Fake news. Everyone knows the Inuit phenom Arrluk Okpik ran a sub 4 while being hunted by a pack of wolves in 1897 during the heat of the Klondike gold rush. If he hadn't been ripped to shreds shortly after this earth-shattering performance, he'd have won several olympic games. Leave it to the lamestream media to give a white man credit for the 120 year old accomplishment of a Native American.
Kyle Merber becomes 1st human to run sub-4 mile outdoors in Alaska
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Colorado
Tabor Stevens attempted it a couple years ago at the lowest elevation track in CO, which is right on the border with Kansas. Missed by a few seconds. -
As a fan of the sport, I find this kind of line up and run your balls off just for the joy of competing and running fast to be infinitely more entertaining than overhyped, inevitably controversy-marred global championships. I'm willing to bet I'm not alone in this, and I'm willing to bet that many of these runners (and their sponsors) have figured this out.
I also don't agree with the premise that these kinds of exhibitions hurt runners' chances at international competition. Somewhere on these forums are some exhaustive training logs from the 'glory days' of American distance running and a lot of those guys raced all. the. time. Like hop in a random 5-mile road race on a Wednesday 4 days out from a major marathon kind of stuff. And then go win the marathon.
And maybe these guys will end up as national-class but not world-class; so what? They're clearly getting people engaged in the sport (the bleachers look pretty full, and how many articles were written about it?), providing some good advertising for their sponsors, and look like they're enjoying doing it. Doesn't seem so bad. -
scorpion_runner wrote:
Ihave a bag of trollfood handy wrote:
[quote]efdfgdgfd wrote:
Well the guy who won is a huge choker when it comes to championship races... couldn't even make the finals of USA nationals this year.
Point taken
After being ranked top ten US on T&FN lists the last 3 years this might knock him off this years list in spite of having a 3:52.8 Indoor (second absolute US performer for the year, 6th AllTime USA performer) and a 3:36.7 1500 (9th on 2017 US list).
I'd bet over 99% of the guys who ran in college would be happy to have his pro career, his PRs & the number of sub 4 races he's had. He has raced in at least a dozen countries, all around the USA and run on WR/National record relays.
A force on the world stage? No BUT more than solid National level career. I'm pretty sure we'll see him around for a few more years.
Having a 'solid national level career' deserves respect and is a great motivator for up and coming athletes.
Gags Gang (NJ*NY) is a pretty impressive bunch of national level athletes.
While the world stage is an important place it is not the only place the American fans attention should be focused. The US Champs is an extremely competitive meet and the talent it takes to do well at that level deserves praise and recognition. I firmly believe we have to promote and grow the on US soil meets and events.
A few international dual and triangular meets with scoring would add spice to the season too -
I was just going to post that there are probably an undocumented case or two of racing with a grizzly bear that beat that time!
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There are plenty of Inuit sub-4:00 guys but they are unable to comply with USADA. Something about not hearing knocks on their igloos.
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Star wrote:
Is there any reason to think that any animal ever ran sub 4 in Alaska before this?
I are the dogs going sub 4 in the Iditarot?
Does run imply two legs? If an animal is using 4 legs, is that running? -
Scorpion_runners version of a sub 4 is finding a human being that can stand him for more than 4 minutes. Harder than running a sub4, clearly.
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I agree in part. There is a quote that the greatest joy is to be serious.
Sub-4 is seriously fast, however. -
Kyle stop starting threads on letsrun about yourself
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Yellowed Snow wrote:
In the snow. Bare-paw!
Fitzpatz Sensol wrote:
Sled dogs run 26 miles in 90 minutes at the North American Sprint championships every spring. That's 3:25 to 3:30 pace.
Star wrote:
Is there any reason to think that any animal ever ran sub 4 in Alaska before this?
I are the dogs going sub 4 in the Iditarot?
That's slower than a human on skis by a long shot.
