Ultramarathon Daily News | Fri, Jan 10

UROY Countdown: Brittany Peterson and Tim Tollefson roll in at #6.

And here are the FKTOY awards for #5, 4, and 3.

Toni Reavis: Toni has some interesting ideas for updating athletics. While his recommendations focus on field events, I’m curious what changes he’s propose for running events. Only one I can think of recently was the mixed gender relays, which seemed to be a flop. I can’t think of any changes (outside of ya, know, actual coverage) of MUT events that could make our silly sport appeal to more people. You?

WMRA: The World Mountain Running Association announces its World Cup schedule for 2020, including one North American event. See you at Broken Arrow!

Market trends and forecasts for energy gel companies. I’ve gotta believe we’re near saturation point, right?

Outside: Rickey Gates is the rambling poet of the running world. Good bio on a cool, authentic guy.

The Daily Mail, your trusted source for “I used to be a vegan, but now I eat raw lamb brains and I feel bloody great!” diet advice.

iRunFar: Lottery/points winners for the various UTMB events. The number of top runners and events is overwhelming. Wish there were some more clarification/understanding on Kilian’s position at the race.

Semi-Rad: Stock photos of people unnecessarily using laptops in nature.

TrailSisters: Running on your period.

AP: The IOC details rules on political protests at Olympic Games. The self-importance and hypocrisy of some of these athletes should be embarrassing, but to what degree should their speech/actions be controlled? I don’t have an answer for that.

Podium Runner: This group of runners have finished sub 3 marathons in five different calendar decades…70s, 80s, 90s, 00s, and teens. Now they are headed for 6DS3.
Here’s a challenge for Western States stats folks: Twiet went <24hr in the 80s, 90s, and 00s, (and by all accounts shoulda/coulda in the 10s.) What’s the next best streak?

TrailRunner: What’s the perfect pre-race breakfast? Ask the RDN has an answer. Personally, if I’m at home or if it’s available, it’s oatmeal. If not, whatever bar I buy at the grocery store the night before, then whatever fruit I can find in the hotel lobby. Then sometimes I just trust my body.

Sunny and I are both running One Day in Auburn on Sunday. It’ll be her first real long run (we’re both doing the 6 hour), and I really thing this is the perfect format for a kid who wants to run long “by themselves”, but still be safe from a parenting perspective. She can run 20 minutes, then eat pizza for the remaining time if she wants, or she can run the whole time. Up to her. I’ll be staggering/walking/jogging around the track focusing on myself.
And how cool–for any age!–to get to run on the storied Placer High track?!? Pre-race shakeout on Saturday will be a three hour, all ages Nerf battle.

Forbes: I sure hope this transcon rails to trails gets completed in my lifetime.

URP note: Yes, still recording, but taking a short break during house remodel. Between loss of power, hammering, or, yes, the total destruction/removal of my old studio, I hope to record again next week.

11 Responses to "Ultramarathon Daily News | Fri, Jan 10"

Henry Stevens says:

January 10, 2020 at 6:40 am

Your link to the IOC story is broken. The self-importance and hypocrisy of some of these bloggers should be embarrassing, but to what degree should Eric’s speech be controlled? Probably very little.

Reply
1. eric schranz says:
  
  January 10, 2020 at 6:47 am
  
  Fixed it. Hope it works.
  
  Reply
SteelTownRunner says:

January 10, 2020 at 7:15 am

>> I can’t think of any changes (outside of ya, know, actual coverage) of MUT events that could make our silly sport appeal to more people. You?

I don’t think the spot silly, not any more than tennis, golf, cricket, rugby, soccer, etc. and not sure routinely calling it such does it any PR favors. That said, actively seeking ways to grow a sport with diverse aspects (skyrunning, fixed time multiday running, etc) that has no unifying governing body, etc sounds like herding cats. Is that a goal? Should it be?

As far as ultra streaking goes, I believe Frank Bozanich has won an ultra in 5 different decades.

Reply
1. eric schranz says:
  
  January 10, 2020 at 7:21 am
  
  It’s a term of endearment, nothing more.
  
  Reply
Henry Stevens says:

January 10, 2020 at 7:20 am

It did, thanks! The IOC’s guidelines linked in that article are pretty hilarious. Outlawing “demonstrations” of “religious propaganda” “on the field of play” renders any athlete who makes the sign of the cross, puts their hands together in prayer, points to the sky in celebration, or thanks god—or the equivalent gestures for non-Christian religions—in violation of Rule 50. That would catch a huge fraction of athletes competing in US-based sporting events! But, based on the pictures chosen for the article, the rules are apparently to be understood as focused on banning demonstrations of anti-racism, which I guess some people think is at odds with the values of the Olympic movement.

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1. eric schranz says:
  
  January 10, 2020 at 8:29 am
  
  I agree Henry. It’s a very difficult list to compile as societal, religious and political factors all have to somehow be equaled out. Impossible. Hope basic self control and respect are considered first.
  
  Reply
Jay D says:

January 10, 2020 at 7:33 am

In terms of growing this silly sport… I don’t get why MUT isn’t seriously considered as an Olympic sport. You’ve got elite athletes from all over Europe, from the US, from Canada, massive growth coming from China, and I’m sure you’d attract runners from East Africa as well. More the shorter races – the Joe Gray stuff – that’s a little more exciting and has a little danger to it. The sport would inherently show off the host country’s most beautiful, scenic areas.

Reply
SteelTownRunner says:

January 10, 2020 at 8:22 am

I for one, am not keen on seeing it turn into an Olympic sport, with all of the inevitable ensuing corruption, politics, etc. As is, and this is a bit of a mixed bag IMO, the number of Olympic marathoners was drastically cut this olympic cycle (the reason behind the new 2:11:30 / 2:29:30 standards). While traditional running events are getting hacked, I’m not sure I’d rather see ultra events, even though my primary interest as a spectator is for longer distances. Generally, events included in the Olympics have enough popularity that the sports are banging on the IOC’s door for inclusion. When one sport is added, a different one is axed. It’s hard to know which is the cart and which the horse as far as getting east African participation. As is, Comrades is a big stage, and few if any east Africans run it. Saroma has sizeable participation nearly the same weekend in Japan, and there are east Africans who run in Japan (Sammy Wanjiru perhaps the most well known), and that hasn’t really tempted any.

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Peter Andersson says:

January 10, 2020 at 9:10 am

Popeye knew his breakfast – Spinach is the thing! Add it to anything and your run will benefit from it.

Also, homemade pizza with frozen spinach added instead of tomato sauce is +1 or +2 on the original thing, Just saying.

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Rachel Wrightson says:

January 10, 2020 at 10:28 am

Why just “hope” the Great American Rail Trail gets completed when you can *help* it get completed by donating to Rails-to-Trails Conservancy https://www.railstotrails.org/ ?!

Reply
Nicolas says:

January 12, 2020 at 11:02 am

Those damned self important athletes, using their stage and influence to express solidarity when instead we could all be enjoying the corruption of the IOC, economic suicide of hosting cities, and wondrous achievements of a sizeable fraction of doped athletes! They really have no respect for the stuff that really matters.

Reply

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