Well it's that time of year again! Conventional wisdom would pick Big Jim and Katie Schide FTWs, but then again it's UTMB, and the conventions are often out the window. So who you got?
And on a side note I will once again suggest to the Brojo’s that they go cover this event in person for a change, even if only once. While most of the LR crowd mock ultra's, as did I in my younger days, UTMB is special. You just have no idea how special until you go live it in person/rant. 😅
i know he isn't in it this year, but I still pick him ;)
Anyone know why? Afraid of Jim?
This race isn’t as exciting as you think. He also won 2 races this year more competitive than UTMB.
Correct, Zegama and Sierra Zinal. In a post race chat he said he wanted to focus on speed this year.
That said, he looked utterly destroyed at the finish of his 2022 UTMB win - far worse than I've ever seen him. So bad I thought he might announce his retirement on the spot. He obviously hasn't, but... he did take all of 2023 off.
Well it's that time of year again! Conventional wisdom would pick Big Jim and Katie Schide FTWs, but then again it's UTMB, and the conventions are often out the window. So who you got?
And on a side note I will once again suggest to the Brojo’s that they go cover this event in person for a change, even if only once. While most of the LR crowd mock ultra's, as did I in my younger days, UTMB is special. You just have no idea how special until you go live it in person/rant. 😅
I’m boots on the ground already here it’s a good +20 degrees hotter than usual so should favor Walmsley.
I’ve got some big loops mapped out (right now 4 am can’t sleep) hoping I feel good on the climbs!
I notice there are a growing number of Chinese runners entered in this race. Seems the Ultras may be a sport where the Chinese might be competitive in.
I’ll be rooting for Jim Walmsley to repeat after his win last year and Western States win in June.
This post was edited 2 minutes after it was posted.
Well it's that time of year again! Conventional wisdom would pick Big Jim and Katie Schide FTWs, but then again it's UTMB, and the conventions are often out the window. So who you got?
And on a side note I will once again suggest to the Brojo’s that they go cover this event in person for a change, even if only once. While most of the LR crowd mock ultra's, as did I in my younger days, UTMB is special. You just have no idea how special until you go live it in person/rant. 😅
I’m boots on the ground already here it’s a good +20 degrees hotter than usual so should favor Walmsley.
I’ve got some big loops mapped out (right now 4 am can’t sleep) hoping I feel good on the climbs!
I think Walmsley finally has this race unlocked and he is going to keep setting faster and faster times.
I'll agree for this year. After that, all bets are off for me, as I'm not entirely convinced he'll return to UTMB. He has expressed keen interest in Hardrock in the past, and I could see him pulling whatever strings he can to get in now (yes it's been billed as a pure lottery in the past but in fact this year the race committee straight up stated they hand-picked 3 men/3 women). Imagine a Zach/Jim duel at HR next summer - epic!
i know he isn't in it this year, but I still pick him ;)
Anyone know why? Afraid of Jim?
He and Zach Miller both wrote a long mail to a lot of athletes about the decline of UTMB in terms of corporate greed basically from the Ironman take over
So think he's basically boycotting there races in protest of the organisation. So unlikely to see him back
Also, Kilian is very busy at the moment with a new project called “Alpine Connections” where he tries to climb and connect all +4000m peaks of the Alps with only walking/cycling and climbing. He’s a beast! He does cross paths with the UTMB this week I think, but he will climb 2000m higher. 84 times.
i know he isn't in it this year, but I still pick him ;)
Anyone know why? Afraid of Jim?
He and Zach Miller both wrote a long mail to a lot of athletes about the decline of UTMB in terms of corporate greed basically from the Ironman take over
So think he's basically boycotting there races in protest of the organisation. So unlikely to see him back
And after all the hoopla made over it, 99.9 % of the elites returned to utmb this year.
He and Zach Miller both wrote a long mail to a lot of athletes about the decline of UTMB in terms of corporate greed basically from the Ironman take over
So think he's basically boycotting there races in protest of the organisation. So unlikely to see him back
And after all the hoopla made over it, 99.9 % of the elites returned to utmb this year.
Wonder why irunfar doesn't list Pau Capell as a top contender and instead list under 'more fast men' even though he has won the race before? Maybe no good recent performances?
Anyway, I think Jim takes again this year and will likely lower the CR even more. I was hoping we'd get to finally see the showdown that never was between Francois, Kilian and Jim. We may never see that line up again.
Francois is washed this year, he was an hour or more behind winner Zack Garner (who trains in Provo). Look out for Zack in CCC, he does 30k vert a week with some weeks 160+ miles and 40-60k. Could be a breakout star
Francois is washed this year, he was an hour or more behind winner Zack Garner (who trains in Provo). Look out for Zack in CCC, he does 30k vert a week with some weeks 160+ miles and 40-60k. Could be a breakout star
Interesting info on Zack Garner!
Yeah Francois I believe is still building after surgery on his ankle.
