Comments on: 2007 UTMB report http://www.scottjurek.com/blog/2007/08/26/2007-utmb-report/ On and off the trails with Scott Jurek Thu, 28 Aug 2008 00:01:17 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: » Mt Glorious Mountain Trails - Sun 3 Feb - Report and Results http://www.scottjurek.com/blog/2007/08/26/2007-utmb-report/#comment-264 » Mt Glorious Mountain Trails - Sun 3 Feb - Report and Results Fri, 15 Feb 2008 23:21:22 +0000 http://www.scottjurek.com/blog/2007/08/26/2007-utmb-report/#comment-264 [...] to follow the same route. Also, its a condition of our permits that we stick to the trails. See here for an interesting discussion of corner-cutting in this year’s Mont Blanc [...] [...] to follow the same route. Also, its a condition of our permits that we stick to the trails. See here for an interesting discussion of corner-cutting in this year’s Mont Blanc [...]

]]> By: Poletti http://www.scottjurek.com/blog/2007/08/26/2007-utmb-report/#comment-126 Poletti Fri, 21 Sep 2007 19:04:19 +0000 http://www.scottjurek.com/blog/2007/08/26/2007-utmb-report/#comment-126 <strong>Poletti...</strong> Good to know ...... Poletti…

Good to know ……

]]> By: windtrail http://www.scottjurek.com/blog/2007/08/26/2007-utmb-report/#comment-114 windtrail Tue, 04 Sep 2007 18:17:31 +0000 http://www.scottjurek.com/blog/2007/08/26/2007-utmb-report/#comment-114 Hi Scott, First of all congratulations for your performance this year and i´m sure you will return to France maybe to set a new time record! Regarding your coments, you may be right about your remarks but i don´t agree that can make a significant difference on a race like utmb, also because even for someone who is new to the course, its a case of following the home runners. Having participated and completed this race in 2006 (although far from the top runners) i don´t think you have a big advantage in cutting switchbacks considering the very technical terrain you can find in some of the areas. Even though and as i mentioned above, you can always follow the others if you think otherwise. The major difficulties i think are involved in this event are: -Distance vs acumulated altitude (i believe Hard rock is similar. Never done it...) -Low average speed/pace (even for the front runners is about 7,5 km/hour) as someone said, is this an event for runners or fastwalkers? -No pacers or support crew (you have to carry what you need with you and leave 2 bags at intermediate points of the course) -No electrolyte drinks at the aid stations (you have to carry the powder with you and mix it with water along the way...) Considering the caractheristics are very different from what you can find in the US, that can be a major disadvantage and maybe explain why none of the top US runners finished in the top positions (part of them didn´t even finished the race) Exception made for the fantastic performance of Nikki Kimball, first lady and 19th overall!!! Regarding the winer Marc Olmo (59 years old!!) just to say that he just goes there for the fun of it (as someone already said, there is no money involved in this event) and thats amazing to see the performance of this middle aged Italien: 3 participations in the utmb/2 wins and a third place new time record in 2006; 4 participations/4 wins at the Desert Cup; 2 wins at the Marathon des Sables (against the local marocan Ahannsal brothers)......... I´m looking forward to participate again in the utmb (next year or maybe 2009) and i´m sure the best US runners will be there to profit from this first experience and to finish in the top positions. José Hi Scott,

First of all congratulations for your performance this year and i´m sure you will return to France maybe to set a new time record!

Regarding your coments, you may be right about your remarks but i don´t agree that can make a significant difference on a race like utmb, also because even for someone who is new to the course, its a case of following the home runners.

Having participated and completed this race in 2006 (although far from the top runners) i don´t think you have a big advantage in cutting switchbacks considering the very technical terrain you can find in some of the areas. Even though and as i mentioned above, you can always follow the others if you think otherwise.

The major difficulties i think are involved in this event are:

-Distance vs acumulated altitude (i believe Hard rock is similar. Never done it…)

-Low average speed/pace (even for the front runners is about 7,5 km/hour) as someone said, is this an event for runners or fastwalkers?

