Ultramarathon Daily News, Tue, Oct 18

Ultramarathon Daily News – Tuesday

I’m not sure if he’s competing this year, but Speedgoat Karl is a pretty wicked speedgolf player. This year, he’d have the opportunity to set the AT FKT as well as win the speedgolf championships in Chicago, amounting to a pretty funky double if you ask me.

Mario’s Morning Shakeout: Dives deep into the TUE problem, and I agree with him almost entirely. I just go one step further and say that nothing on the banned list should be allowed. At all. No exceptions. If you need this or that medication to compete in this sport, you need to find a new sport. MUT tie-in: Nike Trail Elite runner Pat Smythe and his sketchy TUE from the aforementioned Dr. Brown.

Had an Elysian Brewing Pumpkin Ale last night and it tasted like cinnamon, nutmeg, and spice. No beer, no pumpkin. No thanks.

Great idea for a bag/sack that won’t cause a gear explosion: The hobo roll.

URP News: I’m leaving early Wed morning for the Himalayan 100. SFO-Shanghai-Delhi, one night in Delhi, then up to the Himalayan foothills for the race. The Daily News will be in the capable hands of the guest editors, and I’ll still be releasing two podcasts: One about packing for a stage race, and the other a fun chat with upstate NY-based SkyRunner Sarah Keyes. Thanks to everyone who’s helped out to make this happen. See you all soon.

24 Responses to "Ultramarathon Daily News, Tue, Oct 18"

Dylan Bowman says:

October 18, 2016 at 6:12 am

Good luck, Eric! Excited to hear about the adventure.

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Teresa Smith says:

October 18, 2016 at 6:26 am

Safe travels Eric! I hope your experience is E-P-I-C!

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1. eric schranz says:
  
  October 18, 2016 at 7:09 am
  
  Thanks. Anxious to get over there and to start running!
  
  Reply
varner says:

October 18, 2016 at 7:22 am

have a great trip!

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Micah Ward says:

October 18, 2016 at 7:50 am

Good luck Eric. Have a great experience and safe travels.

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sam bosworth says:

October 18, 2016 at 8:02 am

TUE is a joke. We’ll be looking back in 20 years laughing that we ever tried to regulate this situation. Real runners don’t use em. Elite runners are nothing more than Darth Vadered up billboards rocking logos. Did you see that clown rupp in the olympics with his kt tape?! oh and he has a thyroid problem? my ass

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Michael J says:

October 18, 2016 at 8:10 am

Have fun and a high time in the Himalayas, thanks for leaving us listeners with some pods while you’re up there. Looking forward to your return and subsequent report on what sounds like an amazing adventure.Reference

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Sunaad says:

October 18, 2016 at 9:03 am

Good luck Eric! Have a great time in the Himalayas!

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Andrew says:

October 18, 2016 at 12:07 pm

Just so I’m clear, a true asthmatic should not be allowed to competitively run? Yes TUE should be fixed somehow but that is pretty strict and excludes many people from competition unnecessarily

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1. eric schranz says:
  
  October 18, 2016 at 12:33 pm
  
  You are correct. That’s my stance. If you require medicines that allow you to compete, stay a recreational runner and find a different sport for competition. Strict? Yeah, but so are the rest of the rules in sport.
  
  Reply
Travis says:

October 18, 2016 at 1:22 pm

Good luck Eric! Such an awesome trip.

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Chuck says:

October 18, 2016 at 2:30 pm

So, you are saying people with asthma, Diabetes, depression, hormone deficiencies, or Hashimoto’s thyroiditis–should not compete because they require medications for their bodies to function properly don’t deserve the right to compete alongside “normal” athletes in races?
Should ibuprofen, naproxen, Tylenol, and other NSAIDs be banned? They can enhance performance by reducing pain, swelling, and inflammation.
What about marijuana?

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1. eric schranz says:
  
  October 18, 2016 at 2:56 pm
  
  My position is simple: If it’s banned for one person, it should be banned for everyone. This is competition and there needs to be a level playing field. Should ibuprofen be banned? I don’t think so. Marijuana? Probably not. How about testosterone pills though?
  If one person is “diagnosed” (if I had huge quotes I’d use them) with a thyroid condition or ADHD or low T or some other malady that requires/allows them to take meds that are banned for other athletes because of apparent performance-enhancing qualities, the field is no longer level, and that’s simply not fair.
  Listen, I know it’s a severe position, but anything less than that leaves us exactly with what we’ve got right now, and I think we all agree, it’s a farce.
  
