Daily News, Fri, Oct 18

The Montrail Ultra Cup races have been announced. Whoa, pretty west coast heavy wouldn’t you say?

Runner so angry at escaped pit bull that he choked its owner with the leash. Whoa, that escalated quickly.

Barefoot backlash: Are the naysayers right after all?

How to train for the Himalayan 100.

The physiology of morning vs evening workouts. I’m a morning guy all the way and am pathetic in the evening.

This is how I envision my aid station stops.

NUC, but if you’ve got some time, read this guy’s crazy story about his time in the Amazon.

This’ll be the most clicked on story today: What exercises will make me good in bed?

Did you hear our new interview with TNF’s Rob Krar?

…and Ultrasportslive.tv interviews Bob Shebest after his third place at Dick Collins 50.

AJW discusses female UROY candidates. That’s a tough one. Each had incredible years and strong individual performances, but no one stood out consistently.

Interesting: Is it still possible to race anonymously? Never considered it, but now it’s my goal to run and race as Patty Bouvier.

Solar Weasel’s report from the Canyon de Chelly in the Navajo Nation, complete with some great pics. Beautiful!

Hope I’m not jinxing myself, but what to do when you get hurt right before a race.

Weekend Calendar:

Pony Express 50/100 in Utah.
Dirty Dare trail run in Sunol, CA. Course designed by Catra Corbett.
Vulture Bait trail race 25/50k in London Ontario. I like the name.
Ultima Frontera 55/83/166km in Southern Spain.
Des Plaines River trail race in Illinois. Sounds fast.
Flagstaff to Grand Canyon 100. Inaugural run, but Ian Torrence is the RD and Ann Trason is running it.
Some crazy 145hr/6 day race in Mexico with the funkiest race website I’ve ever seen.
Palo Duro 50 in Amarillo, Texas.
Pumpkin Holler Hunnerd in Oklahoma. Looks fun.
Deadman Peaks 50 in New Mexico. Run on the Continental Divide.
Coyote Ridge trail run in Muir Beach, CA. 7M/10M/half/20M/mar/50k is a bit ridiculous, isn’t it?
Tussey Mountainback 50 Mile Road Championship in Pennsylvania. Site days there’s an entrants list, but I don’t see it. Who’s running?

26 Responses to "Daily News, Fri, Oct 18"

Hone says:

October 18, 2013 at 7:27 am

So does Montrail pay WS money to be able to offer a few entries into WS? if so, why do the winning entrants still have to pay entry fees to then get into the race anyways? I am confused. Is WS a bunch if double dippers or what?

Reply
1. Craig Thornley says:
  
  October 18, 2013 at 7:54 am
  
  Hone, everybody pays WS entry fees. Even board members. Even me, if and when I try to run it as the RD.
  
  Reply
Ryan says:

October 18, 2013 at 8:00 am

Also coming up this weekend: Big Brad Ultras 50k & 50 mile.
http://trailmonsterrunning.com/bigbradultras
Complete with an aid station that serves bacon…because that’s how I roll.

And, re: Montrail Ultra Cup. I rolled my eyes when I read that list for the same reason. Apparently, we don’t have any ultras or elite athletes on the East Coast.

Reply
1. Craig Thornley says:
  
  October 18, 2013 at 8:16 am
  
  Ryan, Montrail would love to find a race in the east that fits the schedule next year. What races would you have included in the MUC? If a race already has a shoe sponsor it probably won’t work. All post WS lottery. Any races longer than 50 need to be far enough away from WS so runners can retool and prepare for WS. The race should also have a retail connection that sells Montrail shoes.
  
  Reply
  1. Jeff says:
    
    October 18, 2013 at 8:24 am
    
    Unfortunately, there’s not a lot of big-name East Coast ultras in the Winter and Spring – the only one I think could have a chance is the HAT Run 50K in March.
    
    Maybe also Bull Run 50M in April?
    
    Reply
    1. Craig Thornley says:
      
      October 18, 2013 at 9:20 am
      
      Bull Run was on the short list. It’s a good candidate.
      
