He just announced that he'd try to do a flat race this fall! It will be interesting to see what distance he does and how well he does.
After the Walmsley fanboys be ready for the Jornet fanboys coming at you!
One of the best things ever -
And I actually think he's making a mistake looking too flat of a course. He could do tremendously well at Boston or NYC on a relative basis.
I see him running 2:16-2:17.
He’s doing it to punk Sage.
AT THESWOOSH wrote:
One of the best things ever -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dgm5MQPGz8
That was cool. I still hold the speed ascent record for a local base jump peak after 27 years. It never occurred to me to set up a challenge like this, would have been fun.
I think he will show up in Atlanta and beat Jim Walmsley and gets a spot for the Olympics.
cool story but that video is fake, has been edited
Kilian once said the Pikes Peak Marathon was a "flat road" (it has over 7000' of climbing).
He'd also label Sierre-Zinal as being a pretty flat like a road (and he did beat guys like Jim and myself and the CR quite handily at Sierre-Zinal).
If he is doing the Golden Trial Series again it is going to be hard to get a lot of flat pavement running in the mix probably (he could skip Ring of Steall and focus on Pikes or do Zegama, Mont Blanc Marathon, Dolomyths).
Of course he still crushed guys like me at Pikes Peak, although I was closer to him there than at Sierre-Zinal!
He doesn't have the points for UTMB so doubt he'd do enough longer ultras for that.
He could do a runnable hill climb type of race more local in Norway....Joe Gray has raced him in events like that and beat him head to head there I believe.
Other thoughts: maybe a special entry into the NYC marathon?!
I feel like he got a bit of a taste for faster stuff last year while focussing on the three races he did. He is probably interested in what he could do on a fast race so I wouldn't be surprised to see him run a real fast race.
Also Salomon is trying to get into the road running scene so that might play a role as well.
You are focused on him tossing out the idea of doing something flat, on pavement. But I think what it is even bigger her is him mentioning doing Pikes Peak again. Sounds like he for sure wants to take down the CR.
Also, I will say its going to be disappointing for him not to be at UTMB this year with the line up looking how it is so far. Basically a repeat of the other year minus Kilian and last time he had to drop fairly early on from bad reaction to bee sting medication.
HolyPrick wrote:
Also Salomon is trying to get into the road running scene so that might play a role as well.
Making a decent pair of road shoes might be a better strategy.
Won't it be thrilling to see him finish in the top 40 at a major marathon?
YMMV wrote:
I still hold the speed ascent record for a local base jump peak after 27 years.
Because no one cares. Tell me where it is and your record won't see its 28th anniversary.
This will simply never happen.
His sponsors wouldn't allow it. The guy is built up as a god in the Ultra community and, whilst I do have a lot of respect for his achievements, they're never going to allow his status to be tarnished by a 2:15 marathon say. Much better to just keep hidden on the trails...
He wouldn't tarnish anything. Completely different sports. Just like Trout wouldn't ruin his MLB reputation for running a 3:45
He won't. There is too much risk in running a legitimate, measured course. Heads will explode when they find out that KJ is a 17 minute 5ker.
Never Going To Happen wrote:
This will simply never happen.
His sponsors wouldn't allow it. The guy is built up as a god in the Ultra community and, whilst I do have a lot of respect for his achievements, they're never going to allow his status to be tarnished by a 2:15 marathon say. Much better to just keep hidden on the trails...
2:15 would be a miracle, I'd be impressed if he ran sub 2:30.
Errr, who cares if he even did run only 2:30 when Kipchoge would be 4 hours behind him in the UTMB, and probably end up having to be airlifted out of there.
In any case, no way Jornet does
>2:20