The legend grows: Allie Ostrander wins women’s Alaska Mount Marathon!

She broke her own record of the 2nd fastest time. I assume she will take down the 1st place time eventually. The article is in the online Alaska Dispatch News.

Here is a pre-race article on how Ostrander loves the race.

https://www.adn.com/sports/2017/07/02/mount-marathon-women-expect-fourth-of-july-fireworks/

I am perhaps more impressed that Forsberg still has run faster than an NCAA champion. That is one tough cookie!

ADN writer Doyle Woody is the Ken Goe of Alaska, and Mount Marathon is the Bowerman Mile, although the locals get a little snippy when someone from the 'Outside' wins.

rojo wrote:

Here are the opening lines from the article. While the race is called a "marathon", it most definitely wasn't 26.2 miles.

Trail runs are almost always not exactly as advertised distances. The Western States 100 mile run is actually 100.2 miles, which has been the actual distance for many years. One reason the distance is not always constant is the trail adjustments are often made. A trail might be washed out and a slight diversion might be necessary. Anyway, one of the charms about running on trails is that you never know exactly what you are in for. That keeps trail runs interesting.

Far Gone wrote:

I am perhaps more impressed that Forsberg still has run faster than an NCAA champion. That is one tough cookie!

Second this. Goes to show that Allie isn't exactly a fantastic mountain runner, given her talent level. She's had success of course in the short mountain races, but I'd expect more of someone who can run a low 15 5K. I very much doubt Emilie has those kind of wheels. I seriously hope Allie stays away from the trail and mountain stuff after college. Her future is the roads/track.

"Race Distance

3.1 – 3.5 miles, depending on route"

from the mount marathon website.. i'm assuming its straight up and down then?

meh wrote:

Far Gone wrote:

I am perhaps more impressed that Forsberg still has run faster than an NCAA champion. That is one tough cookie!

Second this. Goes to show that Allie isn't exactly a fantastic mountain runner, given her talent level. She's had success of course in the short mountain races, but I'd expect more of someone who can run a low 15 5K. I very much doubt Emilie has those kind of wheels. I seriously hope Allie stays away from the trail and mountain stuff after college. Her future is the roads/track.

You don't really know what you are taking about here, as far as comparing AllieO's time with Forsberg's and saying the former lacks trail skills. That said it's a no brainier to go for pro track/road running vs. the obscure trail circuit which offers comparative peanuts. But who knows, maybe some years she'll take a break and run some mountain WCs.

rojo wrote:

Here are the opening lines from the article. While the race is called a "marathon", it most definitely wasn't 26.2 miles.

The race is NOT called a marathon. It is the Mount Marathon Race. The mountain's name is "Mount Marathon."

Forsberg is a cutie patootie.

http://www.emelieforsberg.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/1939944_551989571581783_7741940972324218881_o.jpg

rojo wrote:

Here are the opening lines from the article. While the race is called a "marathon", it most definitely wasn't 26.2 miles.

What was your first clue?

but, it's true that she lacks trail skills. forsberg's still a minute in front of her on the descent. and forsberg probably isn't in the top tier of female descenders. ostrander's got some work cut out for her--but the gap isn't unbridgeable.

Forsberg is definitely in the top tier of female descenders. Much better at downhill than uphill....Check out the documentary film on "Mount Marathon." it is quite technical and steep.. "SkyRunning" style.

one model wrote:

but, it's true that she lacks trail skills. forsberg's still a minute in front of her on the descent. and forsberg probably isn't in the top tier of female descenders. ostrander's got some work cut out for her--but the gap isn't unbridgeable.

meh wrote:

[quote]Far Gone wrote:

I am perhaps more impressed that Forsberg still has run faster than an NCAA champion. That is one tough cookie!

Second this. Goes to show that Allie isn't exactly a fantastic mountain runner, given her talent level. She's had success of course in the short mountain races, but I'd expect more of someone who can run a low 15 5K. I very much doubt Emilie has those kind of wheels. I seriously hope Allie stays away from the trail and mountain stuff after college. Her future is the roads/track

It's obvious that you've never run the course. It has nothing to do with "wheels". Why comment on something that you have zero first hand knowledge of?

I lived in Seward for six years and have run the Mount Marathon course (but have not been a participant in the race). It is approximately 5K and is called Mount Marathon because that is the name of the mountain. The course starts outside the Yukon Bar in downtown Seward and runs to the base of the mountain. Once there, you have to do a little mountain climbing before getting to some "runnable" ground. By runnable, I mean pretty much straight up the mountain. There is no clear path for the first half or so. You have to bushwhack your way up to the scree which is about the halfway point. Coming down takes technique because the scree is moving under your feet. If there is snow at the top it forms a toboggan chute that runners can take part of the way down. The descent gets complicated as you reach the base so it's not an easy exit off the mountain. I've seen many people taken away by ambulance after some nasty falls coming off the mountain, one of which resulted in permanent head/brain injuries. When you finally get off the mountain your legs feel like jello so it's a hard trek back to the finish at the Yukon Bar.

There is a fantastic video floating around Alaska of Mount Marathon if you can find it. It is just a short film but it shows the gnarliness of the race. The race directors can probably send it to you.

The risk of severe ankle sprain or fracture must be really high. Are they wearing ankle braces or taping to reduce risk?

Lost cause wrote:

It's obvious that you've never run the course. It has nothing to do with "wheels". Why comment on something that you have zero first hand knowledge of?

What does this have anything to do with it? The fact remains that a slow ass mountain runner is faster than a 15 min 5K runner, in her own backyard.

She never held a "record" therefore did not break one.

Ain't no mountain high enough! wrote:

She broke her own record of the 2nd fastest time. I assume she will take down the 1st place time eventually. The article is in the online Alaska Dispatch News.

meh wrote:

Lost cause wrote:

It's obvious that you've never run the course. It has nothing to do with "wheels". Why comment on something that you have zero first hand knowledge of?

What does this have anything to do with it? The fact remains that a slow ass mountain runner is faster than a 15 min 5K runner, in her own backyard.

Emelie was in incredible shape that year. From 2013 to 2015 she won every skyrunning race except one where she went off course costing her an hour and still finished 2nd. Nobody that knew anything about running expected Allie to beat Emelie that year.