Ultramarathon Daily News | Thursday, March 8

NatGeo names “body positive” ultramarathon runner for Adventurer of the Year. I wish we’d focus more on “health positive” and encourage healthy eating habits and fitness. Good for her for being out there, but “Adventurer of the Year” is a bit of a stretch, no?

Why runners need strong arms.

Ryan Ghelfi’s report from Way Too Cool. Pay special attention to the mental lessons he learned and how he’ll change his mindset for his next race.

That mindset sounds familiar to what Ladia Albertson Junkans discusses in this new URP episode. She sees someone else (in this case, Kaytlyn Gerbin) doing something extraordinary, and it gives her the strength and assurance that she can do that, too.

The rabbit hutch showed up to Way Too Cool as well. Here’s M10 Adam Kimble’s report from a strong performance.

Excellent essay by Morgan Williams in iRunFar about the process of moving on in life after a serious injury sidelines your ultramarathon career. Not better or worse, just different.

The recent episode was sponsored by Splats! Sunscreen. Jump on over to their kickstarter page and you’ll kick yourself for not thinking of it sooner: Single-use size sunscreen for outdoor enthusiasts. I’m looking forward to getting my box!

Best National Parks for trail running.

Something different: A 50k trail ultramarathon in a shaker village in Pennsylvania.

Andrew Skurka interviews one of the anonymous Instagram handles trolling him.

Australia is getting her first 6day ultramarathon in more than a decade. Who’s in?

20 Responses to "Ultramarathon Daily News | Thursday, March 8"

Taylor says:

March 8, 2018 at 7:50 am

I think this is absolutely fantastic! So happy they chose Mirna. I also feel like your comment is implying she’s not healthy (“healthy eating habits”), and if that is the case, I recommend learning more about her. Check out this interview: http://www.richroll.com/podcast/mirna-valerio/

If I misunderstood what you were implying, then disregard!

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freshairweeze says:

March 8, 2018 at 8:16 am

While I have always enjoyed your daily news rundowns, I was disappointed to read your comment on Mirna being named an Adventurer of The Year. This community is already dominated by middle-to-upper class white men — why point out that she doesn’t fit a certain ideal image of an adventurer? I would rather see those in positions of influence and leadership promote and encourage diversity of race and body, than reinforce the reasons why our community is not diverse. If she influences even one person to get out the door and into the woods, I say she is worth celebrating!

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1. Molly says:
  
  March 8, 2018 at 8:47 am
  
  I love this comment – perfectly captures my thoughts, too!
  
  Reply
2. eric schranz says:
  
  March 8, 2018 at 9:39 am
  
  Figured I’d get some push back on this.
  
  She, like so many other people in our sport are crazy inspirational. Absolutely. And I’m sure her message will get some people off the couch who wouldn’t otherwise have attempted to, as well as let people of all backgrounds know that this is an inclusive sport. For that she deserves a ton of credit. (I hope you’re not implying my comments have anything to do with gender or race.)
  
  However.
  
  In a country that’s down, down, down on the list of healthy nations, I’d like to see magazines like NatGeo focusing on adventure, longevity, and achievement rather than what really comes across as an attempt to be socially woke. I simply don’t agree with the position that obesity is healthy, sorry.
  
  Inspirational Runner of the Year, sure, but she simply doesn’t fit the pattern of others who’ve been named Adventurer of the Year.
  
  —-As I just finished writing this, I saw Yitka’s reply with the criteria for the award. My mistake. I should’ve read that first. Makes sense and Mirna seems to embody that spirit.
  
  Reply
  1. freshairweeze says:
    
    March 8, 2018 at 10:08 am
    
    Eric, thank you for your thoughtful response – it helps to see where you were coming from. I do agree that overall health should be a priority, and as a nurse I would struggle to equate obesity with optimum health as well.
    
    I will clarify that I did not at all see your comments as relating to gender or race. However, I see the ultrarunning and outdoor communities as having an issue with inclusivity. This is a long-standing issue that has a variety of causes – whether it be access to trails, equipment or role models. My concern was that a comment that dismisses someone like Mirna, contributes, even if imperceptibly or unintentionally, to the pattern of exclusivity. I understand that was not your intent, but wanted to bring attention to the implication of the comment.
    