      Reply
      1. AJW says:
        
        October 19, 2013 at 11:34 am
        
        Hello everyone,
        
        I am working with a small group or runner/organizers here in Central Virginia to organize as produce a 100K Trail Race in March, 2015. We’re looking at possible courses now and may do a “dry run” (Fat Ass style) this spring to get the kinks out. Since the current Central VA Race Organizers (Clark Zealand and David Horton) are closely affiliated with Patagonia their races are, at least to my understanding, ineligible for MUC consideration. As a result, it is our intention to produce the race that is independent of specific sponsorship and appeal to Montrail to include it in the 2015 series. Wish us luck!
        
        AJW
      2. eric schranz says:
        
        October 19, 2013 at 6:53 pm
        
        Sounds like a great plan. Thanks for letting us know…and smart move doing a dry run!
  2. Brandon says:
    
    October 18, 2013 at 9:03 am
    
    Craig, I would suggest two 50 milers in NC. First would be Leatherwood Mountains Ultra http://lwmtnultrarun.com/ held in April/ March each year and Tablerock Ultra http://www.tablerockultras.com/ held in December/November. Both are very challenging runs in the Blue Ridge mountains and they do not have shoe sponsors. Tablerock is currently more of a gravel rd race, but there are big changes planned for next year to make it more of a trail race.
    
    Reply
    1. Craig Thornley says:
      
      October 18, 2013 at 9:18 am
      
      Thanks for those suggestions. I’ll pass them along.
      
      Reply
  3. Ryan says:
    
    October 18, 2013 at 9:18 am
    
    Hi Craig,
    
    Thanks for your well-thought-out response to my not-at-all-well-thought-out comment. A complaint about the MUC race selection isn’t really the right place for me to vent about ultrarunning’s “West Coast bias.” I think the fact that the MUC even exists at all is a great way to put together the best possible field at the nation’s de facto 100-mile championship at WSER. Not everyone can get in via lottery, so the MUC helps the fast men and women toe the line. And, if I were putting together the MUC, I would also probably pick races on the West Coast (I know that Ice Age is Midwest) in order to have the “qualifiying” races most resemble the terrain of WSER.
    
    I don’t purport to speak for all of us east of the Mississippi, but we have a lot of pride in our ultra community. And, I feel like we always take a back seat to the West Coast. Sure, our mountains are smaller, but our community is vibrant and our races are legit. I cannot tell you how many people ’round these parts were thrilled to hear Nick Clark’s and Ian Sharman’s reactions to getting beat to holy hell at the Vermont 100 this year. “We” took great pride in smacking a couple (Brits turned) Westerners around.
    
    Maybe it’s an inferiority complex, but I feel like we need a little love, too. I’d love see some type of East Coast focused MUC-style series with similar connections to WSER.
    
    Of course, I could just be cranky, since I’m down and out with an Achilles injury.
    
    Best, Ryan
    
    Reply
    1. Craig Thornley says:
      
      October 18, 2013 at 10:12 am
      
      No worries, Ryan. I am also dealing with an injury and get cranky easily myself. Fortunately I can ride a bike and am climbing again so I’m getting some exercise. I ran Grindstone two years ago and agree that the community is vibrant and proud of their races. I have also run MMTR years ago. Great races. Montrail did struggle to try to get an east cost race this year, but nothing worked. Not that it would have fit in the post-WS lottery, remember MMTR used to be in the MUC but Clark’s races are now sponsored by Patagonia (same as American River 50 and Way Too Cool 50K which are no longer in the MUC) which takes them out pool of races to choose from. It’s not as simple as people may think to find races that will fit all the criteria I listed and bring a quality field on both the men’s and women’s sides. We think we have 5 races that do and we also were able to get a 100 miler in there with plenty of time to retool for WS.
      
      Thank you for your reasoned response and I wish you a quick recovery.
      