  Reply
  1. Chuck says:
    
    October 18, 2016 at 3:12 pm
    
    ok. I selected some of these diseases because the medical treatment has some banned substances listed for treatments.
    These are diseases that have proven deficiencies, and having a disease does not mean that they should not be able to “compete.”
    By getting rid of TUEs, this is effectively saying if you have a disease that requires treatment from a banned substance list,
    Then go race somewhere else?
    Should these people with asthma not take their inhalers during competition or insulin (for diabetes) and risk possible detrimental health effects?
    Also, is every “race” a competition?
    So the question again becomes, if you have a disease (that requires treatment from the WADA banned list) you cannot compete at ANY sport that is sanctioned?
    And Eric et al.., I am on your side, but should we not examine the TUE process, rather than ban individuals from “competition.”
    
    Reply
    1. Andrew says:
      
      October 18, 2016 at 4:42 pm
      
      I agree wholeheartedly Chuck. There is a huge misperceptions that someone with truly diagnosed asthma somehow has an advantage over those that don’t when they take albuterol or inhaled steroids. I’m sorry to say Eric, but the fact is those medications don’t bring true asthmatics to even the level that someone without asthma is. They have a chronic obstructive disease. Taking their medications never fully corrects their disease. I hate to say it but you have a very simplistic view of these conditions. The regulation needs to be stricter enforcement on the physicians providing the shady diagnosis for the normal patient, not kicking out individuals who have struggled with a disease for most of their life. The correction should not be punishing those with disease but those that are exploiting the system. I know this is difficult and costly but the alternative is discriminatory.
      
      Reply
      1. Andrew says:
        
        October 18, 2016 at 4:47 pm
        
        To make this more extreme, anyone living at elevation must move to sea level. Anyone living in the first world must now refuse the medical care until they are at the level of third world athletes. We probably should take away treadmills and vo2 max testing so those that can afford it are on a level playing field with those that cannot. Maybe remove sponsorship as well because there are many talented athletes that can’t afford new running shoes and gear provided by their sponsors. What the hell, from now on all athletes must garden their own food and hunt and gather. Where should we draw the line?
      2. Andrew S. says:
        
        October 18, 2016 at 4:55 pm
        
        Considering some diseases (like asthma) can be fatal, I find this to be an absurd stance. Risk dying or just don’t compete? You’re entitled to your opinion, but I wholeheartedly disagree with it for reasons above that have already been said.
  2. Julia M says:
    
    October 18, 2016 at 5:34 pm
    
    I understand what folks are saying about the asthma drugs. I think inhalers (as well as insulin) should always be allowed because they can intervene in otherwise fatal situations.
    
    That being said I have a disease that makes my hematocrit run 20-30 (so down to 50% of normal) and I wouldn’t seek to blood dope even with a TUE. I consider this to be what I’ve been dealt and compete under the circumstances. Granted, it’s not my job and I won’t win races….but I think it’s important.
    
    Reply
Andrew S. says:

October 18, 2016 at 4:58 pm

And to add on, as someone who is a former asthmatic, I can attest to the fact that asthma plus my inhaler resulted in still far worse breathing and endurance than I now have since I “grew out of it.”

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1. Andrew says:
  
  October 18, 2016 at 5:42 pm
  
  Thank you for the personal anecdote. I don’t have asthma myself but have a very good scientific understanding of this disease as I deal with it everyday in the operating room. Albuterol confers no advantage whatsoever to an asthmatic over a person without.
  
  Reply
Bruce Cyra says:

October 18, 2016 at 8:37 pm

Eric, have a great trip and adventure and come home safe! Can’t wait to hear about (wheeze, inhale albuterol) your trip!

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Arvid says:

October 19, 2016 at 6:32 am

I’m a bit late to the discussion, being the day after, but today’s news isn’t up yet, so I’m looking back at yesterday. Regarding the TUEs, I know this would create a whole new level of admin and nonsense, but how about an independent medical review for all TUEs? Number one, this would probably cut down immediately on the use of these as some are so suspect that many people just wouldn’t even bother applying, and for those that did apply for the exemption, they would have to supply any lab tests, documentation or other information requested by whatever medical panel is in place. There could be an appeal process built in as well that might involve the individual applying having to show up personally for examination if they are initially refused. It would be expensive and rather onerous I admit, but automatically granting TUEs on the opinion of just any quack clearly isn’t working. This would be safer for the athletes as well, as they wouldn’t be at the mercy of unscrupulous teams/national organizations. Of course, this would only apply to elite level competition as the costs would be outrageous, but if that is what it takes for a level field, then it would be worth it.

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1. Andrew says:
  
  October 19, 2016 at 8:41 am
  
  I think that is an excellent suggestion , Arvid.
  
  Reply
Chuck says:

October 19, 2016 at 8:40 am

For anyone whom is interested, here is a link that tackles some issues with thyroiditis, by Steve Magness:
http://scienceofrunning.com/2013/04/thyroid-madness-everything-you-need-to.html

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