Ultramarathon Daily News, Fri, May 6

Ultramarathon News From Around the World

The WSJ blames millennials for killing the two-decade running boom, but I’m just not seeing a problem in ultramarathon/trail races, are you? What’s the average age of an ultra finisher? Or are they merely bucket listers who don’t stick around?

Didya hear our latest podcast with Nikki Kimball and Dr John Onate? We talk mental health, depression, and ultrarunning.

…and if you heard the Fartlek question with John, you can relate it to this recent post by The Angry Jogger.

Sunday is Mother’s Day. My mom is still a competitive runner at 66 and inspires me to keep my speed up for fear of getting grandmothered. Here’s my interview with her from last year, and there she is below on a trail run with me.

ultramarathon marin — My mom on the Coastal Train in the Marin Headlands.

Like AJW, I like hanging out after ultramarathons or trail races almost as much as I like running them.

New Hampshire’s Mount Washington: Because it’s steep and because it’s there.

Big weekend for big races around the world, but don’t miss this one: Saturday in Helena Montana is the Don’t Fence Me In 30k, a fairly low key event that brings an impressive field. Past winners include the Montana Mikes (Wolfe and Foote), 2012 winner Rob Krar (one of his earlier trail races before hitting the big time), multiple winner Megan Kimmel, and 2014 winners Megan (Deakins) Roche and Jim Walmsley (also one of his first trail races when he was at Malmstrom AF Base in nearby Great Falls). This year the Roches will be there, along with ’15 winner Maria Dalzot, Sonoma champ Jim Walmsley, and Mike Foote. 30k is my favorite distance to run…gotta make it up there one year!

nikki kimball ultramarathon — Nikki Kimball at AR50, mile 21.

It’s Seis de Mayo: Can running help cure your hangover?

The fire in Alberta is devastating. We as trail runners are affected by forest fires differently than others: We run out there, hike, camp, and know firsthand the beauty of what’s getting lost. Hoping all of our Canadian friends are safe and secure.

Nick Symonds sold space on his arm for $21k. Still not in the URP budget, dangit.

Actual science: The truth about HIIT.

Not effective science: Homeopathic treatments.

This writer has a very tough time comprehending a 24 hour timed event. I urge those just getting into MUT running to try timed events first.

Running on monotonous ice in the freezing cold is probably similar mentally.

What are you running this weekend???

18 Responses to "Ultramarathon Daily News, Fri, May 6"

Cb says:

May 6, 2016 at 7:12 am

Personally, the end of the running boom won’t be seen as a bad thing by me. Lower race fees and not having to register months in advance will be welcomed. While there might be fewer races to choose from, the good ones will persevere. I’d feel differently if I worked in the running industry though.

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Ian McD says:

May 6, 2016 at 8:12 am

I don’t care what anyone says, poop is funny and this was hilarious!

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Paul B says:

May 6, 2016 at 8:15 am

Fine by me if there are less people running races for exact reasons said by Cb.

Also, why do you think newer MUT runners should try a timed event first? Zero interest in running a timed event. I got into it because you get to run in awesome places and see views you don’t get from roads. If I wanted to see the same thing over and over I would stick to roads and never would have gone to MUT.

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1. eric schranz says:
  
  May 6, 2016 at 8:26 am
  
  I should have clarified. When people want to jump up to 50 milers or 100 milers, I recommend starting with a timed event first. It’s a controlled environment, easy surface, impossible to DNF, and if you can mentally handle running around a damn oval for 12 hours, you can easily handle the mountains.
  
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  1. Paul B says:
    
    May 6, 2016 at 8:42 am
    
    That makes a bit more sense. I’ll add to that for some it makes it a bit easier to quit though. You have an easy exit strategy the whole time and for some it’s easy to hop in the car. When you’re out between aid stations or at an aid station that doesn’t have access you have no exit so all you can do is push on to the next aid or if you’ve decided to sit at the current aid until it closes down so you can ride back with the volunteers you get bored or start feeling a bit better so you decide to continue on. It proves to yourself you can go further than you think. With that being said not all people are going to bail on a track some will sit and then get up later and run a bit more. I’m just more prone to the trails with not so easy access to the exit.
    
    Reply
Ian McD says:

May 6, 2016 at 8:21 am

This should come as a surprise to absolutely nobody.

“…Many homeopathic remedies consist of substances that have been diluted many times in water until there is none or almost none of the original substance left.”

Imagine if we did the same thing with coffee…

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1. Andrew says:
  
  May 6, 2016 at 9:24 am
  
  You’d be amazed at the presence of this bullshit creeping into the major academic medical centers. Homeopathy, acupuncture, reiki, etc. It drives me crazy that the hospital system I work in promotes this nonsense!
  