      Reply
      1. Ryan says:
        
        October 18, 2013 at 11:31 am
        
        Craig, I think the key phrase in there is “pool of races.” Based on your criteria for MUC eligible races, I think you did a great job including a roster of the “right” races. (Especially, after I better understood the criteria per your comment to my initial jackassy comment.) It still doesn’t keep me from dreaming about an “East Coast Ultra Cup” that would offer similar access to WSER. I already see some of the other commenters making great suggestions.
        
        Speaking of WSER, best of luck getting everything ready for the 2014 edition post-fire. No easy task, I’m sure. I’m hoping a friend of mine gets in this year on his 4th try, so I can come crew/pace at the “Superbowl”. Let me know if you might know anyone who could pull a string or two for him. 😉
      2. Jon Allen says:
        
        October 18, 2013 at 11:58 am
        
        I had the same eye roll response regarding lack of Eastern MUC races, especially since I’m running Pinhoti this year. It’s good to see Craig monitoring and responding to feedback. Hopefully more options will be available in the future, outside CA and TX. I didn’t run it, but heard good things about Leatherwood. They said it was very challenging.
2. Daryle Lamoureux says:
  
  October 18, 2013 at 8:16 am
  
  See you on Sunday!
  
  Reply
Braden says:

October 18, 2013 at 8:02 am

Hey Eric you missed a couple of races this weekend. Most importantly, the inaugural running of the Flagstaff to Grand Canyon Stagecoach Line 100 mile Ultra. Only 28 signed up but Ann Trason happens to be one of them. (http://ultrasignup.com/entrants_event.aspx?did=23989)

You also missed the Antelope Island 50k/100k in Utah. I’ll be running the 50k as my first ultra after doing my first marathon 4 weeks ago, I can’t wait.

Also, thanks for doing all of these podcasts, they are awesome. Keep up the good work!

Reply
1. eric schranz says:
  
  October 18, 2013 at 8:06 am
  
  Thanks. The Flagstaff was cued up, must have had a brain fart. And my goal isn’t to include all of the ultras in the country. There are other sides designed for that…I just include those that for whatever reason catch my eye….like that crazy Mexican race! WTF is that? 🙂
  
  But hey, have fun in your first 50k! Let us know how it goes!
  
  Reply
Teresa Smith says:

October 18, 2013 at 9:01 am

ANOTHER Race: Dogwood Canyon 50K is this Sunday – sponsored by Bass Pro (wicked climbs & descents) Lampe, Missouri
http://www.active.com/lampe-mo/running/trail-heads/dogwood-canyon-15k-25k-and-50k-trail-runs-2013

Reply
Gerell says:

October 18, 2013 at 9:31 am

Spirit of rock 50 mile is November 23 rd…based on website.

Reply
1. eric schranz says:
  
  October 18, 2013 at 9:34 am
  
  Woops. Thanks.
  
  Reply
Rich says:

October 18, 2013 at 9:37 am

Eric,

It will likely be a battle between the defending champ, Zach Bitters, and Matt Flaherty at Tussey Mountainback this weekend. I wonder if Wardian is also doing it?

Reply
Martin says:

October 18, 2013 at 10:33 am

The Diagonal de Fou (100 mile, nearly 10,000m+) is going on right now on the Island of Reunion. A lot of great runners out there. Present leader is Francois d’Haene (probable winner at this point). Kilian not feeling great has slipped to 17th position to help Emelie (16th) and presently second woman.

Reply
Dice says:

October 18, 2013 at 1:09 pm

Pitchell 100k starts tonight!

Reply
Eric says:

October 18, 2013 at 3:58 pm

Why did JFK get dropped from MUC this year? I always thought that was a great choice.

Reply
1. Craig Thornley says:
  
  October 18, 2013 at 7:16 pm
  
  Montrail wanted all the races to be post-WS lottery.
  
  Reply
adam says:

October 18, 2013 at 4:03 pm

I completed Coyote Ridge Trail Run last year as my first 50k race…um…think of it as a some light hill work on rolling seaside trails.

Reply

Please use real name. Anonymous comments will be deleted. Thanks. Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.