rojo wrote:
I enjoyed the book and talked at length with Nick about it on the podcast shown here:
I have two questions. One running related and one not.
Running related.
1) Nick has recently run ultras. In the book, he talks about how when his wife showed up at one of his ultra races, she remarked how the runners "look much more normal". They look more like soccer players than starving people.
The question I have is at the super elite level, do you think the very best marathoners would also dominate the ultra scene if they tried it? Would Eliud Kipchoge be the World 100k WR holder if he did in his prime? Would he also kill Jim Walmsley at Western States? I'm not convinced he would (but don't know anything about it) particularly since he's unproven on hilly courses but have always wondered this. I mean the best 1500 guy isn't always the best marathoner so why would the best marathoner be the best ultra guy.
Not running related.
2) What does Nick's mother think of his father and the book? I enjoyed the read but felt a bit bad so much of it was devoted to his father who seemed like a real ahole and whose actions destroyed the family unit. I mean Nick just casually mentioned his dad would file custody lawsuits on his mother's birthday or on mother's day. That he called in fake kidnapping hoaxes to the cops, etc. Had romantic partners who would kill their animals, etc. Were any of the kids ever mad at dad or were all of his actions just forgiven since he came out as gay?
Many others and myself have answered this question many times.
Top Marathoners will not dominated ultrarunning ever. They might do a few races successfully but even that will be the exception.