Which American will finish faster? Walmsley or Mr. Leadville/Pikes Peak Wardian. So many side stories. I really hope Zach finishes on the podium!
Which American will finish faster? Walmsley or Mr. Leadville/Pikes Peak Wardian. So many side stories. I really hope Zach finishes on the podium!
Should be an exciting race. Too bad, Jim Mackay and the The Wide World of Sports isn't still around to cover it. The thrill of victory and the agony of the feet after 100 grueling mountain miles. I'd like Magda to do well.
MAGA
Jake92 wrote:
Which American will finish faster? Walmsley or Mr. Leadville/Pikes Peak Wardian.
Wardian will be in Hawaii (Kauai marathon) this weekend.
def sub 1:08 wrote:
I am pretty intrigued to see how Mocko and Hayden Hawks evolve the next few years coming from road/track background...
Both on the burnout road because of overtraining / over racing imho.
Hawks took a break and will be in CCC this weekend in Chamonix, let's see if he can pull a brilliant performance.
I've read he doesn't run all out more like a tempo pace, however..I just can't fathom how he does what he does, year after year. Just toeing the line and completing these races, all the travel, it's unreal. Western, HardRock, and Leadville in one summer? Not even factoring the marathons, and other various races he does lol
I think unfortunately the ultra world has sorta given up on Walmsley after he was wasted in an interview prior to WS100 and then DNF'd. Anyhow here is proof, if you notice he isn't even featured in this video as being a runner, because people don't care anymore he better be top 3 or else he better drop back to the Thon (That's where he should be anyhow.)
Dropping BACK to the thon? More like couldn't earn a penny in the thon and dropped back to ultras
Let's not be dramatic re: Walmsley. He is still the most promising American ultrarunner, and a reality already at the 50 mile and under ultras. Nobody has given up in him, but part if the hype around him has crumbled. Now he has a chance to show he's learned from past mistakes and consolidate his position in the ultra world, where there's a noticeable 100 mile bias. He doesn't need to win UTMB to achive that, just run a smart and strong race.
BTW, does anybody here know about Dave Laney's recent training? He doesn't upload most of his runs to Strava, and I've heard he's been in France training for a while already. Add the fact he didn't race Western this year, it could be his strongest year at UTMB. Very underrated runner.
TupperWare wrote:
I think unfortunately the ultra world has sorta given up on Walmsley
The ultra world consists of many people, like me, who have great respect for Jim Walmsley and the things that he's doing.
TupperWare wrote:
he isn't even featured in this video as being a runner
Irunfar didn't have him in the video, maybe because:
they didn't want him in the video (?);
he didn't want to be in the video (more likely);
they were only interviewing past high placers in the race;
they were not interviewing everyone who is being a runner;
I wouldn't blame him at all for not doing an interview, considering all the flack he's gotten from negative people for doing so.
The hype on Walmsley is at an all time high, but it'll fade if he doesn't finish 1 or 2 at UTMB. That's a tough challenge for him as he's somewhat unproven on this terrain (Speedgoat was a good sign) and totally unproven at this distance (2017 Western States).
I see this as a 4 man race for the win: Walmsley, Miller, D'haene, Killian
But the wild thing on races of this distance is that 3 or 4 of those 4 will likely crash and burn leaving podium and top 10 spots open to those athletes who aren't really trying to win (and are much less talented), they're counting on the top guys to blow up. They're rewarded for their conservative approach. Some guys always seem to finish in the top 10 precisely because they don't try to win. I'm conflicted about this. On one hand they seem smart, on the other, they race like pansies.
A 10th place finish 2-3 hours off of the lead, running conservatively, doesn't merit much praise in my estimation. I'm more impressed with the guy who sticks his nose in it and craters, finishing in 95th, than the "elite" who tiptoes to a default high-ish placing.
What a travesty it would be if Walmsley went out with the intention to finish 8th. I'm 100% certain he could do that easily---but I'd be disappointed as hell. I want to see a race!
Walmsley will go out with the intention of winning and setting a course record per usual. And then he will blow up in epic fashion and Killian will cruise to the win easily. Jim is a head case.
Bologna! He's a human being, we're not all perfect. I hope he does great and if he doesn't, hope he will in the future. It would be cool if he goes for it from the start as this approach can lead to very exciting races.
Mind you, I've never raced an ultra..however I've been a runner my entire life and compete (very amateur) but pacing is all relative..the first half mile of a 5k, you shouldn't be maxed out..until the HM, I try and stay steady yet strong until 8-9, then really try and throw down hard the last 5k..a freaking 105 mile race through the Alps..I'd imagine it takes every ounce of strategy to run that distance at an elite status if you aren't trying to die in the process..so if a runner maxes it out early and totally falls off near death in the process, that's more impressive than a strategic top 10 finish? I love the gutsy runner, it's awesome to watch but this isn't the mile we're talking about.
Clearly there has to be some pacing and balance. I'm referring to the difference between the guys who regularly finish 5th to 10th place be never trying to contend for a win. Their strategies involve cruising safely along, finishing hours behind the winner (and the getting positive feedback for their "great" performances). This applies to numerous relatively big names in the sport.
My point is that those people are inferior to the athletes who take significant but calculated risks to contend to win races, but sometimes die a painful death in races. They're not running stupid, they're riding the edge of their potential, sometimes getting it wrong. That second group could run conservatively from the start in finish in the top ten in every race, but those folks would rather compete. They are superior to the runners who play it safe, even when they die and finish in 92nd place or not at all.
Exactly, nobody is beating Kilian. Him running without oxygen up to Mt Everest (couple times), 4,000m will be full speed; plus he's a mountain man vs Jim being fast, Western States kinda course guy (even though he didn't figure out that one still).
FriendlyLobo wrote:
I predict Kilian wins with a dislocated shoulder, a broken big toe, and a 2 hour nap. He's the damn GOAT
Walmsley needs to save his hard effort for the race. I smell another DNF around the corner. Way too much hype for a guy who produces results in mostly low-key, non-competitive races, but doesn't have it when it counts.
Laney is a 14:03 5k runner and 2:17 'thoner. 3rd at UTMB 2 years ago and still flying under the radar.
Track and roadies moving up to ultras in the past 5 to 6 years is nothing new. The only thing that is new is JW's rapid improvement and quick recovery in the past 16 months. Again look at his ultra results in 2014 and 2015. Not anymore of a 'special talent' compared to all these other guys who ran in college.
Byron's (irunfar) synopsis on Walmsley is spot on and shows that he really needs to live up to his hype if he wants to be taken seriously.
Irunfar's Byron Powell wrote:
Dear Jim Walmsley, you’ve shown that you can blow course records at races up to 100k in length out of the water. That’s awesome. You are capable of winning the biggest races in the world. That’s awesome, too. Now, do it. When you do, no one can ever take that away from you. Sit with whomever of Kilian or François or Xavier is closer to the front until Champex-Lac. If that means you’re in the lead group, stay there until Trient or, better yet, Vallorcine. Then, try to win the most competitive trail ultramarathon ever. Sincerely, Bryon.
Also notable that he is the 5th American listed, notably behind both David Laney (2nd and 3rd the last two years) and Tim Tollefson (4th last year). My money is on Jornet (of course), with the top American being Tim Tollefson. I love that Jeff Browning is in the race. He is such a steady racer. I would be surprised if Walmsley finished, but I would also be happily surprised since it means he actually probably learned from one of his past mistakes. I would not be surprised if he tries to "go out" with the leaders and then takes off after 10 or 20 miles and plays rabbit.
What about Sage?