Who’s running? Any elites going? Predictions? Discuss.
Who’s running? Any elites going? Predictions? Discuss.
I would assume nobody, at least officially.
The race is happening as of today, according to the website and it looks like Camille Herron is giving it a go as well. She had a rough year so far. Let's hope she can finish this one. Thank God it's only 50 miles.
I don’t know much about the women’s side, but the men’s start list is quite fast:
Matt Daniels
Hayden Hawks
Jared Hazen
Stephen Kersh
Fernando Cabada (making his ultra debut)
Tim Freriks
Seth Ruhling (winner last year)
Eric Senseman
It may be one of the deeper fields to ever start JFK 50
If I had a crystal ball in March and knew all Spring through Fall marathons would be cancelled but that JFK would take place, I would have made the push to get Ultra ready and run this as my one and only lifetime ultra.
Anyone got any insider info on whether this race is actually going to happen? I haven't been following closely, but have there been any races this large (over 1K runners) since COVID began? I'm not expressing an opinion one way or another, but I'm surprised this is happening.
Also, JFK was my first 50 miler. Cool race. Brutal final 10 miles on rolling roads after 25 on the perfectly flat towpath.
The race is definitely happening, unless there's some surprise between now and Saturday.
On the women's side, looks like some marathon trials qualifiers decided to move up. Make sense with no big marathons happening this fall. Seeing Sarah Biehl and Sarah Cummings as elite entries. Looks like Tara Richardson (won Leadville last year), Lindsey Scherf, Emily Harrison Torrence, and Camille Herron are all ultra women entered too. Could be even more, since nothing else is really happening this season.
If Walmsley’s latest Strava activity is any indication, sounds like JFK just got a little deeper.
If it's true that Walmsley is in, this is the most competitive ultra in the last 5-years.
I have a hard time thinking Jim can lose a race like this. My predictions:
1) Walmsley
2) Daniels
3) Hazen
4) Hawks
5) Kersh
6) Senseman
7) Frericks
Hawks is looking decent via his Strava. Should be interesting.
Walmsley later updated that Strava post...he originally implied he was testing a shoe for JFK, but then clarified that he was running with Jared (Hazen) for his shoe test. Either way, sounds like a Hoka prototype.
They've got a fairly detailed Covid plan in place (https://www.jfk50mile.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/COVID-19-PLAN-JFK-50-Mile_2020_11_9_20.pdf), including smaller-size wave starts (which turns a 1400-runner field into a 250-runner field), so I imagine they're going forward.
250? that is still a huge field.
Maryland local governments are completely clueless and easy to trick. I just ran a race in Maryland last weekend that the RD said the only way he got it passed was because he "required all race participants to carry hand sanitizer during the race" and so, instead of a gel, I put a hand sanitizer bottle in my shorts... the stupidity of it all is that hand sanitizers don't kill virus, they only kill bacteria!! He and I were cracked up about this after the race, but you know what? He got PAID and hosted the race that had over 100 runners.
I'm sure JFK's "COVID Plan" is in the same boat... "he doth protest too much"..
Tim Freriks is ready to roll...
Hogan is locking Maryland down again.
... and Camille Herron is eating ribs.
I am surprised it is still going on, will be there, looking for sub 7.
They did send out an email last night about getting tested within 72hrs before entering Maryland, or right on arrival (general recommendation for the state). We had to fill out a questionnaire, and nothing will be indoors on the day of race (typically the school is open before and after). They are requiring face masks at the start/finish/aid stations and while near other runners.
RunnerSam wrote:
They are requiring face masks at the start/finish/aid stations and while near other runners.
For anyone finishing in the 9 to 12 hour range, hope they enjoy wearing their face mask for the entire AT section. That is basically a "congo line" at this race
https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2020/11/19/jfk-50-mile-maryland-ultramarathon-coronavirus/RunnerSam wrote:
I am surprised it is still going on.
Queue the widespread public outrage and increased probability of a last minute cancellation.