Ultramarathon Daily News | Wed, July 11

Fair question: Should athletes be allowed to race in prototype shoes that aren’t available to all?

Under Armour is putting out some pretty damn decent MUT shoes right now. But it’s still a bit strange when the UA president wears a different brand, isn’t it?

Five ideas that would change Western States. I’m especially fond of #2: Turn the race around. Imagine the final four miles screaming down the Escarpment towards Squaw.

And five things race directors can learn from Warren Buffett.

Excellent: Get out of your comfort zone and change your perspective of what’s possible if you want to take your training to the next level.

Short news day. What did I miss?

8 Responses to "Ultramarathon Daily News | Wed, July 11"

Tony says:

July 11, 2018 at 7:52 am

As far as the shoes – seems that prototypes are what the sponsored people get in most sports before they some to the public. The truth is if people are worried the elite sponsored athletes have an advantage then get over it as they do since they train for a living and the average guy cannot. As long as the shoes are somehow not cheating, adding energy somehow, I would have no beef.

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1. A says:
  
  July 11, 2018 at 8:26 am
  
  I agree, I don’t really think the prototype shoes give that much of an advantage. There are many other factors that have more significant effect on the elite athlete’s performance.
  
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Bethany says:

July 11, 2018 at 8:07 am

I love, love, love the idea of doing WS the other direction. I’d love to have the high country and the huge downhill the end. Probably will never happen, but fun to think about. Also, I’m so intrigued by the HOVR after your gear guy reviewed them on the podcast. Will definitely try a pair when my current road shoes get kicked to the curb.

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Tony says:

July 11, 2018 at 9:15 am

Maybe do WS in one direction one year and the other way the next like Comrades does

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Alex says:

July 11, 2018 at 12:39 pm

Prototype shoes don’t bother me. If worried the bodies should establish equipment standards that can’t be violated by the prototype.

And I’d love to see Western alternate directions Comrades-style. And on up years all way more than 369 to start and then I’m addition to time-based cutoffs only allow the first 369 into Granite Chief.

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Mike H says:

July 11, 2018 at 12:55 pm

I’ll admit, a few years back I bristled a bit when I read about ‘elite’ / sponsored runners having their prototype gear — not just shoes but vests in longer races.

Then, practically, I thought about how defining and potentially banning prototype gear would actually work, in ultra races…and it doesn’t make sense. This sport has a history of people carving pieces off of their shoes, cutting holes in their shirt, sewing their own technical gear…and it’s all good. I also understand the investment a sponsor makes in a runner, which would mean they would want the runner to test the prototype gear; ideally, through a long training cycle, and then naturally in a race. While I don’t buy shoes because so-and-so runner wears them, I do understand that we benefit from shoe/gear improvements from feedback due to company sponsorships, including use in races.

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While the WS article was fun, it misses some practicalities from the standpoint of aspiring runners and history. Whether it’s silly or not, and while it would be fun to have changes from the point of view of having finished it already, ending on the track, in Auburn, and vying for a buckle is a huge motivation for so many.

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Jared Gell says:

July 12, 2018 at 8:28 am

Coming from the bicycle industry, it is important to have elite athletes testing prototypes. It validates the technology and allows for real world feedback that is needed.

However, the rules do state, that bicycles do have to be for sale to the general public within a certain timeframe…that is a solution that seems to make sense to me…

That being said, when is Nike coming out with the Vaporfly 4% Trail edition?

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1. 18342772 says:
  
  July 12, 2018 at 12:09 pm
  
  Man… the heel is so thin and tapered my ankles ache just reading that… but I’d still totally try it.
  
  Reply