Jim Walmsley is going to be a problem

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SDSU Aztec

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1 week ago 01/11/2020 10:10am CST
re: You're creating the hype

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You're creating the hype wrote:

UltraDude wrote: Thus, he is really looking past the trials to some later ultras (which he can win) and is trying to strike some sort of balance in his training between the two.

Yea, he's racing Comrades this year and the trials can actually act as a really good build-up race for that. He knows what he's doing. All of this "trying to make the team" hype is coming from LetsRun and similar, not from Jim.

In his quote posted above, he seems to believe he could make the Olympic marathon team. Doing so would be far, far more impressive than winning Comrades and would give credibility to those claiming elite runners couldn't beat him in an ultra.

Shunpo

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1 week ago 01/11/2020 10:15am CST
re: Coconino Livestock Herder

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It’ll be interesting to see how he does off this unorthodox type of training but he simply doesn’t have the speed to compete. A 1:04:00 Half isn’t going to get you anywhere with guys who can run under 1:05 twice in a row. I’ll be genuinely impressed if he cracks top 10.
No Walmsley fanboy

1 week ago 01/11/2020 10:23am CST
re: SDSU Aztec

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SDSU Aztec wrote:
In his quote posted above, he seems to believe he could make the Olympic marathon team. Doing so would be far, far more impressive than winning Comrades and would give credibility to those claiming elite runners couldn't beat him in an ultra.

It would be more impressive. But this is not happening.

He has chances at the Comrades Marathon but only if he doesn't screw up his preparations.
zzzz

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1 week ago 01/11/2020 11:21am CST
re: Shunpo

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Shunpo wrote:

It’ll be interesting to see how he does off this unorthodox type of training but he simply doesn’t have the speed to compete. A 1:04:00 Half isn’t going to get you anywhere with guys who can run under 1:05 twice in a row. I’ll be genuinely impressed if he cracks top 10.

He ran that 1:04 last January 20, having only started doing faster work on December 13th, after years of ultra training. He ran 2x3 mile at 5:04 pace and 4:59 pace plus 2x1 mile at 4:48 that Dec 13, 2018, on the same route as he ran the workout mentioned in the OP. 1:04 only required three weeks of including faster work (plus two weeks taper), so of course it's super soft. A year later, and a week into faster work, looks like he's starting from a much better position. Also, last year he was only doing way less mileage (75-110) for that HM.
MeHereYouWhere?!

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1 week ago 01/11/2020 11:54am CST
re: zzzz

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Didn't he also say to Rojo (or Wejo) that if he didn't think he had a shot at sub 2:12 he wouldn't even show up to the start line? I believe he also said he wouldn't decide that until late January.
reed

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1 week ago 01/11/2020 11:54am CST
re: Shunpo

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Shunpo wrote:

It’ll be interesting to see how he does off this unorthodox type of training but he simply doesn’t have the speed to compete. A 1:04:00 Half isn’t going to get you anywhere with guys who can run under 1:05 twice in a row. I’ll be genuinely impressed if he cracks top 10.

you have to consider the context of his 64:00. ran that half last year coming off mountain/ultra training and did maybe 5 weeks of workouts. it was his debut half marathon. he should be able to perform better in 26.2 than 13.1.

you shouldn't be surprised if he ends up top ten, in any case. lots of guys drop out of the trials, but Jim probably never had high hopes of being top three and he has a lot to prove by gutting out a 7th or 8th place finish. he won't drop.

in 2007 in NYC (unsure how tough the course was but Hall still ran 2:09) 10th place was Jason Hartmann in 2:15, who had run 63low for a half that year and a 44min 15k. in 2012 it took 2:12 for 10th but with great conditions in Houston.

now...in 2016 in bad conditions in LA, 2:16 got 10th but the difference between 1st and 4th was massive...2:11 to 2:14. so If conditions are bad in Atlanta and the course is as hard as we expect it to be, there will be massive attrition after the top 3 or 4 guys. A conservative race by any 2:11-2:12 guy could result in a top 5 easily. Maybe Jim gets in 212-2:13 shape (for this course). easily snags 7th or 8th.

Knows Uncle Phil when he sees Uncle Phil

1 week ago 01/11/2020 11:58am CST
re: Coconino Livestock Herder

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Coconino Livestock Herder wrote:

Holy hell...Jim Walmsley might actually have a shot at making some noise in the Trials. His training the last month is absolutely insane. On track for his 5th week in a row over 150 miles. Did two crazy workouts today...4x2 mile @ 9:45 this morning, 10x500 in 1:27 in the afternoon. 27 miles total on the day. That type of day is not something that I can imagine many pros trying.

Are you always the same guy doing these JW posts? Because they're annoying for 2 reasons:

1. Nobody givesa flying f*ck about JW.
2. The workouts you post are NEVER that impressive.
SDSU Aztec

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1 week ago 01/11/2020 12:03pm CST
re: zzzz

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zzzz wrote:

Shunpo wrote:It’ll be interesting to see how he does off this unorthodox type of training but he simply doesn’t have the speed to compete. A 1:04:00 Half isn’t going to get you anywhere with guys who can run under 1:05 twice in a row. I’ll be genuinely impressed if he cracks top 10.

