Ultramarathon and Trail Running Daily News

The debate over FKT claims finds its way to Ryan and Ryno’s Great Himalayan Trail project. What do you think?

In case ya missed it, TheNorthFace’s parent corporation VF Corp purchased Altra.

We humans aren’t designed for sprints. We’re built for ultramarathons.

Take something as simple as running socks and mix it up with blockchain, and I have no f’ing idea what I’m reading.

How in the world have I never heard of this guy? Fascinating story about a reclusive 80-something year old trail runner living in a bus high in the mountains outside of BC. Anxious to see the full film. Something tells me he wouldn’t be up for a podcast…

Mountain Running 101 with Max King.

This article about the lone US journalist covering the Paralympics is both positive and depressing. Positive because it shows the athletes in real form and highlights their accessibility and uplifting attitudes…And depressing because there’s only one person there catching the story.

Malta is one of those countries I had to think about….wait, where is that again? There’s a pretty incredible looking ultramrathon taking place this year that you may want to check out.

I don’t listen to podcasts, but this one is compelling and I may have to break the seal: How to create wicked single track in your neighborhood with the CIty’s approval (and checkbook.)

Sarah and I have two very cool interviews to record on Monday…stay tuned or head on over to the $12 Patron lounge for more info and a chance to get your questions in.

Improve your running game and get ready for summer: The three best core exercises for runners.

Compared to ultramarathon and trail events, this is almost a quaint proposal: Alcohol may be sold soon at swim meets?

Ladies, another reason to stay in shape.

Probably not surprising: Japan dominates Asian XC Championships.

Do you have a “Trail Treadmill?” Mine would be on the Western States course, in between ALT and Brown’s Bar. Though I don’t run it as often as I used to, I know it like the back of my hand and love every single inch of it. You?

AJW says:

March 15, 2018 at 7:52 am

My trail treadmill: that’s easy, also the WS course. The section from Devils Thumb to Michigan Bluff. Past the pump, the cemetery, Kaput Spring, 14 minute tree, the crossover with the 4wd trail, the two creek crossings and finally “the sign”. Ahh, I can smell the manzanita all the way over here.

JOEL says:

March 15, 2018 at 8:14 am

Assuming everything in the letter from Himalyan Adventure Labs is accurate, it (1) bothers me if Ryan, Ryno, Salomon, Redbull..etc. don’t come entirely clean in how they frame and market what they actually did/attempted especially in the larger context of the other routes that exist and (2) given what was explained about how much easier their route is relative to what many others have done before them, I question why they even choose to pursue this outing in the first place.

I think this is the ugly side of FKTs in that (1) instead of celebrating just a super awesome running adventure through big mountains we’re forced to scrutinize what was actually done and (2) sometimes people take way too many liberties in their interpretation/making of a meaningful FKT claim. Just my two cents…

arvidmcfly says:

March 15, 2018 at 10:46 am

This Himalayan project FKT attempt sort of gives me the same feeling I get when I hear about someone cheating at an ultra race- unfortunate and disappointing. Makes me think less of Salomon for sure.

Matt says:

March 16, 2018 at 5:07 am

I don’t think they are trying to mislead people as the article suggests. They clearly state their intentions on the redbull website and reference those other FKT’s as well. From the Redbull site, Ryno explained: “It’s clear that one can’t claim a single FKT with the above attempts varying so much. Therefore we’re challenging Andrew Porter’s FKT as set in October 2016. To be regarded as a fair challenge, we must start and finish at the points set by him, traverse west to east and visit the 10 checkpoints in between, as set by Andrew.”

1. JOEL says:
  
  March 16, 2018 at 9:58 am
  
  Matt – thanks for the additional details. Sounds to me like they have been clear/transparent in the details and good on them…, but maybe the concern is that the headlines from Salomon and others will simply read “New FKT for Great Himalayan Trail” without all the qualifiers.

Andrew says:

March 15, 2018 at 8:50 am

Max King stole a strava segment from me yesterday. I’ve never felt cooler.

nasmorn says:

March 16, 2018 at 6:07 am

Probably on his recovery run :).
Happend to me. I had this one legit segment(where people actually run) and some local hot shot did it with a heart rate of 20 beats less, beating me by some margin. When I got the segment it was my weeks hardest effort.

Todd says:

March 15, 2018 at 9:27 am

What what I’ve been watching of the Paralympics, NBC is there in force.
The athlete bios and commentator info is as detailed as you’d expect

Sarah Lavender Smith says:

March 15, 2018 at 1:26 pm

Perhaps this is a sign that competitor.com is struggling since its ownership changeover: the two articles you linked to above from Competitor are recycled from a few years ago & reposted. I think they’re recycling a lot of old content now. You might check out & consider linking to Brian Metzler (former ed in chief of Competitor) new online publication motivrunning.com. Also, I too had to look on a map to remember where Malta is! That ultra looks awesome, in the middle of the Mediterranean.

Ultramarathon and Trail Running Daily News | Thursday, March 15

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