Jim Walmsley Was Already Beating Our “Best Marathoners” in College

There is a video of the 5K you mention. It shows that Walmsley did not come close to reaching his potential in college.

So what a lot of people were beating Jared Ward in college. Fortunately running isn't based on what people think you can do, it is based on what you actually do. What has Walmsley done? So far all he has done is barely qualified for the Olympic trails. Ward has made an Olympic team.

Who the hell is this Jim Walmsley? Who the hell is Jarned Ward? What the hell is this thread?

Eh?!!! wrote:

Who the hell is this Jim Walmsley? Who the hell is Jarned Ward? What the hell is this thread?

This thread is yet another one started by a Walmsley fanboy who thinks he is the greatest runner the US has ever produced. Probably the same one who starts all of the other ones.

As I've stated many times on here, I'm as big of a fan of Walmsley as anyone. I like his style in ultras...go out hard and see what happens. It's risk/reward and, to be honest, I wish more runners did this instead of the usual "sit and kick" type racing we see on the track and sometimes on the roads. Does his style usually pay off? Obviously not, especially in longer distance races which he loves...but when it does, what an awesome day you'll have!

Do I think he is the greatest runner the US has ever produced? Hardly. Do I equate him being better than all other current marathoners out there because he beat some of them in college?

Unlike what Rojo or Wejo said in their weekly podcast, there is NO WAY an elite marathon could RIGHT NOW run a 100 mile race and win it versus an elite ultramarathoner. ZERO CHANCE. They know nothing about the fuel and hydration needs for a race that long. That would ultimately be their downfall at the race (much like what happened to Walmsley at Western States in 2017). Weird things happen during a 100 miler. Your body and mind just react differently every time.

(For comparison, the "precious to all road runners Boston Marathon" has what, 600 feet of climbing during the race? Western States 100 has a 2,550 foot climb over 4.5 miles to start their race). Good luck to the elite marathon runner who thinks they are going to take that out at 4:45 pace.)

100% agree with MeHereYouWhere?!

Walmsley seems to have a very good feel what he is capable of. He said he could run WS in record time and he did at the 3rd try. He said he could run 1:04 in a HM and he did too. This is excellent.

The problem are his fanboys who think he is the greatest runner on earth. Sorry guys he is not even close.

Also Rojo or Wejo have no idea what the skill set is for a 100 mile runner.

At any given day I would race a 2:03 Marathoner in a trail 100 miler with no pacer. I am pretty sure I would come out ahead. And I am just an okay trail ultrarunner. Their running skill is unimportant for a 100 miler. You have to deal with different weather conditions and dress appropriately, you have to make wise nutrition choices, navigate a little bit, running through the night. All things the average 2:03-2:05 guy has never done in his life. They would not survive 12+ hours out there.

Walmsley>Ward wrote:

He beat Jared Ward twice (and other familiar names). It’s not too far-fetched to wonder if Walmsley had gone to Marathoning first - after Rupp - would he be our 2nd or 3rd best US Marathoner, currently?

I beat Mark Matusak multiple times in high school. He ended up running sub 4 indoors in college. Guess what, I didnt! He is a better runner than me despite me being able to show you a half dozen times I beat him.

You showed two times Walmsley beat Ward in college. That's very nice. Ward still ran 30 seconds faster in the 10k and 20 seconds faster in the 5k in college than Walmsley. Ward was the better runner in college.

Anyway, ward has a PR of 2:11. So ward showed more promise than Walmsley and went on to run "only" 2:11, so that lines up well with most people here who predict Walmsley can probably run around 2:14 or so if he dedicated himself to the marathon rather than ultras. It's a solid time, but isnt going to bring home any hardware for the US.

Forest Gump here wrote:

The problem are his fanboys who think he is the greatest runner on earth. Sorry guys he is not even close.

As an ultra runner, I completely agree. Its sort of absurd how many other ultra runners were blown away that Walsmley was 27th at Houston. They literally thought he was going to win the race. It really shows how little they really understand about this running thing.