Underscores why they were invented for persistence hunting. If you're an animal in snow, a skier WILL catch you. -
An Alaskan Malamute will have run ultramarathon distances at sub 4 pace on tough conditions. They are the Dean Karnazes of the animal kingdom. I always wondered about the fastest times run in Alaska because, it is my most favourite state that I want to visit. Someday tough I plan to and admire scenery at a more relaxed pace.
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scorpion_runner wrote:
While kenyans and ethiopians are somewhere at altitude putting in (E)quality(P)work(O) to be the best in the world.
peace.
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I don't see anything wrong with a bunch of athletes taking a chance to race each other in a beautiful state on an all expenses paid trip and a chance at some late season prize money. In addition, the sport is being promoted in a place where high school kids are probably never going to get to watch runners of this caliber right at their doorstep. Good sport promotion, beautiful getaway, chance at some money. I'd be there.
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Star wrote:
Is there any reason to think that any animal ever ran sub 4 in Alaska before this?
I are the dogs going sub 4 in the Iditarot?
I wasn't sure so that's why I worded it like that. I figured there were more animals in Alaska than most states plus lots of cars and bicycles have achieved the feat. -
I think this type of race is very good for the sport but "the villain" has a point. Most world beaters are resting at this point, getting ready to train hard again and stay world beaters. If I wasn't an elite, and I wanted to be an elite, I wouldn't be doing this type of race so late in the season. Yes, it's fun but that's the mentality that tends to keep these guys down.
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FreeMerber wrote:
I don't see anything wrong with a bunch of athletes taking a chance to race each other in a beautiful state on an all expenses paid trip and a chance at some late season prize money. In addition, the sport is being promoted in a place where high school kids are probably never going to get to watch runners of this caliber right at their doorstep. Good sport promotion, beautiful getaway, chance at some money. I'd be there.
Are you selling a cruise or something here? This sounds like one of those late night infomercials. -
suburbanxcore wrote:
Sub4inSingapore wrote:
Ahh thus begins the yearly cycle of obscure races run by b-tier elites trying to stay relevant while we all wait for the pro events to circle back around.
https://twitter.com/TheRealMerb/status/907999991343362048
"crazy"? Yea, really mind boggling -
Bad Wigins wrote:
Yellowed Snow wrote:
In the snow. Bare-paw!
Fitzpatz Sensol wrote:
Sled dogs run 26 miles in 90 minutes at the North American Sprint championships every spring. That's 3:25 to 3:30 pace.
Star wrote:
Is there any reason to think that any animal ever ran sub 4 in Alaska before this?
I are the dogs going sub 4 in the Iditarot?
That's slower than a human on skis by a long shot.
Underscores why they were invented for persistence hunting. If you're an animal in snow, a skier WILL catch you.
The fastest 50K at the Olympics was won by three doped up Russians in Sochi, the winner went just under 1:47 for 50K, which is pretty much equal in performance level to the dog teams mentioned. On a very hilly course skiers would probably win because they can go 50 mph on the downhills, while dog teams can't go that fast. It's called physics.
But on a flat course on a bike path, river, or lake, I'd put my money on a sled dog team with a light rider and aerodynamic suit, not some 180-200 lb musher wearing mukluks and a bushy parka.
Oh, and you are the most arrogant poster on this forum. Bar none. -
Twig Mzungu wrote:
As a fan of the sport, I find this kind of line up and run your balls off just for the joy of competing and running fast to be infinitely more entertaining than overhyped, inevitably controversy-marred global championships. I'm willing to bet I'm not alone in this, and I'm willing to bet that many of these runners (and their sponsors) have figured this out.
I also don't agree with the premise that these kinds of exhibitions hurt runners' chances at international competition. Somewhere on these forums are some exhaustive training logs from the 'glory days' of American distance running and a lot of those guys raced all. the. time. Like hop in a random 5-mile road race on a Wednesday 4 days out from a major marathon kind of stuff. And then go win the marathon.
And maybe these guys will end up as national-class but not world-class; so what? They're clearly getting people engaged in the sport (the bleachers look pretty full, and how many articles were written about it?), providing some good advertising for their sponsors, and look like they're enjoying doing it. Doesn't seem so bad.
You nailed it, Twig! This times 1000!
