever, and is a Badwater mainstay), as opposed to Pam Smith (who won Western States a few years ago) . . . Pam Reed is the one who has announced a LA to NYC transcon in early 2018...

I don't think Pam Reed has ever run a marathon in anything close to 2:40, but her marathon PR is undoubtedly faster than Sandy's. Personally, I think Sandy's effort will stand as the record for a long time . . . 56+ miles a day (in all types of conditions, to boot) is just remarkable.

And Markus, of course you're right that the more people who compete for a record (or anything, really), the harder it is to obtain. It's harder to make it into the NBA than it is to make an Olympic bobsled team. But that shouldn't take anything away from the people who train incessantly to make that bobsled team. Sandy can only compete against those who have attempted a transcon before her. Just like any other race . . . you can only race against those who line up to the start line as well.

And while far, far, far fewer women have tried to set the transcon record than win a major marathon, it's really comparing apples to astronauts. On one hand, Sandy has never even qualified for Boston. On the other, can you really imagine Shalene Flanagan or Kara Goucher finishing a transcon without breaking multiple bones, let alone averaging 56+ miles a day? They are COMPLETELY different endeavors, and not at all comparable.

Dave, I have to say I'm a little concerned by what you wrote above. It seems like the focus of this run is on getting the GWR, so shouldn't someone know the EXACT requirements? When you say you "haven't seen anything from Guinness", I don't know if you mean that someone else on the team is responsible for following the "letter of the law" or if the team undertook this event without knowing exactly what is required. I agree with you that it would be insane for Guinness to refuse the certification because of City Hall being closed, but for a few reasons I don't have a lot of confidence in their validation process. My point is simply that it would be a shame if Sandy had to add on a day or two because of the hours of operation. Can you confirm or deny that someone on the team knows for certain that Sandy's time will be official when she arrives at City Hall regardless of whether or not it is open? Thanks.

You can start and end wherever you like, that is the way I read the Guinness requirement that has been posted in this thread a few times. That being:

2. The attempt must start at New York City Hall and end at Los Angeles City Hall (or vice

versa). If two alternative cities are chosen, both cities must be coastal (i.e. San Diego to

Virginia Beach) and the route distance must be equal to or greater than New York City to

Los Angeles.

Intersting Note: Sandy is currently running along Sandy V(alley) road in PA.

So far today 2 wrote:

You can start and end wherever you like, that is the way I read the Guinness requirement that has been posted in this thread a few times. That being:

2. The attempt must start at New York City Hall and end at Los Angeles City Hall (or vice

versa). If two alternative cities are chosen, both cities must be coastal (i.e. San Diego to

Virginia Beach) and the route distance must be equal to or greater than New York City to

Los Angeles.

Yes, I've seen that, but surely someone from the team has spoken directly with a Guinness representative to clarify exactly what is required (steps/gate)?

Results wrote:

So far today 2 wrote:

You can start and end wherever you like, that is the way I read the Guinness requirement that has been posted in this thread a few times. That being:

2. The attempt must start at New York City Hall and end at Los Angeles City Hall (or vice

versa). If two alternative cities are chosen, both cities must be coastal (i.e. San Diego to

Virginia Beach) and the route distance must be equal to or greater than New York City to

Los Angeles.

Yes, I've seen that, but surely someone from the team has spoken directly with a Guinness representative to clarify exactly what is required (steps/gate)?

Well, if Guinness denies a record because they failed to update their requirements after NYC City Hall was gated--a "safety" response after the 9/11 Twin Towers attack--then the Guinness record is worthless. The NYC City Hall steps are no longer a place opened to the public to accommodate their "record."

Don't get Dr. Pam Smith, 2013 Western States Champion confused with Pam Reed, 2002 & 2003 Badwater Champion (overall) and race director of Tuscon Marathon.

http://www.pamreedultra.com/pr-project-going-the-extra-mile-feb-march-2018/

So far today 2 wrote:

You can start and end wherever you like, that is the way I read the Guinness requirement that has been posted in this thread a few times. That being:

2. The attempt must start at New York City Hall and end at Los Angeles City Hall (or vice

versa). If two alternative cities are chosen, both cities must be coastal (i.e. San Diego to

Virginia Beach) and the route distance must be equal to or greater than New York City to

Los Angeles.

You are required to submit the intended start location, the route you plan to take, and the finish location for approval prior to starting your attempt. Furthermore, if you change your intended route for any reason during your attempt, you have to document a valid reason for doing so (natural or manmade disaster, road closure etc.)

To validate what Zwitty said, City Hall implies the grounds. If a photo is submitted of the runner with NY City Hall in the background, that should be enough. Nevertheless, it is to be determined by an authoritarian organization so they have the final say in what they will accept or deny as evidence. They certainly aren't happy reviewing thousands of document for free so paying them for processing makes it a whole lot faster (and easier.)

5-MILE SPLITS

Day # 53, November 2nd

All times are Garmin Time in the Pacific Timezone.