But the opposite is also true for people who say stuff about elite marathoners. Sure, Kipchoge or whoever could crush any ultra IF they put in specific training. I have beaten so many runners that are faster than me, that actually did put in the specificity by simply having more experience at ultra's and having put way more time in training on hills, eating while running etc...

MeHereYouWhere?! wrote:

[quote]Eh?!!! wrote:

Unlike what Rojo or Wejo said in their weekly podcast, there is NO WAY an elite marathon could RIGHT NOW run a 100 mile race and win it versus an elite ultramarathoner. ZERO CHANCE. They know nothing about the fuel and hydration needs for a race that long. That would ultimately be their downfall at the race (much like what happened to Walmsley at Western States in 2017). Weird things happen during a 100 miler. Your body and mind just react differently every time.

(For comparison, the "precious to all road runners Boston Marathon" has what, 600 feet of climbing during the race? Western States 100 has a 2,550 foot climb over 4.5 miles to start their race). Good luck to the elite marathon runner who thinks they are going to take that out at 4:45 pace.)

Do you just think all elite marathoners are stupid? Why would they not know how to hydrate and fuel? It's not rocket science and with their team of coaches it can probably be figured out pretty quickly what they need...at least as well as Walsmley has it figured out. Why would they attempt to run 100 miles at 4:45 pace?

I'm not saying a one time 1-on-1 match of an elite marathoner vs Walmsley is a guaranteed win for the marathoner, but it's not a guaranteed win for Walmsley either; he's dropped out and fallen short of his goals many times. So, we can stop acting like he has it all figured out and the marathoners would be bumbling idiots who forgot how to change shoes.

Coopersville wrote:

Do you just think all elite marathoners are stupid? Why would they not know how to hydrate and fuel? It's not rocket science and with their team of coaches it can probably be figured out pretty quickly what they need...at least as well as Walsmley has it figured out. Why would they attempt to run 100 miles at 4:45 pace?

I'm not saying a one time 1-on-1 match of an elite marathoner vs Walmsley is a guaranteed win for the marathoner, but it's not a guaranteed win for Walmsley either; he's dropped out and fallen short of his goals many times. So, we can stop acting like he has it all figured out and the marathoners would be bumbling idiots who forgot how to change shoes.

I have to assume Coopersville has never done any kind of ultra otherwise he would not say this.

They are not stupid, that's why they are not even trying to do a 100 miler.

As I said it's a total different skill set. And that skill set is different for 100k and 24 hour road races and very different for 100 mile trail races.

ultra dude wrote:

As an ultra runner, I completely agree. Its sort of absurd how many other ultra runners were blown away that Walsmley was 27th at Houston. They literally thought he was going to win the race. It really shows how little they really understand about this running thing.

But the opposite is also true for people who say stuff about elite marathoners. Sure, Kipchoge or whoever could crush any ultra IF they put in specific training. I have beaten so many runners that are faster than me, that actually did put in the specificity by simply having more experience at ultra's and having put way more time in training on hills, eating while running etc...

Someone in the Citius podcast (maybe it was Eric Senseman?) mentions that even the elite marathoners know they wouldn't win a 100 mile race in the mountains if it was held today. Walmsley himself says that with specific training, yes they probably would start to dominate. Walmsley also he knew he had NO chance to win Houston and said so before the race.

The Walmsley fanboys that thought he was going to win Houston are either completely delusional or mid to back of the packers that no knowing about elite road marathoning. I'm a mid-pack ultramarathoner and it's astounding to talk to some of these people before/after races and they have no idea who top marathon runners are outside of Kipchoge and Rupp (maybe a handful of others) and how fast that pace is. It's almost as if they think: "Well, if Kipchoge (or Rupp) isn't running the race, then yeah, Walmsley could win it".

If you get a chance, listen to that Citius podcasts. I lost it laughing when the one guy called people "Computer jockeys" and then Walmsley said "Wojo f****g brothers. Not saying their names right. I don't care". Like I seriously fell out of my chair laughing at this. He was completely joking, but it was hilarious. Jim seems like a cool dude.