Trail Running Daily News | Wed, April 24

Salomon: Max, Mario, an a few other runner take a group of young kids to trail running camp in Tahoe for a week they’ll never forget. Man, I wish I had the resources to do stuff like this! Nice work fellas!

Ultra168: Dan analyses the new UTMB scoring system and comes to the same conclusion as everyone (though many are afraid to say it) : It’s the Poletti’s race and they can do what they want with it, but it’s just one big cash grab and it’s changing the sport for the worse.

Trail Sisters: More kids running trails! If we want this silly sport to survive and flourish, we’ve got to play the long game and invest in this upcoming generation of trail rippers. Nice!

MassUltra: While throngs of people took to the streets between Hopkinton and Boston, these trail runners ran the annual “Don’t Run Boston” 50k a few towns away.

Outside: MTBers in Boulder and Nedeland Colorado are in a fierce battle over trail use. I’m curious where trail runners fit into this story.

Mountain Outhouse: Sonoma wrap up, Anton back to the trails, and more UTMB analysis. (I’d love to see a “day in the life” of Jamil Coury that shows how he juggles all these different ventures…anyone?)

Per Angela Schrute (and yeah, probably some ad money from Heineken), Friday is Bring Your Beer to Work Day. Use it as a way to introduce yourself to NA beers and to start some sh*t in the office. I’d highly recommend Athletic Brewing’s Run Wild IPA or Lagunitas Hop Water or for something less hoppy, a Paulener Weizen Radler.

It’s getting hot in here: Got a race planned for early summer but you’re living in cooler climates? David Roche offers up some ideas on how to acclimatize to warmer climates and learn to tolerate the heat.

Runners World: Mom pushes stroller with 8mo daughter to new half marathon WR. For those who’ve never run with a stroller, this is a lot more than just speed. This is timing and bulletproof instincts to get the kid changed, fed, and down at the right time so you can get your run in. This is about hearing a little whimper (while running 6mpm, no less) and assessing whether it’s going to blow up into something huge. And this is about grabbing a handful of Goldfish from the cupholder and hurling them at just the right trajectory that they’ll land on the child, buying you another 10 minutes to run. Mad props, mamma.

What’s it like to be 18 and run an ultra?

Ultrarunning Mag: Coach Matt Laye writes about the role of protein during our runs. Turns out it’s kinda important.

Beer: Sierra Nevada steps up with a Pail Ales for Trails that’ll help maintain our incredible public trail system.

14 Responses to "Trail Running Daily News | Wed, April 24"

KS Petty says:

April 24, 2019 at 8:13 am

I’ve watched a number of speedy road racers push children. Two weeks back, I watched a 5k where the second- and third-place runners tore by with strollers at sub-6 pace. Many marvel at the tenacity of the runner, but I read these results and records as selfish.

The mom on WR pace conveniently believes her baby wants to join her. “But she actually never fusses when we run together; in fact, she only fusses when she doesn’t get to join me.” Please.

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David says:

April 24, 2019 at 9:41 am

Trail runners (as well as hikers and equestrians) around Colorado have very little say in how trails are maintained or constructed. Often, the MTB groups have already worked back room deals with the land managers to change trails and the work begins before the public is even aware. Often, trails are changed or built specifically for mountain bike traffic to the detriment of other users. We had a local trail rerouted by the Colorado Mountain Bike Alliance that turned a one mile section of trail into 1.6 miles, with nonstop switchback and dips that make running it miserable and running downhill jarring to your knees and joints. This work change was organized between the land manager and the mountain bike group without any public notice or solicitation for input. They are slowly turning public trails into mountain bike parks.

I have contacted the land manager numerous times about this particular trail and always get the same canned response that this type of trail is the best practice and has nothing to do with MTBs and that I, as a runner, should feel grateful that they reduced the overall grade of the trail so that it is easier to run.

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Nick says:

April 24, 2019 at 9:57 am

Not exactly privy to the Ned situation, but as someone who lives in Boulder and used to live in Fort Collins, I can’t help but share some of the Ned riders’ disdain for this situation.

Each trail that a mountain bike group adopted in Horsetooth Mountain Open Space or the Maxwell Open Space up in Fort Collins was summarily gutted and made to be long, looping, smooth, and horribly uninteresting. The machine-building is fast, but it kills the character of trails and cannot rival the attention to detail of hand tool construction.

Sawmill on Horsetooth Mountain is the perfect example – used to be a quick descent with lots of lightning-fast switchbacks and dry creek gulches. Really felt like a rush as the ridge dumped you sharply onto the prairie. Now? The bottom is a looping mess of an ascent, the switchbacks are easily 100m long, and most of the obstacles are gone. The trail used to occupy a very small fraction of this particular hillside, and now it quite literally criss-crosses the whole damn hillside like a fat tattoo on the landscape.

Also, I know we “all own” public lands, but locals tend to use local systems more often, and I think they should get a good share of the input on projects in their backyard. As a resident of Boulder, it does not surprise me that there is a contingent of Boulderites that imagine they can override Nederland locals on this issue. Ned is a tourist attraction for Boulder – ski Eldora in the winter, bike Mag in summer, use it as a hub for hiking. You’d have to be considerate to notice that people actually live there and want to preserve the character of their town!

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Todd says:

April 24, 2019 at 10:20 am

Amusing that the land of Lilliput that is Boulder has almost zero MTB trail access.

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cdetravel says:

April 24, 2019 at 12:45 pm

I just ran this trail for the first time since the re-route and it was awful! I told my husband I hoped to never run it again because the re-route is so bad. A mountain biker stopped me at the top and asked me what I thought and I told her it was terrible. And she agreed with me! Now this makes sense – I was wondering who had been in charge of such a bad decision.