    Again, thank you for taking the time to respond!
    
    Reply
Hmm says:

March 8, 2018 at 8:26 am

I bristled a bit at the politically charged “body positive” term (why not just say “overweight”?), but recognizing a runner like Mirna with an award like this is a great idea. It’ll only encourage others who look like her to get out on the trail too, which indirectly promotes healthy eating and fitness all by itself.

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William Stewart says:

March 8, 2018 at 8:34 am

I agree with this sentiment Eric, Mirna is a great influence, and she seems like a great influence on getting women to go outside without having to aspire to the “yoga” body.

But at the same time.. I don’t see her as an adventurer in the context of this award. There are lots of inspiring stories in climbing, but they don’t give the golden piton to a feel good story, they give it to a monumental achievement in Alpinism.

Maybe having a second NatGeo category for influencer of the year would be more appropriate?

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Mike McK says:

March 8, 2018 at 8:45 am

Inspiring? Yes. NatGeo Adventurer of the Year? No.

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Yitka says:

March 8, 2018 at 9:31 am

NatGeo’s description of the criteria for this award: “This year, we’re honoring trailblazers in the adventure community. These adventurers embody the spirit of bold innovation and are taking leaps forward in their field. They’re pushing boundaries, smashing stereotypes, and overcoming obstacles. Each one is helping lead the world in a new, important, and thrilling direction.

To find our Adventurers of the Year, we asked photographers, writers, filmmakers, and athletes to tell us who is inspiring them to reach further, go higher, and dream bigger. Out of that group, a panel of National Geographic Adventure staff voted to narrow it down to these eight honorees.

Here are National Geographic’s 2018 Adventurers of the Year.”

I’m happy to see Mirna as one of the 8 honorees this year!

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Adam says:

March 8, 2018 at 10:54 am

Well said Eric. I’m a Physician and I’m with you. My patients need to look up to healthier role models.

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18342772 says:

March 8, 2018 at 11:18 am

My only real quibble with Mirna Valerio’s AOTY designation is that, however inspiring, I’m not sure how she’s smashing boundaries, pushing the sport forward, demolishing stereotypes, etc. MUT running has always had participants of all body types–have you been to a race recently?–many of whom are capable of way better than a 12 hour 50K. The sport usually doesn’t spotlight these athletes, since they’re rarely breaking tape, but I’ve spent more than enough time in the midpack and back to realize people of all sizes have been around for years. Her innovation is in giving herself a large profile–which, make no mistake, has clearly inspired people. That’s great! But I don’t think NatGeo should reward blogging and social media skills.

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1. eric schranz says:
  
  March 8, 2018 at 11:25 am
  
  In the immortal words of one Patrick Swayze: “Ditto.”
  
  Reply
  1. Not Health says:
    
    March 9, 2018 at 12:00 pm
    
    Exactly.
    I completely agree with Eric as well- Obesity is NOT healthy, PERIOD.
    
    Reply
Mark Madness says:

March 8, 2018 at 3:25 pm

Happy International Women’s Day to all the female runners out there kicking butt and getting it done!
You are inspiring, strong, resilient, brave, and courageous!
Thanks for all you do for our sport.
#neverthelessshepersisted

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Ben says:

March 8, 2018 at 9:02 pm

Just a note, the 50k in the shaker village is in KY, not PA

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scott says:

March 8, 2018 at 10:16 pm

Too bad that sunscreen isn’t dropping until July at the earliest.
Hope they’re still around next year when I can use them.

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Becky says:

March 9, 2018 at 2:34 pm

Eric, we are all entitled to our opinions, but your negative comment with regards to NatGeo’s recognition of Mirna Valerio as “Adventurer of the Year” made me want to dump my beer in your lap!! I love beer as much as you do, and I hate to waste good beer, but I would sacrifice my beer in a heartbeat to support someone like Mirna!

I 100% support Mirna and NatGeo for recognizing her! She is not out there creating nutrition plans for anyone or promoting weight gain; she is simply doing what she loves, in the body she has, and in turn encouraging people, of all shapes, sizes, ability levels, race, background, etc to get out and enjoy nature and physical activity despite the negative perceptions society has of someone with her body type.