He ran that 1:04 last January 20, having only started doing faster work on December 13th, after years of ultra training. He ran 2x3 mile at 5:04 pace and 4:59 pace plus 2x1 mile at 4:48 that Dec 13, 2018, on the same route as he ran the workout mentioned in the OP. 1:04 only required three weeks of including faster work (plus two weeks taper), so of course it's super soft. A year later, and a week into faster work, looks like he's starting from a much better position. Also, last year he was only doing way less mileage (75-110) for that HM.

Whether the 1:04 is soft, is the issue. That time and his college PRs, would indicate he has no chance, but it's possible he's had some significant improvement since college.

That he has a higher pain tolerance from competing in ultras or that he will have an advantage running the hills on the Atlanta course is nonsense.
No Walmsley fanboy

1 week ago 01/11/2020 12:08pm CST
re: SDSU Aztec

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It's pretty much all nonsense what the Walmsley fanboys post.
Jim is a good runner but we still have to see what he can do over the Marathon distance.
Vinnyemelda

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1 week ago 01/11/2020 12:11pm CST
re: Inthekno

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Cheating? Get your facts straight!
MeHereYouWhere?!

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1 week ago 01/11/2020 12:29pm CST
re: Vinnyemelda

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I've said it before plenty of times on here, but I like Walmsley. I like his style of racing. It's a throwback to "old school" running where you just run balls to the wall the entire time. Sometimes you blow up (or take a wrong turn)...Sometimes you DNF.... Sometimes you don't and it's CR type of day. Has he said some things and appeared (drunk) too cocky in interviews? Sure. But that was, I think 3 years ago. His podcast/chat with Wejo (or Rojo) on here was super insightful and I think he is a bit more humble now...age and experience tends to do that to a person. He has also said he knows he is going up against runners where the marathon is there specialty and was adamant after Houston that he needed to do more road miles to prep for the trials...if he runs them.

Would I love it if he went Top 3? Of course. At the same time, I'm not going to openly root AGAINST anyone to make the Top 3. Doing so is just dumb and doesn't help the sport.

I think it's cool that he wanted to try to get the OTQ and he did. He went out of his "comfort zone" and challenged himself.
PrZ

1 week ago 01/11/2020 1:18pm CST
re: No Walmsley fanboy

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No Walmsley fanboy wrote:

Holy hell...Jim Walmsley will actually make some noise at the trails. That's for sure.What ever happens will be epic.Just don't expect him to win a Olympic ticket.

Yeah he’ll probably make some noise in the 30th place range at the trials haha. But it’ll be interesting to see how he fairs on the hilly Atlanta course, especially given how hilly a lot of his training runs usually are.

discharge

1 week ago 01/11/2020 1:37pm CST
re: Vinnyemelda

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Vinnyemelda wrote:

Cheating? Get your facts straight!

I believe the word "cheating" was used here. https://www.runnersworld.com/runners-stories/a20861340/jim-walmsleys-long-trail-to-recovery/

Dishonorable discharge could be supplemented I guess
goldengrahams

1 week ago 01/11/2020 1:46pm CST
re: discharge

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I saw a video on him. He was honorably discharged. The cheating thing was something about the Air Force unit in Montana with nuclear missiles doing something shady with numbers, but I doubt he was important enough to have anything to do with it or any control over it.
red glare

1 week ago 01/11/2020 1:51pm CST
re: runnER/DR

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runnER/DR wrote:

nope

This, fanboys.
I'm impressed

1 week ago 01/11/2020 1:52pm CST
re: Knows Uncle Phil when he sees Uncle Phil

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Knows Uncle Phil when he sees Uncle Phil wrote:

Coconino Livestock Herder wrote:Holy hell...Jim Walmsley might actually have a shot at making some noise in the Trials. His training the last month is absolutely insane. On track for his 5th week in a row over 150 miles. Did two crazy workouts today...4x2 mile @ 9:45 this morning, 10x500 in 1:27 in the afternoon. 27 miles total on the day. That type of day is not something that I can imagine many pros trying.

Are you always the same guy doing these JW posts? Because they're annoying for 2 reasons:1. Nobody givesa flying f*ck about JW.2. The workouts you post are NEVER that impressive.

The dude did a 30 miler a week ago at 5:43 a mile and over 2,000 feet of elevation. That's not unimpressive.
red glare

1 week ago 01/11/2020 1:58pm CST
re: goldengrahams

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Yes, he was honorably discharged, after a DUI and cheating on a proficiency exam:
https://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/28/us/air-force-fires-9-officers-accused-in-cheating-scandal.html
Shunpo

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1 week ago 01/11/2020 2:32pm CST
re: zzzz

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Nothing he’s doing points to a 1:02 Half which is what he’d need to compete with the back of the top pack. Like I said, I’ll be thoroughly impressed if he cracks top 10.
Shunpo

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1 week ago 01/11/2020 2:49pm CST
re: I'm impressed

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CJ albertson did 30 at 5:15 with 1,000 feet of gain lol and he’s not even a contender
Wildhorse

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1 week ago 01/11/2020 3:03pm CST
re: Shunpo

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I wish Jim the best in any race he enters, and I think he'll do great at Comrades, but if he's a factor at the trials, well, that's a sad state of affairs for American marathoning.