Jim Walmsley is going to be a problem

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Cheating? Get your facts straight!

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.

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.

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

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.

runnER/DR wrote:

nope

This, fanboys.

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.

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

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.

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

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.