Daily News, Mon, Sep 16

Will women ever be faster than men?

It drives me crazy when two competitors decide to run it in together, crossing hand in hand. Apparently these guys don’t like it either. This is from the finish of a triathlon. Incredible!

…and in another great finish, what happens when you put Haile, Mo, and Bekele Kenenisa in a half marathon together? Wow!

Good interview with Ian Sharman about his Grand Slam.

What I learned during my first DNF.

Suunto Ambit 2 vs Garmin Fenix. Which is better?

…I still don’t own a watch, but these new Garmins look really awesome. Might be tempted to buy one if the battery life was longer.

Run Rabbit Run in CO, Pine to Palm in OR, Headlands Hundred in San Francisco, Plain100 in WA, Hawk Hundred in KS, and Mark Twain Hundred in MO were all this weekend. Results aren’t posted for some. Here’s the RRR breakdown and here’s what happened at Pine to Palm. I know the results of Headlands. How’d the other races pan out?

Short news day. What did I miss?

16 Responses to "Daily News, Mon, Sep 16"

Eric says:

September 16, 2013 at 6:37 am

Just came back from The Most Beautiful Thing (TMBT) Ultra Trail Marathon in Borneo, Malaysia (you’ve posted about it here before). Torrential rains resulted in flash flooding that wreaked havoc on the course, and washed one competitor away at a water crossing (saved by human chain of runners). Of the 330 participants in the 100km category, only 125 finished.

I mention this because two ladies came in side by side in first place at 19 hours something, after feeding off each other’s company in the brutality of the course. (Sorry, I don’t know if they were hand-in-hand!)

No official news yet but can get some on their FB page (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Borneo-TMBT-Ultra-Trail-Marathon/197986800284621). The men’s winner came in at 13:13 I think.

Reply
1. eric schranz says:
  
  September 16, 2013 at 7:12 am
  
  Eric, Wow, lucky guy!
  How was the event…I mean, aside from the floods, what was it like? Got pics to share?
  
  And I’m not begrudging anyone who comes in together, I just like watching people compete and when they don’t, I get annoyed. It’s my problem to deal with, really.
  
  Reply
  1. Eric says:
    
    September 18, 2013 at 3:39 am
    
    I’m working on a race report now. Will let you know when it’s up!
    
    Reply
Kristi Mayo says:

September 16, 2013 at 7:03 am

At the Hawk Hundred in Kansas, Darrin Johnson won the 100 in 23:05; Wendy Foote took 1st female in 25:46.

In the 50-mile, the remarkable Kaci Lickteig took 1st place overall with a time of 7:25, setting a new CR. Miguel Ordorica was 1st male in 8:03. Unofficial results should be available Monday night on the Hawk Hundred FB page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/155231117951284/

Photos are here: http://www.mile90.com/Race-Photos/Hawk2013/Hawk

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1. eric schranz says:
  
  September 16, 2013 at 7:06 am
  
  Awesome. Wow, have I never heard of Kaci Lickteig?!?
  
  Thanks for the updates. Great pics…and I think I see Russ Thomas in there!
  
  Reply
  1. Kristi Mayo says:
    
    September 16, 2013 at 8:20 am
    
    Yep, Russ Thomas crushed the 50 mile! … Kaci almost won Black Hills 100 (her first 100-mile attempt) outright this year — 19:12, just 6.5 minutes behind the winner and taking 7 hours off the women’s CR. Two weeks later she finished first in the Psycho Psummer 50k (4:19). Definitely one to watch!
    
    Reply
Jeff says:

September 16, 2013 at 8:38 am

No doubt that ultra distances have the closest performances between men and women, but while women have occasionally won outright in many ultra races, as the sport has become more competitive, it seems to be happening less often, not more.

The Susquehanna Super Hike was won this month by a woman, but even by east-coast standards it was not a very competitive race (I bettered by Ultra Sign-Up ranking despite walking 6 of the last 7 miles due to calf cramps).

At the most competitive ultras women are still among the lead men (i.e. Rory at UTMB and Pam at WS), but are not beating them like Pam Reed at Badwater. Not even Ann Trason won a race outright and the only other example I could think of was Darcy Africa at the HURT 100K (run simultaneously with the 100 mile).

Reply
Sabine says:

September 16, 2013 at 9:57 am

Being a girl, I would like to believe that women catch up with men in longer races. But this is not the case. The reason why women are sometimes placing very high in ultras (and – as Jeff mentioned – this was more often the case some years ago, where there was a less competitive field) is the bad statistics that comes with fields of 100 to 1000 runners.

