Tom Evans ran a 1:03 half marathon and finished 3rd at UTMB after specifically training for ultras for a few years. So fast people can be very good. But even Evans has been very inconsistent / fragile. Kipchoge would both have to specifically train for ultra marathons and somehow avoid injury. So if he could actually finish the race, he might not do too poorly, but he probably wouldn't finish.
If the prize money for these ultras were 6-7 figures. I wonder how many Africans would be dominating. The big names of ultras right now wouldn't sniff the top 10 finishers.
If the prize money for these ultras were 6-7 figures. I wonder how many Africans would be dominating. The big names of ultras right now wouldn't sniff the top 10 finishers.
As the old saying goes, “Nobody cares about Ultra.”
Meh, road marathons and ultras are basically a different sport. Ultras seem to be much of an exercise in nutrition compared to the marathon. Take a few gels, drink some sports drink, you're good to go in the marathon. In ultras, the calorie requirements are immense and that spells disaster for even the best runners. They are long jogs with snacks. Not sure if marathon running will directly correlate unless the Kipchoges of the world get used to slamming candy bars while keeping up 6 minute pace.
Meh, road marathons and ultras are basically a different sport. Ultras seem to be much of an exercise in nutrition compared to the marathon. Take a few gels, drink some sports drink, you're good to go in the marathon. In ultras, the calorie requirements are immense and that spells disaster for even the best runners. They are long jogs with snacks. Not sure if marathon running will directly correlate unless the Kipchoges of the world get used to slamming candy bars while keeping up 6 minute pace.
Yeah, nobody takes a break to eat lunch during a marathon. 😂
mid tier kenyans seem to go pretty well in golden trail series. Going 1-2 in both mens and women's China races. What is there stopping a top tier guy crushing the trails?
Give him a free ticket for UTMB and/or Western States so we can see a top Marathon runner failing at ultras.
In the past no Top Marathon runner got hold back to run ultras but they most of them never tried it.
A fun fact is, that even the African Comrades Marathon sees almost no Kenyan runners lining up each year. And Comrades is much closer to a Marathon than a trail 100 miler.
He wouldn't be able to enter UTMB right away because he doesn't have a "UTMB index score". Same thing with Western States....you have to have a Golden Ticket entry by earning one first (as an elite). Otherwise no entry.
Comrades..sure....less barriers to entry. Although traditionally South Africa doesn't always invite all the Kenyans that want to run (I've heard) and generally you have to register with a local club team...which can get political....
What I'm saying is that there are actually a lot of barriers to entry just to make it to the starting line of a lot of the top ultras. It generally makes it so the competition is less deep (compared to really any big road marathon).
I do think he (or basically any sub 2:10 marathoner) would for sure do really well and destroy a course like Western States 100 though. Sure there could be a learning curve and it's not a 100% guarantee ...but more often than not ultra success correlates directly with your marathon fitness/times. UTMB is quite different than WS100.... it probably has more in common with Zegama honestly although it really depends on the weather on the day (mud etc).
An exception would be made for him and maybe a $100K appearance fee, or maybe more.
This post was edited 5 minutes after it was posted.
He wouldn't be able to enter UTMB right away because he doesn't have a "UTMB index score". Same thing with Western States....you have to have a Golden Ticket entry by earning one first (as an elite). Otherwise no entry.
Comrades..sure....less barriers to entry. Although traditionally South Africa doesn't always invite all the Kenyans that want to run (I've heard) and generally you have to register with a local club team...which can get political....
What I'm saying is that there are actually a lot of barriers to entry just to make it to the starting line of a lot of the top ultras. It generally makes it so the competition is less deep (compared to really any big road marathon).
I do think he (or basically any sub 2:10 marathoner) would for sure do really well and destroy a course like Western States 100 though. Sure there could be a learning curve and it's not a 100% guarantee ...but more often than not ultra success correlates directly with your marathon fitness/times. UTMB is quite different than WS100.... it probably has more in common with Zegama honestly although it really depends on the weather on the day (mud etc).
Buddy if his agent makes one phone call they're letting him in
Exactly...
UTMB etc have just created this index score thing in order to have runners and races around the world pay for subscription so that the races and results can get a ranking. I complete extortion of 'fair trade'. As a trail race organiser I have refused to pay for mine to be registered so that one or two entrants get an entry.
If Kipchoge wanted to run, they will take the exposure they get.
Comrades..sure....less barriers to entry. Although traditionally South Africa doesn't always invite all the Kenyans that want to run (I've heard) and generally you have to register with a local club team...which can get political....
What I'm saying is that there are actually a lot of barriers to entry just to make it to the starting line of a lot of the top ultras. It generally makes it so the competition is less deep (compared to really any big road marathon).
That is incorrect and not applicable to overseas entrants. You may have chosen to run with , say, Nick Bester's Nedbank team for financial reasons, but the general entrant can just pay his 'overseas entrant fee'.
If the prize money for these ultras were 6-7 figures. I wonder how many Africans would be dominating. The big names of ultras right now wouldn't sniff the top 10 finishers.
Yes, on a global basis, the prize money is low due to exchange rate. To get elite maratoners to effectively put their career on hold for at least a year with so much risk of no reward, would require much more. This is probably the biggest factor.
To do Comrades, or UTMB, effectively requires a long lead in specificity in training and a long 'recovery' to full maraton potential post race
If the prize money for these ultras were 6-7 figures. I wonder how many Africans would be dominating. The big names of ultras right now wouldn't sniff the top 10 finishers.
Yes, on a global basis, the prize money is low due to exchange rate. To get elite maratoners to effectively put their career on hold for at least a year with so much risk of no reward, would require much more. This is probably the biggest factor.
To do Comrades, or UTMB, effectively requires a long lead in specificity in training and a long 'recovery' to full maraton potential post race
That’s why it would need to be an appearance fee, and a big one if it’s Kipchoge. The race organizers would have to take the risk that he doesn’t drop out at 20 miles after suffering a boo-boo.