Ultramarathon Daily News | Mon, June 21

iRunFar/TWIR: Results from Ultramaraton and trail races around the world. Joe Gray takes another win at Mt Washington, Taggart pulls the plug on his 10:59:59 attempt, and Brittany Charboneau takes a win at the Leadville Trail Marathon.

Trailrunner/Metzler: So what’s with these new $375 trail shoes? They actually look pretty cool!

iRunFar: Western States Men’s Preview. Stacked, stacked, stacked. Aid stations will be a lot slower this year, so each runner’s crew will play a more important role.

Anna Troup (51) is leading the 268 mile Spine Race in the UK (2nd OA, 1st woman) and is just passed half way with a 50k lead on W2. Live Tracker here. Go Go GO! h/t to Katie Holmes for pointing out her performance.

YouTube: I’d never heard about the Nøsen Hundred (100k in Norway) until today and am blown away by its beauty. Wow!

Outside/Prelle: This story hit me hard, especially reading it on Father’s Day. Monica Prelle tells the story of her dad–a runner–and his battle with early-onset Alzheimer’s. Poignant writing and especially touching since our two families were close growing up.

Awesome story about the “Wander Women”…three retired friends who are taking on the Triple Crown this year.

8 Responses to "Ultramarathon Daily News | Mon, June 21"

Nelson says:

June 21, 2021 at 7:21 am

Maybe a good opportunity to have elites race without a crew or pacers (at WS100). I know it’s just wishful thinking, but it would be a welcome change. I’ve listened to the recent AJW/Speedgoat debate on the matter, and I’m with Karl (as usual, the dude just has so much common sense and so little BS).

A crewed runner has a competitive advantage over a non-crewed one (some aid stations work like F1 pit stops now, with half dozen hands servicing the runner like a race car, in record time), just like a runner with a pacer has a competitive advantage over one running alone.

If we acknowledge this, then we can agree that a better crew or a better pacer also provide an advantage.

I know many people don’t agree with me on this, and fair enough, but the way I see it ultrarunning isn’t a team sport, it’s runner vs runner, testing their own limits as much as each other’s.

At least for those chasing a top10 finish, I think they should do it solo. I know it’s a cultural thing, so there are good arguments to carry on the way it is too, like muling makes kind of sense at Leadville (although there’s plenty of muling at States too, with pacers carrying water for the runner, and nobody seems to care). Anyway…

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1. eric schranz says:
  
  June 21, 2021 at 7:59 am
  
  Been saying this for years! I’m fine with having (very very limited) crew, but pacers should not be allowed unless under special circumstances like those over 60 and runners with physical impairments. It would lighten up the trail, cut back on traffic (both on the road and at aid stations) and level the playing field.
  
  Reply
Varner says:

June 21, 2021 at 8:38 am

all i can think of is Somnio 2.0!!
https://www.wired.com/2009/10/pr-somnio/

Reply
1. eric schranz says:
  
  June 21, 2021 at 9:13 am
  
  Whoa I’d forgotten about those. Never tried them.
  
  Reply
afvarner says:

June 21, 2021 at 11:42 am

they were such a pain to fit. we carried them for while i was working at transports a decade ago. i wasn’t “allowed” to because i hadnt undergone their training for the laser fitting process they used 🙄🙄. so gimmicky.

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scott says:

June 22, 2021 at 6:41 am

I can’t remember which year it was, but in one of the docs about Jim you can see his pacer was carrying something for him. Maybe just a water bottle; I can’t remember any more.

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1. eric schranz says:
  
  June 22, 2021 at 8:10 am
  
  I don’t know what happened out there, and that’s part of the problem. I’d love to think we could trust every athlete, but when it comes down to money and contracts, it’s a bit naive to think everyone would play fair.
  
  Reply
Nelson says:

June 23, 2021 at 7:31 am

Watch ‘Unbreakable’ and you can see Anton asking Jenn Shelton if she’s got any water left (for him to drink), I think when their approaching Forest Hill, not sure. Which I don’t think it’s a big deal, but considering what happened to Xavier at Hardrock, then I guess it’s sort of a big deal.

You can see these things in race videos in Youtube every now and then. I think it’s okay for the average runner to get some support from a crew and pacer, but for people racing for top spots, sponsorships, etc. I’d like to see an even playing field, and every athlete racing for themselves, not getting help from others.

Not everyone has the support of a brand like Hoka or Salomon behind, that can bring national or world class pacers to run with you, supply shoes, vests, and gear for all your team, etc. In an ideal world, it’s about fitness vs. fitness, not about who can save more time at aid stations because they have a whole crew with a spare vest ready and loaded, while another runner has to stop at the aid station table and maybe even wait.

I don’t know, it’s not either black or white, I get it. Some people like that aspect of it, running with a team of friends supporting you. And I totally support the idea for most runners; it’s only those racing for top spots that I think should all play by the same rules and go about it by themselves.

Anyway. Sub-14, finally?

Reply

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