Ultramarathon Daily News | Tuesday, Oct 23

Big’s is over with Johan Steene walking away with 283 miles. Courtney held on for second with 279 miles and Gavin Woody with 270. I’m guessing next year we see someone break 300. Final results here.

Ever wondered what it’s like to crew a race like that? Ultramarathon runner and crew extraordinaire Heidi wrote a piece for URP about how taking care of runners isn’t too different than caring for infants.

Throwback Tuesday: Check out our interview with Jeremy Ebel after he ran Big’s in 2014. He and 2018 winner Johan Steene (here’s the interview where he talks about having such bad crotch chaffage that he was throwing up) fought it out until Johan had to jump on a plane to get back to work in Sweden. Yes, we’ve been following this race for a while.

It’s OK to start talking about UROY, right? Because I know this gal who’s started 9 ultramarathons this year, won 7 of them, just clicked off 279 miles at Big’s, and still has Desert Solstice…

Pop science: Not being in shape is worse than having diabetes or smoking.

Skurka checks out the new Ultimate Direction (one piece and strong) trekking poles.

Pop quiz: Who has the fastest men’s 100 miler in the US this year? Jay Friedman interviews Jim Sweeney right this way.

Surprising: Sydney McLaughlin signs with New Balance.

So people actually thought the “calories burned” metric on wearables was accurate?

I was in New Delhi a few years ago during this race and still can’t believe people were running. The air quality was SO BAD I could actually see the smog in my hotel room.

Running Javelina this weekend? Here are the top five reasons people DNF at the race.

In the list of things to take with you on a trail run, mace is number one? I think there’s an over-emphasis on trail safety right now that’s not doing anyone any good.

20 Responses to "Ultramarathon Daily News | Tuesday, Oct 23"

Melissa says:

October 23, 2018 at 7:10 am

I think mace or some kind of protection is one of the first things on my mind when I run in the trails for a long time solo. Especially after this summer where so many women experienced violence running alone 🙁

On a happier note, so awesome to see Courtney Dauwalter’s results at the Big Dog Ultra!

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Jay says:

October 23, 2018 at 7:15 am

RE Big Dog: why not just sit at home and give yourself paper cuts every hour?

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Larry says:

October 23, 2018 at 7:34 am

Ok, I’ll be that guy.

Courtney didn’t take 2nd. It is part of the fantastically sadistic nature of this race that she put together a stellar performance and didn’t finish the race. Only Johan finished the race.

It is interesting that the most compelling stories from Laz’s race generally come from people who don’t finish, not the winners of the races.

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1. Larry says:
  
  October 23, 2018 at 7:36 am
  
  That was supposed to be “Laz’s races” (i.e. Gary at Barkley)
  
  Reply
scott says:

October 23, 2018 at 7:38 am

Re: Mace

People pack their fears. It’s how new people do everything (hiking, travelling, etc.).

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Dan P says:

October 23, 2018 at 8:59 am

I don’t carry spray because of fear. I carry it because of off leash dogs more than anything else. There are only a few breed of dogs I would be scared of. Where I live about 80% of the public ignores leash laws. Wife was already bit by someones pocket dog this year while pushing our 3 month old in a stroller. As the owner casually strolled up with a big dumb grin on their face. The alternative to spraying the dog is I could kick it which may kill it. Or get bit repeatedly. I’ll carry pepper spray as I like dogs and would rather not severely injure one, it’s not their fault if they have inconsiderate owners. So a little shot of pepper spray to the face and maybe the owners will be a little more mindful about having their dogs chase every runner and biker that passes by.

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1. crozorz says:
  
  October 23, 2018 at 9:46 am
  
  With you Dan. I was charged by an off-leash dog during a RACE this summer. When I saw them off leash I stopped and called out to the human companion “are they friendly” and he barely gave me a grunt. When I walked by I got charged. Don’t currently carry a spray but considering it.
  
