Official UTMB Discussion thread

I don't know why you'd admit being wrong. You said altras number one THIS year, and the counterargument called you out with numbers from LAST year.

Courtney = queen of ultra running.

Sage is world class at youtube wrote:

Sage, I know you have never run as fast as Mike Morton or Dave Mackey in a 100 mile race. You know what? They aren't even vegan! Matt Carpenter is in his 50's, and I'm sure he would still beat you at the Pikes Peak Marathon.

"Sage, I know you have never run as fast as Mike Morton or Dave Mackey in a 100 mile race." - 100-milers are a different beast from other typical ultra distances such as 50K, 50M, 100K. Once you go past 100K all kinds of other things start factoring in, nutrition, hydration, sleep deprivation, the list goes on. Not everyone is cut out for 100M - I'm sure not. Maybe Sage isn't either - few really are.

"Matt Carpenter is in his 50's, and I'm sure he would still beat you at the Pikes Peak Marathon." - last I knew he had some hip issues that prevent full-on training, so this is kind of doubtful.

"Just demonstrates once again that true mountain 100’s require a different skill set and mentality. There are only a handful of races in the US with a course comparable to UTMB (Hardrock and Ouray are two that come to mind). Hardrock is impossible to get into, and neither race has any real competition."

Not exactly. I've run HR and UTMB, and even though they have very similar total vert, they are very different races. I really can't think of any race in the states that is a close approximation to UTMB - it's a little like combining the NYCM+HR in the same race. Specifically, the "mountain 100's" in the states are basically just that -nearly all mountain. It means the pace off the start is casual to begin with. Compare that to UTMB where it's rolling/flat off the start for a fair bit (10kish) - and Pau was clicking off 6min miles. Fast forward to the last 30M or so and the course gets brutal like HR. There's a little of everything in between. So at UTMB you have to be both a good runner and good mountain runner. It seems like a course Matt Carpenter may have done well at, but who knows, because it's also not high elevation (high point is only 8,000'+, which is lower than the starting line of both HR and Leadville). But pure mountain runners like Karl got smoked at UTMB.

I think you are onto something. Sage does not have the mentally fortitude for a 100 miler. That is the reality. Nothing wrong with that. He's way faster at a flat road marathon than Scott Jurek ever was. Scott Jurek is way faster at 100 miles than Sage will ever be. I just don't see Sage or even Zack Miller being fast at 100 miles. I think dudes like Sage, Zack Miller and Anton Krupicka are better suited for the 50 miler. Sure, Krupicka had 2 good runs at Leadville but not even close to Matt Carpenter's time. Also, your analysis of the UTMB course is correct and in his "prime" Matt Carpenter would have done well on that Euro course.

What I always liked about Matt Carpenter was that he didn't make his lifestyle the focal point of his running. He let his running abilities speak for themselves. Unlike Sage, Zack Miller and Anton Krupicka, just like a poster already mentioned. Same with Dave Mackey, Mike Morton and Scott Jurek. They all had real jobs and were NOT parading around the internet telling the world how they live up at Barr Camp or live in an expensive apartment in Boulder or lived in a truck for months on end.

Real world experience come from working hard wrote:

They all had real jobs and were NOT parading around the internet telling the world how they live up at Barr Camp or live in an expensive apartment in Boulder or lived in a truck for months on end.

You appear to know wayyyy too much about these people.

You seriously need to leave them alone and get your own life.

Serious advice for an internet loser. wrote:

Real world experience come from working hard wrote:

They all had real jobs and were NOT parading around the internet telling the world how they live up at Barr Camp or live in an expensive apartment in Boulder or lived in a truck for months on end.

You appear to know wayyyy too much about these people.

You seriously need to leave them alone and get your own life.

Oh! You must a fanboy of the unemployed underachieving runners like Sage, Miller, Krupicka...etc.

Matthew^ wrote:

Miller and Krupicka are the same...overrated. wrote:

Zach Miller is WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY OVERRATED. Sure, he's had a few good races but nothing against the top runners in the world. Until he wins WS 100 or UTMB then we can all stop with the attention. I find it interesting that runners like Zach Miller and Anton Krupicka have a few good races and they become instant legends. Why? It has to do more so with their lifestyle than with their athletic abilities. Americans, rich Americans; the typical geared out vegan/vegetarian, granola, tv eschewing types are always attracted to bafoons like Krupicka and Miller. We Americans are so bored with our cushy a ss lives. Matt Carpenter, Mike Morton and even Dave Mackey are way better than those dudes.

Very well said.

Let's not live in the moment too much. Zach's last year has been pretty much injury filled, and fitness wise, what did we really expect? Guys, this is a 105 mile run around Mt Blanc and the Alps, this is a no joke race.

He won CCC in 2015, and placed top 10 in 2016 and 2017. It happens. He's only 30 too. I really don't understand what you all get posting nonsense like this about PRO athletes. Zach's about as off the grid as it comes with social media and branding too.

He'll for sure be back.

Coffee Bacon wrote:

Matthew^ wrote:

Very well said.

Let's not live in the moment too much. Zach's last year has been pretty much injury filled, and fitness wise, what did we really expect? Guys, this is a 105 mile run around Mt Blanc and the Alps, this is a no joke race.

He won CCC in 2015, and placed top 10 in 2016 and 2017. It happens. He's only 30 too. I really don't understand what you all get posting nonsense like this about PRO athletes. Zach's about as off the grid as it comes with social media and branding too.

He'll for sure be back.

Oh yeah, I am calling it now. Avery Collins will be on the podium next year at UTMB. Heard it here first.