URP Daily News | Tue, Feb 23

Reavis: Let’s attach sensors to athletes so announcers can make sense of how–and why–a race is shaping up the way it is. I love this idea and swear I’ve seen it done at some race in the past. Imagine having sensors on top UTMB or WSER runners and having the ability to track their bio-metrics in competition? Not only would be it be exciting for the viewer, but would provide myriad data for coaches and trainers in post-race analysis. Yes, there could be issues with data being fed to coaches and competitors in real time, but we could find a way around that, right?

SCMP: How to train for trail running and the importance of tempo runs on the trails.

I get the sense that a lot of people are looking towards this summer and planning some truly incredible adventures. Need help with weather or mapping? Start here with Skurka’s go-to resources.

TrailSisters: Better advice has never been given. Get the hell off social media, put down your mobile phone and go outside, especially when you’re with your family.

You’ve been reading about the Mostly Harmless mystery here for years. CBS News covered it this weekend with some additional information.

Juniper Eastwood’s transition to (and on) the trails. While I don’t agree with her on issues regarding competition, she seems like a cool person who’ll fit right in.

North Face Endurance Championships ended a few years ago, and now that event is replaced with the Spartan Trail/PCTR “Golden Gate Classic.” Kinda weird to call an inaugural event a “classic”, but oh well, let’s see how it goes. First step: Make sure there’s an event this year.

DumbRunner: While this post is meant as parody (and it’s pretty funny), the inverse is just as true and laughable. Cherry picking science to justify your performative panic is equally ridiculous.

Ian Corless: Packing for winter running.

Ahhh, the Lisa “baby Yoda” Roberts golden ticket decline is starting to make sense. Love Western’s hardline stance on this. Ultrarunning cannot be a soft landing for USADA anti-doping rule violators from other endurance sports. 👋 pic.twitter.com/mdn0EbPX5r
— Treeline Journal (@TreelineJ) February 20, 2021

–Hmmm. Don’t know if these are connected, but interesting nonetheless. Anyone have any info to share? Confidentiality always respected.

Kevin Beck wrote a piece here about the Runner’s World Join the Movement issue that highlights some truly inspirational female and BIPOC runners. In it, he wrote about his admiration for all but one, expressing dismay about Latoya Shauntay Snell’s inclusion in the list. His post was shared on Marathon Investigation FaceBook page right here, some social justice activists called Beck a racist, and he wrote a follow up right here. Read it all and decide for yourself.

Dyestat: With the track/athletic facility turned into a vaccination center, a high school track meet was held in a shopping mall parking lot. I can just imagine some kid wearing spikes and slipping and sliding around the first turn. Wait, did I just invent a new event?

iRunFar: The importance of hydration when you’re on the trails.

The FKT for LA’s Backbone Trail is lowered once again. Why are so many more men attacking this route? Where are all the women?

Working out when you’re experiencing depression. I like the post, but wish she would have written about exactly what she does to get out of the house. I understand a lot of people with MH and depression know that exercise is important, but getting out the door is a tremendous barrier.

Super shoes aren’t ruining track and field, they’re just a new innovation.

Super shoes have the potential to undermine Bolt’s legacy so we’re shelving them for now.

Welcome to the age of the super shoe.

Outside Magazine sells to Pocket Media, now joins other publications under new name. I’ve had–and have–my issues with Outdoor but don’t fully understand the implications of this acquisition. Anyone care to share?

New 100 miler in the Copper Canyon looks like a pretty awesome course. I’m sure it’s tough, but haven’t seen any numbers for actual gain/loss.

15 Responses to "URP Daily News | Tue, Feb 23"

Corrine says:

February 23, 2021 at 8:38 am

Re Backbone Trail FKTS: Three women went after the supported FKT on the Backbone trail in the span of the month each one lowering the time (December 2020-January 2021). Two men went after and lowered the supported mens time in similar fashion, followed by one woman getting after and lowering the women’s self supported FKT, and now two men (two months apart) lowered the men’s self-supported FKT. So the real story I think is, “Holy cow that’s a lot of FKTs thrown down on the backbone” not where are the women.

Reply
1. eric schranz says:
  
  February 23, 2021 at 10:20 am
  
  Eh, fair point. There are plenty of attempts by women. I think my surprise/point was that there are more top men going after the FKT than elite women. Browning, Stern, Collins. The two “elite” women (I use that term only as a marker for “recognizable names”) who’ve set FKTs–Piceu and Johnston–both did so years ago. In addition, only one female has recorded a self-supported run on the trail.
  
  My point in including the note was to question why aren’t more top women going after the FKT? Plenty of other trails have elite men and women making attempts, but elite women aren’t going after The Backbone Trail for some reason and I’d love to know why. Any ideas?
  