  Reply
  1. DF says:
    
    October 24, 2018 at 3:06 pm
    
    I’ve been chased during a couple different races on the trails. Once was someones’ dogs getting loose from their house, second was folks camping. Loose dogs are definitely the biggest fear I have running in the wild. Bears and whatnot are way lower on my list.
    
    Reply
    1. eric schranz says:
      
      October 25, 2018 at 7:26 am
      
      Yep, depends on location too. Go running on desolate trails in certain parts of Northern California right now and you’ll have far more troubles than just dogs.
      
      Reply
      1. Dan P says:
        
        October 25, 2018 at 10:30 am
        
        Same around Steamboat lately. Another local runner just had a run in with a lion on the Spring creek trail which is as close to a town trail as there is here. Not sure I want to face down a 150lb lion with spray. Maybe just spray myself in the face and confuse the cat or hope it makes me not taste good. Or keep my eyes down and pretend they aren’t there. I like my odds against a domesticated doggy much better.
        
        https://www.aspentimes.com/news/couple-encounters-mountain-lion-at-mad-creek/
Ron says:

October 23, 2018 at 10:02 am

There’s no such thing as an over emphasis on safety. What are you talking about?

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1. Jamie says:
  
  October 23, 2018 at 11:42 am
  
  I’m going to assume you are currently wearing body armor and two condoms while sitting inside of a germ-proof bubble.
  
  Reply
  1. Ron says:
    
    October 24, 2018 at 11:15 am
    
    I hate to break it to you Jamie but running on the crushed granite path next to the bike trail isn’t really trail running and probably doesn’t require “an over-emphasis on safety”. But venture out of your own bubble of the ARBT and you better have a contingency for “what if”.
    
    Reply
Brandon Batiansila says:

October 23, 2018 at 3:16 pm

I started carrying mace when I had 2 boxers chase me down while running. I vowed to carry something after that. Since then I had a stray, a Doberman, and a pit bull come after me and I was glad I had my mace. I was going to hose them but their owners got to them first. I can’t imagine getting taken out and having my legs bit. Sooo I carry it out of necessity. Having had to kick a dog as it but my dog one day, I’d rather carry mace. Call it fear if you want, but my legs will be bite free!

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Erika says:

October 23, 2018 at 3:54 pm

An over emphasis on safety? Eric, how does that not do anyone good? I’m not paralyzed by fear or anything, but as a woman who often heads out on the trail or parkway on my own, I HAVE to think about my safety every time. Every. Time.

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1. Matt M says:
  
  October 23, 2018 at 6:35 pm
  
  Agreed.
  And not alone. Survey from released May 30.
  
  https://www.irunfar.com/2018/05/irunfars-trail-running-and-safety-survey-results.html
  
  My wife, daughter, and sister need to think about it. And I worry about them as well. Every Time.
  
  Reply
2. Paul says:
  
  October 24, 2018 at 7:40 am
  
  If the over emphasis on safety causes someone not to run because they have overestimated the risk then that person is missing out on the joy of running plus the health benefits. It’s a well known phenomenon that people are bad at estimating risk, vastly overestimating some risks and underestimating others.
  
  It’s similar to vaccines, where some folks don’t get them because they thinks the shots are dangerous (due to scare tactics in certain media) but the disease being vaccinated against is far more dangerous.
  
  Reply
  1. Nicolas says:
    
    October 24, 2018 at 8:04 am
    
    I’m not sure the vaccine analogy works the way you intended. The mace (or not running in some places when it’s dark) could be analogous to vaccines. The risk taken in *not* carrying mace or in running in some place when it’s dark can be much greater than the cost of not running of that of carrying mace.
    
    Reply
    1. Nicolas says:
      
      October 24, 2018 at 8:04 am
      
      “than the cost of not running OR that of carrying mace”
      
      Reply
Steph says:

October 24, 2018 at 9:23 am

Thanks for the links to your interviews with Jeremy and Johan, I’ll have to check them out. I can’t think of a time that I’ve been less productive at work from watching updates from Big’s. Those runners are amazing. And it’s hard to believe that the race doesn’t really “start” now until about miles 150-200.

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