Mother vs. son in 100 mile race, who wins

2 x DNF

DocLove wrote:

2 x DNF

I would tend to agree with that, but the discussion is IF they were able to finish, who would win. I will say that I have volunteered at ultra races before and I am always amazed at the lack of fitness level of some of the people running 70 or 80 miles in 24 hour races. I would assume it would take them over 24 hours if they were able to do it, so sleep deprivation would become a factor, which would give my wife the advantage.

Your son.

Without knowing anything more about them, I'd bet on your wife. I'd assume that your son would inevitably end up going too fast some time early (even if it was very slow), and end up with legs completely unable to run, and would be walking most of the way. Your wife, I'd assume would be a little more cognizant of what would be required of her to run that far, and would have a better chance of getting further before breaking down.

Had Some Myself:

A teenager who runs 17 min for a 5k on 40 miles a week versus a 48 year old Mom who runs a few miles a week at 9 min mile pace but once ran a marathon 18 years ago.

And you think the 48 year old out of shape Mom would win. Wow, you are not too bright. Only a complete idiot would believe that. I dont care how slow you think 17 min for a 5k is. The high school kid would destroy the Mom in a marathon. Explain to me how an out of shape middle aged woman can beat a high school boy who runs 40 miles per week. You better think about it again and repost. You look like a fool for saying the Mom would win. My prediction:

High School Son: 3:20

Middle Aged Mom: 3:55

Larry Sotter wrote:

Had Some Myself:

A teenager who runs 17 min for a 5k on 40 miles a week versus a 48 year old Mom who runs a few miles a week at 9 min mile pace but once ran a marathon 18 years ago.

And you think the 48 year old out of shape Mom would win. Wow, you are not too bright. Only a complete idiot would believe that. I dont care how slow you think 17 min for a 5k is. The high school kid would destroy the Mom in a marathon. Explain to me how an out of shape middle aged woman can beat a high school boy who runs 40 miles per week. You better think about it again and repost. You look like a fool for saying the Mom would win. My prediction:

High School Son: 3:20

Middle Aged Mom: 3:55

Careful about calling someone else a fool when you didn't bother to read the title of his post. (100 mile race, not a marathon)

With no personal experience to go on, I figure winning a 100 mile race comes down to the one who doesn't do something stupid (go foolishly fast relative to the distance, screw up nutrition and rest, or whatever) and crash big time. Without knowing anything about your kid except that he's a 15 year old male, I'm guessing he's far more likely than your wife to do something dumb. The wife wins.

asdgfh wrote:

Careful about calling someone else a fool when you didn't bother to read the title of his post. (100 mile race, not a marathon)

Definitely a big difference between a marathon and a 100 mile race. My son would obviously win at anything up to a marathon just based on being faster and currently training more. It is beyond the marathon that makes it interesting, not just in regards to my wife and son, but anyone. Over the years my wife has run a lot more miles total than my son, has run 4 marathons and one as fast as 3:12 and she is very mentally tough, not to mention giving birth to two kids. She would obviously pace herself better, so would she be the tortoise and my son the hare. Who knows.

I bet the wife wins....she went through being pregnant with the kid and probably has more tolerance for longer periods of pain. The kid probably has had no adversity. I think the mental toughness of the wife makes her plod on (even though it will be walking) and finish, whereas I bet the kid throws in the towel.

Thanks everyone for the responses so far. I think one factor is where this race would take place. I think it would help my son if it was a loop type of course where there would be a lot of support throughout the race. I think it would be easier to keep it controlled early on and to be able to stop and eat, get a massage, etc. I have never done an ultra so it is hard for me to imagine, but I have volunteered at 24 hour races on a loop course. That seems to make it a little easier in terms of having support.

I'd pay to see the race :D

Would pacers be allowed? I'd bet the wife personally. The notion that the son could take more rests is flawed. A body in motion tends to stay in motion, a body at rest tends to stay at rest. After a couple stops your son would be glued to the chair. Just out of curiousity, has your son ever stayed up 24 hours straight?

Your son would blow her doors off. The son is a much better runner! High 16's for XC 5k is A LOT better than a 3:12 marathon. Add in that he will still be able to run high 16s, probably faster, in the future, and she likely can't touch her old marathon PR and will only get slower. And don't give me any crap about mental toughness and facing adversity - obviously he has enough mental toughness for running, as he has run some pretty good times for a 15 year old. Bottom line - son wins EASILY!

my quest wrote:

Would pacers be allowed? I'd bet the wife personally. The notion that the son could take more rests is flawed. A body in motion tends to stay in motion, a body at rest tends to stay at rest. After a couple stops your son would be glued to the chair. Just out of curiousity, has your son ever stayed up 24 hours straight?

No I don't think he has ever stayed up for 24 straight hours. My wife is pretty good at going with very little sleep and would definitely have an advantage there.

DocLove wrote:

2 x DNF

The OP said no time limit. I'd give it to the wife, at 72:32:05, with two breaks for a sensible good night's sleep. The son would get bored after 2 40-mile days.

9/10

if your son were smart enough to employ proper tactics he could win. Run with his mom for 98 miles and out kick her in the last two. Easy.

The kid should dominate. I'm a HS junior and ran mid 16s for 5ks this year. Last summer I ran a marathon in 3:20 after running 50 mile weeks. What it comes down to is that your son is much more fit. If your wife can even run 100 miles, someone who is in much better shape would also be able to do that.

Interesting question. Having run a couple of 100s myself I would bet on your wife. Patience is key and not something any 15 year-old male has.

And your analogy about him being able to cruise faster and rest sounds a little bit like saying a top miler should be able to beat a top marathoner by taking walking breaks.

Slow and steady is definitely the way to go at that distance. Once you get to 70 miles or so stopping to rest usually means the end. Most ultra runners swear by rfp (relentless forward progress).