  Reply
Marjorie says:

February 23, 2021 at 10:31 am

Hello! Thanks for sharing my post! Answering your question, for me, each step along the way that I mentioned help me get to the next. If I focus on improving my self-talk, I’m more likely to exercise. If I give myself credit for doing *something*, I’m more likely to exercise. If I connect with family or get some sunshine, etc, all that those moments of self-care increase the likelihood that I will exercise. It may not be as much as I did when I was feeling better, but it’s something, and it helps me from totally losing ground during periods of low mood. Hope that helps!

Reply
1. eric schranz says:
  
  February 23, 2021 at 1:41 pm
  
  It does. Thanks for the follow up Marjorie.
  
  Reply
Corrine says:

February 23, 2021 at 10:50 am

Stern’s name might be more recognizable then the three women who all broke Darcy’s time (and it should be noted that her and Brownings’ times are from when there used to be a race on the trail) but if I look at there ultra signup results they are not of lesser caliber. Stern is however very good at PR and marketing, heck it’s literally his job, which I think makes his name more recognizable. Most runners over the past year are taking on local/regional FKTs due to COVID and that holds true to the group of runners who took on the Backbone Trail FKT over the past three months, most of them local to the area… I imagine that is at least partially why more ‘well known’ runners have yet to run it. All that being said given the 8 new FKTs on that trail this year I imagine we will see more people run it chasing the time in the coming year with races still postponing and cancelling in California, I know it certainly piqued my interest.

Reply
Karen Woko says:

February 23, 2021 at 12:33 pm

For all those that are part of the Woke/Social Justice Warrior movement and criticize Eric, please read this article and realize how ridiculous you people are:
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/22/opinion/bon-appetit-cancel-culture.html

Reply
Bala says:

February 23, 2021 at 9:40 pm

This is absolutely terrifying!

Reply
Paul says:

February 24, 2021 at 8:08 am

There is no “woke/social justice warrior movement”. Those are made-up terms used to fire people up. (and it appears to be working)

Not sure why I’m responding because your post will probably deleted for using a fake name (also has nothing to do with running).

Reply
1. eric schranz says:
  
  February 24, 2021 at 3:41 pm
  
  Oh Paul, I won’t delete your response. I’m a firm believer in listening and respecting all sides of an argument. (So long as they include a real name and don’t violate Rule #2.)
  
  Reply
Paul says:

February 25, 2021 at 7:06 am

Hi Eric – I know. I was talking about the post I was responding to by “Karen Woko” which is an obvious fake name. (I hit reply but it didn’t show up as a reply).

Reply
1. eric schranz says:
  
  February 25, 2021 at 9:02 am
  
  To be honest, I didn’t notice her name as anything suspicious and FWIW, her email indicates that’s her legitimate last name. Again, it’s difficult trying to police surnames and certainly not something I enjoy doing.
  
  Reply
Mike says:

February 25, 2021 at 7:53 am

You are such a coward that cannot even follow his own rules. You let Dean and Karen Wacko Woko, post comments that violate your own made up rules. But, you dont have the guts to post other comments that call you out.
If you believe that only woke leftists censure and cancel people, you are blind and ignorant. But, that has already been known.
Post all comments.

Reply
1. eric schranz says:
  
  February 25, 2021 at 8:11 am
  
  Huh? Mike, go get some coffee please.
  
  I’m open to comments that include real names (admittedly, it’s tough to determine what’s real and what’s not. I’m doing my best.) that don’t name call or have an overall dick-ish nature. Scan down through the comments and you’ll see most of them disagree with me and “call me out.” I deleted one comment yesterday because it started out by name calling and used a bogus email.
  
  And “my own made up rules”? Well, yeah, I made them up because it’s my site. That’s cool, right?
  
  Reply
2. eric schranz says:
  
  February 25, 2021 at 8:15 am
  
  Ah, I see what you’re talking about now. I looked into my deleted comments and found the one you posted Feb 23. It went directly to the trash file because I have a filter set up that automatically deletes comments with certain keywords. I’m inundated with bots trying to post adds for pills, sex, etc. and it makes my life easier to have it automated. The fact you started your comment with “Dildo Dean is a keyboard coward, and wannabe tough guy” was the cause of that deletion.
  
  To note, even if the filter hadn’t caught it, I would have deleted it myself. Dude, grow up. Seriously.
  
  Reply
3. eric schranz says:
  
  February 25, 2021 at 10:37 am
  
  Mike, I tried emailing you but your email gets kicked back to me. Tried both spellings of yahoo but neither went through.
  Based on your last comment (another that I deleted), I’ve added your IP address to the automatic “trash” filter, along with words like p*nis, d*ldo, c*ck, v*gina, er*ction, etc. I think that speaks for itself.
  
  I simply don’t have the time or inclination to deal with people like you. Please go find another site to troll.
  
  Reply

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