Ultramarathon and Trail Running Daily News | Thurs, July 21

Ultrarunning/Stern: What’s up in the ultramarathon and trail racing scene this weekend? Cascade Crest, Speedgoat….anything else happening on the East Coast?

Follow along as Jared Beasley (guest/author for the Al Howie episode) trains for his first Backyard Ultra.

Great essay by Sarah about how efficiently and thoroughly an aid station can run. In this piece, she uses her insider view of the Animas Forks a/s at Hardrock as a perfect example.

Speaking of Hardrock, here’s a quick photo essay of Shad Mika’s first time running the storied event.

Take everything you know about the history of the Western States trail and Gordy Ainsleigh and throw it in the garbage. (At least, according to this post by Davy Crockett.)

We speak as though contentment means we cease to be driven to improve. But contentment is not at odds with improvement. In fact, it offers a sturdier ground for improvement than a lack of contentment does because there is rest and security in contentment, instead of feelings of inadequacy or loss. It is difficult to sustain improvement, long-term, driven by a sense of inadequacy. Feeling inadequate is exhausting.

–Another spectacular piece of writing and thinking by Sabrina Little.

Is it fair to block someone on social media because of their association with someone with whom you disagree on a few issues? Lize Brittin makes her point right here. (And FWIW, I know Lize and I don’t agree on everything, but she’ll still likely share this post because that’s what mature, intellectually honest people are able to do.)

SCMP: What should/can be done about the increase of TikTok/Insta influencers clogging up the best destinations in the world?

If you’re in the SF Bay Area, do yourself a favor and take a day trip over to Angel Island. Aside from the fascinating– and troubling–history, the island has great views of the City, Alcatraz, Golden Gate Bridge, and yo, the trails are awesome! Weekends get a bit busy, but we had them all to ourselves yesterday. Besides, it was 103 degrees in Sacramento and only 72 in the Bay. (Also: The lockers have been removed since I was there last, so if you need to stash a jacket after the ferry ride, you’ll have to leave it on a bench or take it with you.)

Question: Who should be in the front of the starting line at a race? My answer is the people who are going to run the fastest. It shouldn’t matter if you’re planning on being first place kid or first place female, it seems like common sense that those up front are those who’ll be running the fastest. If you disagree, please let me know.

12 Responses to "Ultramarathon and Trail Running Daily News | Thurs, July 21"

stewthebassman says:

July 21, 2022 at 9:41 am

Okay well, I’ll take a stab at this. The fastest runners should be at the front regardless of their class. It’s dangerous having 5 minute runners trying to pass 8 minute runners on rocky trails. Plus, slower runners can cause bottlenecks if they have somehow blocked out faster runners on climbs close to the start line. Is that the correct answer?

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1. eric schranz says:
  
  July 21, 2022 at 9:46 am
  
  Well yeah, of course it is. Common sense, safety, fairness, etc.
  I brought it up because I read something about “Trail Sisters Approved Races” where they demand women have equal space at the front on the starting line. If they’re fast enough to be there, then hell yes, get up to the front! But if they’ll be passed in the first few hundred meters, it simply doesn’t make sense. Maybe I’m reading it wrong? Would they also advocate for kids to be up front? How about those competing in the adaptive division?
  
  Reply
stewthebassman says:

July 21, 2022 at 9:48 am

I figured there was an “equity” aspect to this. Sigh. If my daughter were a fast runner and yet was still a minute behind some of the other ladies and gents I would worry if she put herself on the front of the line. Elbows, shows, tripping. What is the point?

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micahward says:

July 21, 2022 at 10:28 am

The article from Davy Crockett is very interesting. I think there could be two explanations for why the story of the Fort Riley soldiers has been buried. First is that Gordy is a local and had been part of the Tevis Cup. So, it’s a nice narrative for a local guy to be the first to complete the course on foot.

The second reason though has to do with time and place. The soldiers were Vietnam vets, and the time was 1972. America was still in the throes of the Vietnam experience and much of society had very low opinions of the military and especially those who had served in Vietnam. I don’t know if California was as liberal then as it is now but if so, that could have been an underlying motive to ignore what the soldier’s did and instead bestow the honor on Gordy.

I also have to say that I was very disappointed to see Gordy make what I consider to be disparaging remarks about the soldier’s march. Come on, anyone who covers 100 miles on foot in one continuous effort deserves respect. It doesn’t matter how long it takes them.

Maybe I’m over sensitive because I am a veteran. But even though my service came post-Vietnam, I’ve always considered how the Vietnam vets were treated upon their return to be a national embarrassment. I can’t say that I will look at Western States in the same way that I have in the past.

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Luke B says:

July 21, 2022 at 11:19 am

You may have noted this previously, but interesting to see that Ouray 100 gives out unequal prize money… with the top female receiving an extra 25%. Are there any other notable races doing that?

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Sabrina Little says:

July 21, 2022 at 11:20 am

Thanks, Eric!

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Karen Green says:

July 21, 2022 at 1:01 pm

This article discusses races that pay women more. Kudos to RD Jim Skaggs.

https://www.outsideonline.com/culture/opinion/bigger-cash-prize-women-antelope-fall-island-50k/

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Scott S says:

July 21, 2022 at 2:29 pm

To their credit, on their “How It All Began” webpage WSER does in fact acknowledge the achievement of the soldiers who finished in 1972. They don’t claim Gordy was the first person to ever finish on foot but rather as the first to finish the course within the Tevis Cup’s 24 hour limit.

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1. eric schranz says:
  
  July 21, 2022 at 4:37 pm
  
  It’s a strange position Davy is taking, isn’t it? Seems that when you get down to it, both he and WS agree on the basics, but but diverge once the race became famous.
  
  Reply
striveterry says:

July 22, 2022 at 7:53 am

Gordy’s response to Davy’s article is here: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02Er7ch8GbhXx8uW3Rf4iCSkkuZJJv3Tdr2rmFazy7zpQyYm83bmPcGW6jj1aAyQEWl&id=694619405

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scott says:

July 27, 2022 at 8:56 am

The lore of States is fun but when someone claims to have invented 100 mile trailrunning and that’s objectively false (both in his own actual distance and the existence of prior events) you have to take the rest of what they say with a tab of salt.

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scott says:

July 27, 2022 at 9:01 am

To the credit of western states, they had a lady on the livestream this year who was one of the founders and she was very specific in her wording to talk about Gordy being the first runner to finish and never claimed States was the first 100 miler, first trail 100 miler or anything like that.
This comes after Dylan Bowman last year saying Gordy and States “showed the world someone can run 100 miles in one day” or something like that.
While I didn’t catch the entire stream, I never saw Dylan going full propaganda so I think they’re actively trying to keep their media as truthful as possible now.

Reply

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