In 2 weeks time, Kilian is going after the 24-hour world record, which was set 23 years ago by the arguably greatest ultra-marathon runner in the history Yannis Kouros. Since then (and before that) no one has even been close to the achievement, even tho World/Continental Championships and high-level races are being organised every year. The record stands at 188.6 miles and the closest non-Kouros result is 11 miles back, at 177.3 miles.
More details on the record-breaking event here:
Letsrun's coverage of Kouros's record here:
Is that for real?
Kilian has no freaking chance. I don't think he has ever done a 24 hour race.
188.6 miles are "just" 7.86 miles per hour.
How hard can it be?
I'm confused. Today on his social media feed he was asking his fans how he should go about coming off the injury that he's been dealing with. If he's been dealing with this tibial issue and his training has been compromised and he hadn't run since his 10k, how in the world would he be able to get fit enough to break this record? Am I missing something?
So Jornet...a guy who is almost exclusively a mountain trail runner...is going to attempt a 24 hour run on a track....Hmmm
Maybe he has been doing more long runs on tracks than we all know...but...
I don't think this isn't going to end well for him. My guess is he makes it maybe 12 hours before calling it. I'm not doubting at all he can run for 24 straight hours. I'm doubting he will be able to run on completely flat for that long as their is zero muscle differentiation like he is used to in the mountains. Its literally the same exact stride and muscles used every single step. He simply isn't used to this.
There has been a lot of great, great ultra runners to attempt this, but as a previous poster said, none have come within 11 miles of Kouros and his record. At that pace, that's an hour and a half away from the record.!! Granted, most of these didn't have the pedigree Jornet has, but a lot have had a pretty good resume. Just look at the last 2 24 hour record holders from America. Mike Morton and Scott Jurek. Both had a few 24 hour runs under them before setting the AR. Jurek's probably the most well accomplished male ultramarathon ever. Neither of these two ever really threatened Kouros's record
Would I love to be wrong? Of course and I hope I am...I just don't think it's going to happen...but one thing is for sure and that is I applaud KJ for pushing his comfort zone and seeking new challenges.
Kilian Jornet will explode near 20 hours ...
I completely agree. It would be great to actually think about having someone not named Kouros hold an ultra record in the 100 miles+ range, but realistically this is not looking doable anytime soon. Going for 280+ would be a huge, HUGE success for a first 24-hour race tho.
Dobyg wrote:
I completely agree. It would be great to actually think about having someone not named Kouros hold an ultra record in the 100 miles+ range, but realistically this is not looking doable anytime soon. Going for 280+ would be a huge, HUGE success for a first 24-hour race tho.
280 km (174 miles) I mean. Only 2 people have ever surpassed this mark and that's with a few tries and a bunch of experience, in way better conditions.
The obvious guy to tackle this is Zach Bitter, who has run 3.8 miles farther than YK for 12 hours WR (albeit indoor track v. road). I imagine it is on his agenda at some point, as he is a flat-ultra guy.
To be fair, Kouros never put much focus in races under 24h. His 12h record was more beatable than his 24h.
Agreed, though, that Bitter would have better chances than Kilian to break the 24h record. Kilian has the biggest engine of the two, but Bitter has the experience and years of focused training - his body has to be much better adapted to running flat for hours. His mind too.
YMMV wrote:
The obvious guy to tackle this is Zach Bitter, who has run 3.8 miles farther than YK for 12 hours WR (albeit indoor track v. road). I imagine it is on his agenda at some point, as he is a flat-ultra guy.
I agree Zach is better suited to try it, but just for some context - Kouros did not run a 12-hour race, when he set the record. It was a random split. From a 48 HOUR RACE. And it took people 20+ years to better it. Try to wrap your head around that, it took me a while.
He did run 283 km (176 miles) for his first 24 hours and 452 km (281 miles) for the first 48 hours. Only one person ever ran more than the 24 hours split and no one has even come close to the 48-hour result (even tho it's not his best one overall).
Zach is doing great at the distance and I really hope he gives the 24 hours / Spartathlon type of effort another try soon, but the 12-hour record was way, WAY softer than the 24-hour record.
I guess this test was prep for this: https://www.instagram.com/p/CFw-7KkjLzq/
Yiannis' 294.5 km run at Coburg in 96 was amazing and maybe a better performance than his 303.
We were running the relay and it absolutely p#ssed down. The track got quite flooded at one stage. He just ploughed on but it must have taken it's toll. It was a privilege to have run beside this extraordinary athlete.
YMMV wrote:
The obvious guy to tackle this is Zach Bitter, who has run 3.8 miles farther than YK for 12 hours WR (albeit indoor track v. road). I imagine it is on his agenda at some point, as he is a flat-ultra guy.
It's only obvious, that you don't know nothing about Kouros.
Kouros never ran a 12 hour race ever. It was always a split result. Zach Bitter will not be a good 24 hour racer. He already tried it and failed so far. 24 hours is very different to 100k, 100 miles or 12 hours because it is much longer and requires way more nutrition challenges than the other distances.
Kilian has run for 3-5 days straight before in the mountains and in training. He may be trying to prove that the 24-hour record is more about pushing yourself beyond exhaustion. I was surprised when I read this as well because I don't feel he's done the training, but he also hadn't done the training for a 29:59 either. The kid is special. He'll give it a go, fail, then give it a go again and break it.
Kilian mentioned on twitter this announcement that he is about to run a 24 hour race. It sounded like he didn't know anything about it.
And he is also injured right now.
Example of 24+ hours out and about-
Standard Setter wrote:
Kilian has run for 3-5 days straight before in the mountains and in training. He may be trying to prove that the 24-hour record is more about pushing yourself beyond exhaustion. I was surprised when I read this as well because I don't feel he's done the training, but he also hadn't done the training for a 29:59 either. The kid is special. He'll give it a go, fail, then give it a go again and break it.
It's always amusing to read post from non 24 hour runners about 24 hour running.
It's not that we don't believe that Kilian can run 24 hours. Sure he can.
But he will not be in the league of Kouros in a 24 hour road or track race. He will not even be close.
I remember running our usual circuit around Hyde Park with the lads from Imperial college in 1981. I was chatting to Mark Pickard. Asked him what he'd been up to.
"I did a 24 hour race".
"Wow, how did it go?"
"163 miles"
"Incredible, how does that compare to the world record?"
"10th on the all time list".
Jaw drops.
40 years later, it's still 54th. Mark ran like he was on rollers. So smooth.
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