Is Scott Jurek the Bill Rodgers of UltraRunning?

He's a hobby jogger. His marathon PR is 2:38 and I can't see him getting sub 2:25.

So where is your line that makes a focused marathon attempt impressive for this ultra guy? What's the finish time for Bolt or Lagat or Wheating that makes you show any respect?

Mixed metaphor wrote:

So where is your line that makes a focused marathon attempt impressive for this ultra guy? What's the finish time for Bolt or Lagat or Wheating that makes you show any respect?

I have great respect for what he's done but he's never going to challenge the top Americans is he?

No, he'd never compete with the top guys (age adjusted as well) in my opinion. I'd have to agree. It is interesting to imagine how various athletes would perform outside of their primary sport/distance. Given enough time and event specific training.

It's that vegan diet that makes him awesome.

Not a hobby jogger because he make a living with his running, that would make him a professional jogger. To the op question I would have to say no. BR was like by all and never heard him say anything bad about others. SJ like by most but sometime comes off as an elitist when he feels he spotlight is on others that he is faster.

Ackley wrote:

With his Western States (and other) wins, his 24 hour record, his Appalachian trail record, his Born-To-Run celebrity (movie not even out yet) and his all-around "good-guy" reputation -- I think he should be the face of ultrarunning (not that other guy).

I would also like to see him train for a standard marathon for a year and see what happens.

Scott's road marathon PB is 2:38.

Mixed metaphor wrote:

So where is your line that makes a focused marathon attempt impressive for this ultra guy? What's the finish time for Bolt or Lagat or Wheating that makes you show any respect?

Bolt and Lagat have competed against the world's best and won GOLD medals, and Wheating to a much less exent. But more than that they have competed in events that were established and where everyone is gunning for them. The best are gunning for them. They came to these events...they don't make up some event so they could be successful at it. People still want to know the worlds fastest man (which Bolt is) The AT trail record is a joke record in my opinion. Who cares.? It's like a college national champion running in a local 5K because he wants to win. Jurek's a decent local runner in almost any other capacity. Same with most ultra guys, but the minute they try against others in real races, they get their clocks cleaned. Heck even the top tri athletes are respectable runners.

Everyone on this forum must be Olympic hopefuls. I don't think there's a single person native born to my state running sub 2:38 right now. I can think of 2 from a few years ago, but not running now.There are some college grads from out of the country running sub 2:30.

Shut your MOUTH! Never use those two people's name in the same sentence!

Rodgers is an actual runner with actual accomplishments.

phantom wrote:

Everyone on this forum must be Olympic hopefuls. I don't think there's a single person native born to my state running sub 2:38 right now. I can think of 2 from a few years ago, but not running now.There are some college grads from out of the country running sub 2:30.

SJ isn't running sub 2:38 right now either. So your comparison is kinda dumb and/or wack.