Ultramarathon Daily News | Mon, Feb 6

Ultramarathon weekend recap, courtesy of Ultrarunning Magazine. I was out watching a few new ARs get set at the Jed Smith Ultra Classic and the conditions were perfect! Good to see a lot of familiar faces out there pushing through the multiple laps.

I’m starting off my week with the sounds and sights of the trails, courtesy of Billy Yang’s latest video.

AJW analyses the UROY and TROY awards for 2022.

Jed Smith Ultramarathon. Sacramento, CA. Pic by me. — Jed Smith Ultra Classic. Sacramento, CA. Pic by me.

How did I miss Allie Mac signing with HOKA? Allie is one of my favorite runners to watch and she only seems to be getting better.

If you want to hear John Lacroix rambling unsophisticated nonsense about me for over ten minutes (“it is time to cancel Eric Schranz!!!“), head on over to his latest podcast (starts at 13min) and check it out. If you’re a regular reader, you’ll recognize his name from this issue (be sure to read the comments) and you’ll likely notice that many of his assertions are simply and provably not true. I’ll just leave it there.

Pro surfer Bethany Hamilton will not compete in World Surfing League events until it changes its new policy on trans athletes.

Are there too many podcasts? Matt Walsh from Trailmix ponders the trends.

New initiative to get more kids interested in trail and mountain running. My daughter Sunny (13) went to Max King’s Youth Trail Running Camp last year and is signed up to go again this June. It’s a great way to connect kids with nature, trail stewardship, and racing skills and gets an enthusiastic thumbs up from she and her friends.

Fegy inches closer to completing 100 ultramarathons and it looks like Hardrock (part of the WS/HR double) will be his hundredth.. Do you agree with his definition of an “ultra finish”?

Speaking of doubles, Liam on Twitter (definitely give this guy a follow) analyzed everyone who’s done various doubles around the world and compiled them all on a spreadsheet. Great analysis and fun comments.

Nick Triolo (for Trailrunner Mag) writes about the five main formats for ultramarathons (timed, international, Last Person Standing, etc) and discusses his thoughts. Was he missing any? Got a favorite? And for the record, I love the term “promiscuous running.”

Just got an alert that Pliny the Younger is being poured at a pub near my house and I didn’t bat an eye. It’s a great beer, but that part of my life seems like soooo long ago.

Alison Wade’s latest installment of Women’s Running results from around the world.

Real talk about performance nutrition from the folks at Sun Drunk Runs.

It’s a crazy world out there and this trail runner wasn’t going to be a victim of sexual assault. I’d love to know more about this woman. Did she have training? A weapon?

Rather than getting angry at an ultramarathon event disrupting their camp, this couple used it as an inspiration to try one someday.

Brining the Leave No Trace ethos to different countries and cultures around the world.

Happy Monday!

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18 Responses to "Ultramarathon Daily News | Mon, Feb 6"

Peter Savage: Glorious purpose (@pcsavage) says:

February 6, 2023 at 6:24 am

There are way too many podcasts in which the same people endlessly interview each other.

Reply
scottywk2 says:

February 6, 2023 at 7:17 am

I don’t think the MUT scene can sustain a bunch of podcasts that will provide a living to someone. That being said, if it’s just for the love of it, or adjacent to and as a sales device for other services (i.e. coaches and RD’s) there’s really no limit to the number that will come about. I think eventually they will stop because it’s a ton of work and the payoff is relatively small. I think the motive for doing the podcast is really key. If you don’t have a great why, you probably won’t succeed, and you’ll give up at some point. Don’t forget…there’s a lot of very popular and high profile folks who’s podcasts just faded away.

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1. eric schranz says:
  
  February 6, 2023 at 10:51 am
  
  It’s a tough industry. I was able to make a meager living at it for a couple of years but now that market seems to be over saturated. There are plenty of good shows, but how long will they last? I’m not sure.
  
  Reply
Mark Witte (@markwise37) says:

February 6, 2023 at 7:40 am

Eric, keep up the good fight against voices like LaCroix’s and others who are unwilling to stand up for women’s rights in sport. I hear your voice and comments on many platforms taking this right stand and you need to know you are supported. You’re on the right side of history and the right side of inclusion and caring for women.

Reply
1. eric schranz says:
  
  February 6, 2023 at 10:50 am
  
  Thanks Mark! I appreciate the support.
  
  Reply
scottywk2 says:

February 6, 2023 at 12:30 pm

I’m lucky. I don’t need to make a living from it. I just want to change the world. It’s for sure a labor of love.

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Scott S says:

February 6, 2023 at 2:00 pm

LaCroix seems like someone who means well but has a very combative “I’m right, you’re wrong” attitude with everything. It’s a shame that he felt the need to publicly attack you instead of starting a respectful discussion. I’ve listened to some of his podcasts and read his posts and in general he’s just never able to accept that other people have other opinions that are just as valid as his and yes some people do care about the race and their results and what pros are up to.

