German marathoner believes he's better than pro trail runners, runs one & ends up 43rd in race!!

FACT: only slow runners turn to trail running.

Listened to the podcast because of your post. A few quotes by Hendrik Pfeiffer from that podcast episode:

"I have no idea what to expect and thats what attracts me."

"All the big names in trailrunning are on the startlist."

"Im very very excited, but i have no idea what to expect."

"Maybe ill get embarrassed."

"Excited to do something where i dont have to chase a standard or something."

"Im completely new in that, and i didnt train for trailrunning deliberately. And i wanted to do that on purpose, to do that out of marathon training, as an experiment." (he runs berlin in september)

"I think i have at least as much running potential as the big names on the start list, but im a complete greenhorn and have no idea what to expect."

"Im interested in how much of that equal or better running potential that i have compared to the others will still be there in a trail run."

"I see it as an adventure."

"I have to try to not get injured, and im not going to risk it all."

"trail running scene is a mystery to me."

"Maybe im going to lose 10-20 minutes, or maybe im equal."

Long story short: I really can't see how you took away your key point, unless you just wanted to hate on him in a forum where almost nobody can speak german and therefore can't question your summary.

On the Kipchoge issue: He said, that Kipchoges quote: "If Kiptum breaks two hours in berlin, i would still be the one who did it first." is not very gentleman-like, cause he did it in a non-official event as a marketing stunt, and it wouldnt really acknowledge Kiptums record.

He might compete had he trained hills at all.

Canadian welfare troll believes he's better than everyone else on lrc.

FACT: when road runners turn to trail running they are even slower than trail runners

Time and time again proven that road runners just don't have the talent to compete with trail runners and the road runners are always seething about that.

7:50 international got smoked by local hobbyjoggers (10:30 guys) in a mountain race I ran a couple of years ago. He ran the first 400 in front with the favorites. After that start there's a mild part of 1.2k @ 12% before entering the trail/steps until the finish. The course has a summit finish and total ascent is about 5500ft @ 22%. Joe Gray won the same race another year.

"All the big names in trail running are on the start list"

Except for Killian Jornet, arguably the biggest name in trail running sooooo, yeahhhh.

Isn't this also the event where both winners last year (men and women) were popped for a positive test?

Yup. The Kenyans came in and promptly failed drugged tests. Have no idea why they keep allowing them in.

It depends on the gradients. Below around 10% track and road runners can do well without altering their training too much (think cross-country). Steeper than that though, and you really need to be doing specific training on those types of gradients (I’m talking sustained, threshold type efforts, not just 30 second hill repeats).

The first 5 km of Sierre Zinal is brutal, averaging around 20%. The next 5 km is around 10%. After that it gets easier.

Arrogant pricks rarely say things like "Maybe I'll get embarrassed."

He even acknowledged him as the best one, but said that hes not on the start list, cause hes injured.

Let’s someone go ahead and point out the three or four categories of distance events that are being convoluted here. At the very least, cross country, trail, ultra and mountain running are all completely different categories. one could argue that elite flat runners are at least qualified to talk trash about cross country, trail and ultra. Mountain running and ultra-trail the playing field is leveled by technique and specialized muscle group training against fatigue. both backyards are muddied by extreme PED abuse in small and untested pools of athletes, as evidenced by the surprise when people get in-competition popped on both sides.

I thought this way until I ran a trail race. I am a sub 30 min 10k runner and was humbled.

43rd in the race

Yes I was in the same race, horrible course, the downhill at the end is just suicidal.

Like in all alp trail races times can be significantly improved by knowing and training on the course.

If you dont live in the alps no chance to win anything.

Wrong trail racing is what you do when you live nearby the mountains and there is no snow.

are you going to come back and explain yourself?

Oh? But I thought elite marathoners are so much more talented. Hmmm. Interesting.