  Reply
  1. Meghan says:
    
    May 6, 2016 at 3:04 pm
    
    Check out Oh NO Ross and Carrie Podcast… the “test” all this stuff… it’s funny and informative…
    The only one I take and now I’m thinking I shouldn’t is Arnica??? Thoughts?
    
    Reply
    1. Andrew says:
      
      May 6, 2016 at 4:27 pm
      
      Meghan, I am fairly certain arnica is worthless also. My wife picked some up in the past not realizing it was a homeopathic preparation. I don’t specifically know much about arnica itself but I do know that the version my wife picked up was homeopathic, thus not worth what she paid!
      
      Reply
Robert says:

May 6, 2016 at 8:54 am

I am involved in putting on a lot of road races and disagree with the statement that they are traditionally dominated by young adults. Our events have always had poor representation in those age groups. The age groups tend to get much more competitive starting at about age 35 and don’t drop off until well after age 50. I always attributed it to family, career and social responsibilities taking precedence in young adults. When their kids get older, and they find themselves with more time for a sport that requires training, with maybe a body sagging from years of neglect, is when they turn to activities like running. What I have seen is an onslaught of non-competitive gimmicky runs – color runs, donut runs, chocolate Sunday runs, inflatable obstacles, etc. that attract newer and often younger participants. Unfortunately, these are often poorly run, overcrowded and overpriced and in the long run turn people off to organized running events.Reference

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Andrew says:

May 6, 2016 at 9:21 am

Yes Eric! Thank you for posting that article about the quackery to rule all quackeries! You probably get annoyed with my occasional post about some pseudoscience in the occasional articles. Props to you. Also thanks for the excellent podcast on depression. Best

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Allen Lucas says:

May 6, 2016 at 9:28 am

Considering how many races I’ve been terrorized by yellow jackets, it’s a bit weird to be running a trail race to benefit bees. https://lahpathwaysrun.orgReference

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Chris says:

May 6, 2016 at 9:55 am

Love that 7 sisters gets a call out in the Mount Washington article. That race (7 sisters) did more damage to me than any race I’ve ever participated in. It’s happening this Sunday

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Sam in Oakland says:

May 6, 2016 at 10:14 am

In Defense of Millennials: A wee bit of historical memory might reveal the non-competitive, faddish trends that Baby Boomers embraced:

– Aerobics
– Body-building
– Richard Simmons
– Jazzercise
– Spinning
– Pilates
– Thighmaster
– Bowflex home gyms
– Armstrong-era recreational cycling (how many 40-plus guys do you know who DON’T own a carbon-fiber bike?)
– Karate
– Rumba Fitness

My sense is the causal narrative outlined here is incorrect. Millennials are no more ephemeral in their interests than their materialist, high-spending parents. But running marathons are expensive. Increasing financial insecurity, absurdly high rates of student debt, and a crumbling sense of career stability are probably more likely culprits in the shift toward more flexible workout regimes.

I’m also pretty certain that the Baby Boomer generation bears the blunt of the blame in the death of amateur sport. But, that is another topic altogether…Reference

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1. Cb says:
  
  May 6, 2016 at 11:23 am
  
  I’m not sure finances are the reason for the shift away from running. Xfit and the other booming activities are awfully expensive. I think it had more to do with placing priorities on overall health ahead of competition. While I’m a runner and love it, there are other workout regimes that promote better overall fitness.
  
  Reply
jesse says:

May 6, 2016 at 11:17 am

This weekend? Redwoods 30k. A steep and beautiful local race. Love the interview your mum. I have to do mother’s day x 2: UK (March) and US dates are different.

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Brent says:

May 6, 2016 at 12:31 pm

My first MUT race was a 24hr. It was my training for my first Ironman.. I could only make it 14.5hrs, then my legs literally quit working. Loved it ever since!Reference

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SCottieB says:

May 8, 2016 at 3:13 pm

Homeopathic hair-splitting here, but if there is an actual ‘placebo effect’ then aren’t people who buy into homeopathy simply buying into giving the placebo effect a chance to have some positive influence on whatever it is they are dealing with? Given that some more proven effective drugs can have unwanted side effects, I can understand the urge to try and seek a solution by other means. I don’t make an excuse for ‘manufacturers’ who are really taking these people to the cleaners, and I don’t like folks who proselytize for alternative medicine like it’s the only medicine (or in some cases ‘real medicine’), but, like running an ultra, if half the battle of healing is having a positive attitude can we just dismiss the homeopathic placebo as a tool in the kit because it doesn’t test well?

Reply

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