Sandy is in the Eastern timezone.

Start Day & Time: September 11th, 6:01 AM

Time: Miles ~Split Time +/- 3 minutes (Overall Pace in min/mile based on total miles run today)

02:01 AM: 00 Elapsed time since start: 51:20:00 (days:hours:minutes)

03:22 AM: 05 ~81 min (16:12)

04:34 AM: 10 ~72 min (15:18)

05:45 AM: 15 ~71 min (14:56)

06:01 AM: -- Start of Day 52 per elapsed time since start

06:52 AM: 20 ~67 min (14:33)

07:59 AM: 25 ~67 min (14:19)

09:07 AM: 30 ~68 min (14:12)

09:49 AM: ~33 Lunch Break Start

10:22 AM: -- Lunch Break End (33 minutes)

10:48 AM: 35 ~68 min (14:07)

12:01 PM: 40 ~73 min (14:10)

01:16 PM: 45 ~75 min (14:16)

02:32 PM: 50 ~76 min (14:22)

03:42 PM: 55 ~70 min (14:20)

04:05 PM: ~57 (End of her day)

END OF DAY SUMMARY PER STRAVA

Miles 58.4

Elapsed Time (hr:min:sec): Pace

14:03:22 : 14:26 Includes breaks

13:30:22 : 13:53 Excludes breaks

OVERALL SUMMARY

Total Miles Completed: 2983.7 (Per Stava)

Miles /day: 56.3 (Based on Stava)

Ending Point, LAT/LON:

Sandy's miles since entering PA: 290.3 (Based on staying on Pete's Route)

Pete's PA+NJ/NY miles: 416.8 (Total Miles Completed + Miles to Go) **

Mileage Difference: 126.5

Transcon Facts wrote:

Furthermore, if you change your intended route for any reason during your attempt, you have to document a valid reason for doing so (natural or manmade disaster, road closure etc.)

Seems that a manmade problem that the building is now closed to the public that Guinness has not corrected.

Zwitty wrote:

And while far, far, far fewer women have tried to set the transcon record than win a major marathon, it's really comparing apples to astronauts. On one hand, Sandy has never even qualified for Boston. On the other, can you really imagine Shalene Flanagan or Kara Goucher finishing a transcon without breaking multiple bones, let alone averaging 56+ miles a day? They are COMPLETELY different endeavors, and not at all comparable.

I completely agree with this. Not ever runner would be able to conquer the physical, mental and weather aspects of a long transcon.

Pam Reed has here work cut out for her. She has run a lot of 100 milers, and 48 hour events. Her longest run appears to be 490 miles in 2009 (a 1-mile loop). 2800 miles is a different beast. I look forward to following along on her run which she has set to start in February.

So far today 2 wrote:

Transcon Facts wrote:

Furthermore, if you change your intended route for any reason during your attempt, you have to document a valid reason for doing so (natural or manmade disaster, road closure etc.)

Seems that a manmade problem that the building is now closed to the public that Guinness has not corrected.

Why do people keep repeating that there is any requirement to ascend the "steps"? Please cite where that is in any requirement, anywhere.

If there is any requirement, there is the minimum mileage (easily met) and the specification of route, which can be changed for road closures (e.g., finish at the locked gate to City hall because it is a closure).

As Zwitty noted, it is possible to access on the weekends... it's a permitting/permission thing with the police completely independent of City Hall operating hours. As long as they know reasonably far in advance what their arrival window will be they'll likely be able to get permission and this whole silly discussion will be a moot point.

But anyone still claiming she will have to wait until Monday is being a troll.

AquaDyne wrote:

So far today 2 wrote:

Seems that a manmade problem that the building is now closed to the public that Guinness has not corrected.

Why do people keep repeating that there is any requirement to ascend the "steps"? Please cite where that is in any requirement, anywhere.

....

But anyone still claiming she will have to wait until Monday is being a troll.

I claimed nothing about finishing on the "steps".

But by the same token, how was zwitty, or Sandi for that matter, so confident at the beginning of Sandi's run, that she was going to do this. There was nothing in her running resume, as well, that could have predicted her outcome on the Transcon. Probably most observers of the thread agreed with Markus' early view on Sandi's Transcon attempt. On top of needing to be capable and ready, there was the drama associated with her team prior to starting (with the change-out of the previous coordinator).

this is amazing, no? wrote:

But by the same token, how was zwitty, or Sandi for that matter, so confident at the beginning of Sandi's run, that she was going to do this. There was nothing in her running resume, as well, that could have predicted her outcome on the Transcon. Probably most observers of the thread agreed with Markus' early view on Sandi's Transcon attempt. On top of needing to be capable and ready, there was the drama associated with her team prior to starting (with the change-out of the previous coordinator).

Very easy. A transcon is a completely beast than whatever someone has on a running resume. Mimi proved that resume is not a foreteller. Sandy's ability to run a steady pace is evident in the 5-mile results; not just on a single day but week after week. Mimi was not able to manage that--her resume didn't help her.