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Brian says:

April 24, 2019 at 2:56 pm

KS “Petty” indeed. Let’s look at what you’re saying here.

-“I read these results and records as selfish.”
So, the mother has no right to push herself? She shouldn’t run if she can’t leave the child elsewhere? Why are you bothering to comment on this?

-“The mom on WR pace conveniently believes her baby wants to join her. “But she actually never fusses when we run together; in fact, she only fusses when she doesn’t get to join me.” Please.”
Ah yes. I’m very sure that you are more in tune with the child’s desires better than the child’s mother.

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KS Petty says:

April 24, 2019 at 3:39 pm

I will respond plainly and clearly.

– She isn’t just “pushing herself”; she is pushing a stroller. I am “bothering to comment on this” because I have run with 1 and 2 children in jogging strollers, witnessed people racing with children to both set records and podium, and read recent safety concerns (https://www.consumerreports.org/jogging-strollers/what-you-need-to-know-if-you-have-a-bob-jogging-stroller/). My experiences have led me to believe that the welfare of the child should not be compromised so that the runner can distinguish his or herself. By your logic, drivers have the right to operate a vehicle as they see fit regardless of who is in the car. I see that as inconsiderate.

– I did not say that I am more in tune with the child’s desires. I pointed out the way the runner justifies her decisions. I did so to support my argument that the choice is rooted in selfishness.

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Mike H says:

April 24, 2019 at 10:39 pm

@KS Petty: Note that a 2nd and 3rd place runner pushing a stroller would likely be competing for a win without a stroller. I once missed a $200 2nd place payday in a soft field one time because I chose to run with my kids, so how distinguished and selfish is that?

As a stroller runner, while I can see potential judgment from others at times, overwhelmingly, we receive positive comments from people who never thought to run a bit hard with a stroller — often semi-competitive folks who think they’d lose fitness, so they stress out about solo workouts and babysitters. If they ask further, I could tell them more about 50-60M weeks with the stroller when I was a SAHD, and how awesome and adaptable the kids are at napping. As for safety: nobody bats an eye at strapping kids into tank-like SUVs for a couple-mile trip to Chik-Fil-A, but certainly call child services if you see someone running with a stroller in the neighborhood.

Do all young kids always enjoy it? It’s a strangely judgmental question — kids fuss at grocery stores and library reading time, yet it’s all a part of raising them in society, spending time with them, and providing experiences. Similarly, I took my firstborn to an MLB game when he was about a month old. My Dad asked, “why? That’s pointless, he won’t remember it.” 4 years later, my son has pictures and stories he asks, over and over. At least he had the chance to see how happy we are to share everything together. Running and sharing that time together are woven into his development.

No apologies.

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1. eric schranz says:
  
  April 25, 2019 at 5:26 am
  
  100% agree. Well said, Mike.
  
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Nicolas says:

April 25, 2019 at 7:36 am

It’s only anecdotal evidence, but my experience running with a stroller has been only positive. I’m using the Thule Chariot Cougar, arguably a solid, dependable, safe (if expensive) product. I’m of course being careful when I run with my kid, but I’m much much less afraid than I am when taking her in the child seat on my bike, or even walking on the street for that matter. I’ve run fast 5Ks with her, which she’s found lots of fun and other people very cute. In fact, she demands the stroller quite regularly—usually a fair indicator of a child’s not hating something. Running around in the stroller also gives her to see lots of things going on in the world—people, trucks, birds, squirrels, she can read, listen to music, nap, or simply chill out. I think it’s a wonderful thing to do with your kid. Chasing records on top of that may not t warrant lavish praise or admiration, but they’re fine.

I understand KS’s concerns, but they overgeneralize: there is nothing short of staying home and keeping them on a leash (and even then, no guarantee) that will keep your children 100% safe. While some people may be putting their pride over their child’s safety, I’m charitably assuming that most of these runners are genuinely concerned with their child’s pleasure and safety and would adjust their conduct accordingly if needed. Also, records are selfish anyway, with or without a stroller.

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1. eric schranz says:
  
  April 25, 2019 at 8:08 am
  
  Agreed completely. My kids both started in the BOB (then the Chariot) at 4 weeks old and loved it.
  
  Reply
KS Petty says:

April 25, 2019 at 8:20 am

I agree with almost everything you’re saying. I run with my kids, and have loved the time we’ve shared both on the course and off. I logged countless runs with a chatting/napping/pensive infant or toddler. I have no issues with stroller runners; I’m reacting to stroller racers, and the tag that engaging in the activity warrants a “world record.”

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Mike H says:

April 25, 2019 at 9:33 am

@KS Petty:
Roll on, brother!
When you brought up safety concerns and selfishness, it set some things off for me…Mostly, the frustrating irony of when we (you as well, it sounds like) are trying to do something fun and what we think is good for our kids, yet get criticized as it being the opposite. That sentiment can meant that some/many races have boilerplate language excluding strollers for ‘safety.’ I see how the attention of stroller records is a bit more extreme, but I still see mostly the good side of parents (moms in particular) celebrating fitness (and body recovery/body image) within the challenges of new parenthood.

@Nick and @cdetravel:
Ha, totally agree with dismay on FoCo (and other northern Colorado) trail sanitation! Worse, the mentioned example was an expensive re-route.
Runners need more input and contribution on trail design, but have historically been behind mtb. in size and advocacy. Fortunately, that’s changing, with several FoCO-area runners now trained as trail crew leaders, plus volunteers. Look to trailcats.org, nocotrailconditions, and Gnar Runners.
@Nick: See you at Quad Rock in a few weeks?!

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1. eric schranz says:
  
  April 25, 2019 at 9:49 am
  
  Interesting that it’s only dads in this discussion?
  
  Reply

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