No disrespect to Max (who actually helped get me into MUT Running and would clean my clock at ANYTHING fast under 50km), but he doesn't always podium in the SkyRunning style (or even longer 50 mile trail) races. Lake Sonoma, North Face 50, Pikes Peak, Speedgoat etc...he's usually not in contention for the win near the end. Going into Pikes Peak that year he came right off TransRockies... I think he wasn't adjusted/recovered from the altitude very well (i don't think anybody can be adjusted the altitude as well as Kilian) and we know Max isn't the best at climbing up the big hills (we should note that his descent down Pikes was actually faster than Kilian in the race though). Kudos for Max who can run a 8:30 3km steeple, a sub 14min 5km, a 2:14 marathon, win the world mountain running title at 12km, and STILL hold his own in against the mountain specialists even at 26.2 and above (he also races a ton all year long). A lot of people thought he'd totally crash and burn trying to run 100 miles at Western States...he faded a bit, but he still held on pretty darn well for a "speedy track guy" in his debut. I think that at least shows some serious range and versatility....more so than the pure mountain guys that don't touch the "flat/short" stuff. What we need in MUT Running is one race where all the top guys come together at a moderate distance on a moderate course on the same day for a head-to-head battle. The UROC 100km last year was the closest thing that has ever happened to that. Kiiian crushed me (I have no excuses), but he was far back from winning with Cam Clayton, Dakota Jones and Rob Krar all ahead.I'm thinking The North Face 50-miler in SF would be fair game for pretty much all MUT Runners....50 miles, still 10,000' of climbing. Fair distance, moderate terrain will some long climbs, not at altitude. Really levels the playing field. UTMB Champ Francois de Haene was won there before as well as Miguel Heras and Rob Krar. This race (in terms of US depth) usually brings out all the top guys. If a 2:08-2:10 marathoner ever made it out to this race though...well..look out!!
like wow... wrote:
And lets see some more guys who are running road races step up and run more technical terrain.
The problem is you idiots think you know for sure that marathoners would excel at 100 mile races better than the guys currently doing it. Maybe they would, but it is not a given, and you ultra haters are acting like it is.
At the 2012 Olympic marathon trials, Max King ran a 2:14.36. In 2012, guess who beat Max King by 10 minutes in the Pikes Peak Marathon? Kilian did. And I would bet Kilian doesn't do much speed work and I think Max does. So you stupid idiots who claim he has no speed don't know what the hell you are talking about. He has good marathon potential.