To enhance statistics, it is better to look at the respective course record (because then you are looking for the best time of all runners that have participated in the race at any given year). At Western States, the course record of Ellie Greenwood is 14% slower than that of Timothy Olson. At Leadville and UTMB, the ladies course record is 15% and 14% slower than the men’s course record, respectively. Compare that to the gender gap in other world records in athletics: 9% at 100m, 12% at 10000m, 9% at Marathon distance.

Just out of interest, I have done some statistical research in this gender gap recently – think I should publish it …

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Rob says:

September 16, 2013 at 12:05 pm

The ginger runner does a great youtube video comparing those two watches. Google ginger runner it should come up, then scope his site for video….

Reply
Martin says:

September 16, 2013 at 12:34 pm

Hi Eric. I notice you haven’t had any news on the Tor des Geant (Tour of the Giants) race which was held over last week. It’s a 330km race with 24,000m+ and a 150 hour time limit. It starts from Courmayeur on the Italian side of Mont Blanc and runs all the way down the south side of the Valle d’Aosta, cross over the valley and then runs back up the north side to finish where it started. It passes under many 3500 – 4000 metre mountains (the giants) such as Gran Paradiso, Grivola, Rutour, Monte Rosa, Cervino, Gran Combin etc. 700 starters, 383 finishers (45% drop out).
Men’s winner was Iker Karrera (ESP) in 70h and a few minutes, second Oscar Perez (ESP) (last year’s winner) and third Franco Colle (ITA). Women’s winner was Francesca Canepa (ITA) for her second win followed by Nera Martinez (ESP) and Emanuela Scilla Tonetti (ITA).

Unfortunately the death of a Chinese runner(slipped on wet rocks and banged his head against a rock) on the first night of the race marred the festivities.

This was the 4th running of the race.

A few Americans were running with Nickademus Hollon (winner of Barkley) taking 7th place.

Reply
Jimmy Dean Freeman (@CoachJimmyDean) says:

September 16, 2013 at 3:50 pm

I’m one of those that has crossed a finish line (or two) hand in hand with someone. It’s a case-by-case basis. I wouldn’t do it if an OVERALL win was on the line. But the difference beween 6th & 7th when NOTHING is on the line? Could care less what my position is, and I laugh at the people who ultimately average 17-min miles in a one hundred miler only to out-sprint someone in the last 200 meters. It’s bad form, IMHO…

Welcome to the DNF club, brutha. Nothing to hang your head about!

Reply
1. eric schranz says:
  
  September 16, 2013 at 4:55 pm
  
  …which brings up a good question. Certainly passing someone in the final few meters of a 5k is sportsmanlike. Even in a marathon no one bats an eye, right? Many, including you (but not me), feel that over-competitiveness in a hundred is bad form, and I certainly understand the angle, but where between a marathon and a hundred miler is the “line”? Is it OK to go nuts at the end of a 50 miler, push hard in the last 1/4 mile and pass the person in front of you?
  
  Reply
  1. Jimmy Dean Freeman (@CoachJimmyDean) says:
    
    September 16, 2013 at 5:43 pm
    
    Our team has a guideline… IF you’re going to race someone in particular, the final 20% of the race is where you do it. If you’re cruising at a 10-min per mile pace and someone else is walking it in, no, you don’t STOP running so that person finishes in front of you.
    
    I’m talking about the point where people are specifically trying to pick people off, and they SEE SOMEONE in the last 200-meters and THEN pick it up. It’s an etiquette thing.
    
    There is a fine line. I’m thinking of some 50-mile races where a dude didn’t want to get chicked so sprinted, like ALL OUT animalistically sprinted the last 100-meters when they weren’t running all that fast before that, when they saw a girl in front of them. Jumping in front of them AT THE FINISH LINE.
    
    Again, case-by-case basis. But it’s always clear (to the people watching, people who’ve already finished, etc.) when someone shifts speeds to pick up a body. I have NO problem with it, just gets a little sketchy in the last 1% of the race. If/when I pass someone late, I try to get them to come with me. IF they do, I have crossed the line WITH them, even passing a few people along the way (and encouraging THEM to come with us too).
    
    Reply
    1. Jeff says:
      
      September 17, 2013 at 7:59 am
      
      If you have the energy to sprint all-out at the end of a 100-miler (heck, even a 50-miler) then you’re doing it wrong.
      
      Reply
Cody Cunningham says:

September 17, 2013 at 10:14 am

As for the Mark Twain 100, John Cash won it in 18:21 (over 3h gap to second). A great performance, especially on that course which is very rocky and rooty. I ran the 50 and he came past the start/finish for a third time (75 miles) only minutes after I finished! Great performance by him.

Reply
STU says:

September 18, 2013 at 1:49 pm

Also, Los Pinos 50K was on Saturday featuring some of the most honch SoCal ultrarunners. Results here http://livensr.com/lp13/

Reply

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