I would so much rather surround myself with positive people, like Mirna, than people who believe you can only be great and successful if you fit a specific mold of an “athlete”. I don’t give a crap what anyone thinks is the best diet for an athlete, how “fit they look”, how many miles they run, how fast they run, how many podium finishes they have…..F that!!! That is all great and wonderful if it makes them happy. What Mirna is doing, by pursuing her passions while pushing past the negativity and the misleading stereotypes, is a thousand times more inspiring and motivational to me. We don’t all fit one mold but we can all still enjoy the same things and be great or successful for different reasons.

If Mirna were to quit running, exercising, and doing the things she loves the first time she heard “you can’t do that”, “you’re fat” or “you don’t deserve recognition”, she would be a failure. Mirna is anything but a failure! Get after it girl…you are amazing!!

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Mike Bonnell says:

March 10, 2018 at 10:08 am

Re: Mirna
Not sure why I’m joining in on the dialogue, ’cause there has already been many excellent posts covering much of what needs to be said. Yet…

To start, I feel the need to repeat what others have said regarding Eric’s initial post – I’m absolutely sure that Eric’s message had nothing whatsoever to do with race or gender.

Secondly, what Mirna is doing is great. I love the fact that it might motivate more people that are sedentary and who have a poor concept of what they are capable of, to get up and get moving. I’m also glad that she got that award – as per what the award was designed for – but only to a certain point.

I’ve read that Mirna had decided for herself to give up on losing what most will concur is excessive weight. And though it’s her right to be however she wants to be – particularly if it doesn’t stop her from doing what she wants to do – I question whether this is the message that needs to be put out there. Obesity and all of the negative health issues that go with it, is a major problem for society these days. Yes, we want people to be active and to like themselves and believe in themselves – but do we want to tell these people that it’s okay to not continue fighting towards better health?

For example – there are many recovering addicts in our sport, many of them at the elite level. We laud their accomplishments – as we should. But, would we be singing their praises if there were completely drunk/stoned during one of their races? Would we say, ‘sure he/she fell down drunk and passed out on the trail, but hey, he/she’s finished many 100k races and are doing great, and so here’s an award because though they’ve accepted to remain addicts it doesn’t stop them from running these races.’ While such people are just as worthy of anybody else of recognition – are they truly models for all to follow?

If Mirna were not a public persona – this would boil down to a question of personal life choice. After all, none of us are perfect. But Mirna is being touted as an example to follow. And I agree that she is an example to follow in many ways – but not in accepting to remain unhealthy and that’s one of the ways in which she seems to be recognized.

Yes, fat shaming is common and unfortunate. Yes, many other people are unhealthy too but we say little or nothing. But two wrongs don’t make a right.

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freshairweeze says:

March 10, 2018 at 10:34 am

Interesting points all around. However, I have to disagree with your comparison to someone who is an addict. Addiction is an invisible disease, and often one that might not show up during a race. Obesity, unfortunately is never invisible.

And no, Eric did not make comments about race or gender. However, there’s still part of me that wondered if it would be as easy to dismiss someone of a different race/gender — or maybe (more likely) with a different health issue. I actually posed this question to a friend earlier today — because I know of at least one person who had been praised as an influencer (with good reason) and in fact, come to find out, had issues with alcoholism. I think there are many health concerns in the ultra community – and many are hidden because they are psychological or otherwise hidden.

And perhaps it’s because Mirna is so opposite of our norm that I feel the need to defend her – is she also easy to criticize because she stands out? This is all just food for thought — not meant to be an accusation. I think these conversations are important to reflect on.

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Taya says:

March 12, 2018 at 6:54 am

While I do think what she’s doing is awesome, I agree with Eric’s sentiments. As someone who has struggled with eating disorders and body image (professional ballet was my thing before running) I do get the importance of body positivity. However, the “movement” has just gone too far. Obesity is being applauded and no longer seen as a problem. People are losing sight of the dangers of obesity for the sake of not hurting feelings. Mirna is certainly inspirational, but regardless of how active she is, obesity is unhealthy. Nat Geo could have made a similar “body positive” statement by choosing a runner who is at a healthy weight but maybe has a normal body fat % (say 20-25%, which is more than most elites) and doesn’t have the perfect runner’s body type. It would have been inspirational and also would have represented a large number of runners who are fit but just feel like they just don’t “look like a runner.”

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