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1. eric schranz says:
  
  February 6, 2023 at 3:50 pm
  
  Combine that attitude/personality with the alleged propensity to harass runners and it’s a pretty strange combination. I’m sure he’s a great RD but maybe stay away from media?
  
  Reply
Austin says:

February 6, 2023 at 9:20 pm

Dude cheated on his wife repeatedly, even with participants in his own events, and lied about it to them. By his own admission. See the comments.
Anyone who calls themselves “Sherpa” as a nickname….that is all you need to know, really.
His writing, while insightful in a way, is basically just innuendo and hearsay, mixed in with things that anyone could write, in a rambling fashion. Thankfully the West Coast doesn’t have to deal with the likes of certain RDs in the Rockies and East Coast.

Reply
scottywk2 says:

February 7, 2023 at 7:04 am

I think it’s wrong and kinda hurtful to post some of these personal comments and attacks. I think it crosses a line. I think its fine to agree/disagree with the comments made in the public podcast or in the blog, but to attack someone’s personal life or try to psychoanalyze them publicly in a comment section seems a bridge too far.

And even if you believe there is a wrong on the other side, that doesn’t make it right.

Reply
Alberto says:

February 7, 2023 at 7:28 am

Fair enough scotty. I feel strongly that many people would feel the same (and I know the ones in person that do) if they listened to and read the several years of available comments. By nature of the sport and life there are always a new crop of runners and women that don’t know. I should have kept it at a higher level though and it’s better if people come to their own conclusions.
Plz delete Eric and I can restate.

Reply
1. eric schranz says:
  
  February 7, 2023 at 7:37 am
  
  Deleted.
  
  Reply
scottywk2 says:

February 7, 2023 at 7:48 am

Thanks guys. Sometimes the comment section of a blog is a bad place to litigate something. No offense meant.

Reply
Alberto says:

February 7, 2023 at 9:02 am

Attempt at a more focused take: It had been a few years of hazy Covid blur since hearing about the Sherpa, but longtimers (and Pepperidge Farms) remember some of the things you linked to from 2019. And there were more similar diatribes and division for years before that on Blogs and social media. I think character also matters, but sticking even just to this specific issue of “inclusivity” and “cancelling” someone, I’d encourage anyone to dismiss or at least consider the contextual irony based on what’s readily available.

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scott says:

February 7, 2023 at 10:15 pm

I think it’s weird when people reference the RSU ultra stats when they deliberately leave out Ultrasignup.
I know Jon has a bee in his bonnet about US and he’ll ignore things that don’t fit his narrative*, but it still bugs me.
Like always, I think he means well but he just gets in his own way.

*One of his previous episodes referenced the comment section of this blog and how he was attacked despite comments defending him (mine included).

Reply
Peter says:

February 8, 2023 at 7:34 am

Q: How do you make a hipster really happy?
A: Tell him that you love his podcast!

Reply
Andrea the Unicorn says:

February 8, 2023 at 1:45 pm

We are in 2023 and we are all entitled to our own opinions, whether we agree with them or not. That is the beauty of healthy debate.
Ultra running, as we all know, is a test of one’s adversity to the varying conditions of a particular course or race or even just one’s mental strength.
The community is a very unique and beautiful one. One we should all be proud of, differing opinions or not. Instead of mud slinging and judging, why not walk a mile in one person’s shoes. REALLY take the time to see that other perspective and really dive into the root cause of the judging and disagreeing.
I have had the personal experience of not only running in HPRS races, but volunteering as well. John is an amazing person and an RD that expects runners to not be spoon fed all of the information. He provides it, it is up to you to read the information and be prepared. He has all the runners and the running community at his heart. Just by the way there are no first second and third……..but an award for DFL. He has a unique awards that celebrate what it is all about. How you help each other and challenge yourself as a human and a runner.
And isn’t that what its all about?

Reply
JoeVB says:

February 8, 2023 at 8:38 pm

John’s a dear friend of mine. I’ve run most of his events. Volunteered countless hours with his series. Celebrated the holidays with him. Met his bright, wonderful kids. So trust me when I say that I know the guy. I’ve seen all the work he does to be a better version of himself every day. He openly acknowledges the mistakes of his past. He cares more deeply about our sport and its participants than anyone I’ve ever met. He is passionate and outspoken, and that’ll always rub some folks the wrong way. But he’s a good man. To start dredging up the whole “petition” debacle from years ago is a cheap shot, and completely unrelated to the conversation at hand.

I’m sad to read some of the comments here. You heard allegations and rumors 5+ years ago and you’re clinging to these stories like they’re gospel. I’m not saying the guy’s a saint, but I believe your stories would change if you came out here, met him in person, and joined us for an HPRS event. We’d love to have you, no matter your gender identity!

Reply

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