-No pacers or support crew (you have to carry what you need with you and leave 2 bags at intermediate points of the course)

-No electrolyte drinks at the aid stations (you have to carry the powder with you and mix it with water along the way…)

Considering the caractheristics are very different from what you can find in the US, that can be a major disadvantage and maybe explain why none of the top US runners finished in the top positions (part of them didn´t even finished the race)

Exception made for the fantastic performance of Nikki Kimball, first lady and 19th overall!!!

Regarding the winer Marc Olmo (59 years old!!) just to say that he just goes there for the fun of it (as someone already said, there is no money involved in this event) and thats amazing to see the performance of this middle aged Italien: 3 participations in the utmb/2 wins and a third place new time record in 2006; 4 participations/4 wins at the Desert Cup; 2 wins at the Marathon des Sables (against the local marocan Ahannsal brothers)………

I´m looking forward to participate again in the utmb (next year or maybe 2009) and i´m sure the best US runners will be there to profit from this first experience and to finish in the top positions.

José

]]> By: sylvain bazin http://www.scottjurek.com/blog/2007/08/26/2007-utmb-report/#comment-112 sylvain bazin Fri, 31 Aug 2007 14:03:14 +0000 http://www.scottjurek.com/blog/2007/08/26/2007-utmb-report/#comment-112 Hi Scott, you're right about the tolerance of the organisators in the UTMB for elite racers not to follow strickly the rules. This is also a problem for european and french runners who can not beneciate of outside aid or pacing...I'm not sure about the benefits of cutting switchbacks (may be 2 miles for the full event, with most technical passages) but it is not the same tolerance in another competition of trail running in France. I think the Mont Blanc still a race for pure Mountaineers, not exactly for runners... but it is such a great event! have a good race in Greece Sylvain French Montrail Team member, Trail Attitude magazin. Hi Scott,
you’re right about the tolerance of the organisators in the UTMB for elite racers not to follow strickly the rules. This is also a problem for european and french runners who can not beneciate of outside aid or pacing…I’m not sure about the benefits of cutting switchbacks (may be 2 miles for the full event, with most technical passages) but it is not the same tolerance in another competition of trail running in France. I think the Mont Blanc still a race for pure Mountaineers, not exactly for runners… but it is such a great event!
have a good race in Greece

Sylvain
French Montrail Team member, Trail Attitude magazin.

]]> By: Benoit LAVAL http://www.scottjurek.com/blog/2007/08/26/2007-utmb-report/#comment-111 Benoit LAVAL Fri, 31 Aug 2007 13:25:52 +0000 http://www.scottjurek.com/blog/2007/08/26/2007-utmb-report/#comment-111 Hi Scott (and all other runners) 1) I am a french good runner with quite good results, even very far from yours... I am quite popular as I founded a trailrunning equipment brand in Europe, I write a two pages review in th n°1 french running magazine, and I did many aces and know all good runners. 2) Sure that you (and other foreign runners) were welcome here ! All top runners enjoyed you come here, to compete with you and othr US famous runners. You will be welcome again ! But I understand easily that it is not easy to have good results for a first time when you don't know everything of the race. Even if we know you succeeded abroad like Spartathlon ! It is always easier to run at home than 5.000km far. (for myself I did not finish also !) 3) Everyone here would enjoy to come to run 100miles in US ! Top runners would come without problem ! (I think about that for next year). 4) I do not agree with you on 1 point : about the problem of cutting te path. When I read your text, it is as if runners would go out of the path everytime. And that is not true ! Sometimes yes, but few time. But it does not change the race. And if you are used to go to mountains (what I am sure you are !), you find easily these cuttings. I know Marco Olmo do not that, because you break your legs more when you go stright away. But it is also a small polemic about this in France... So I don't say you are lying, not at all, I just say it does not change the race, and you could have done this easily. Whatever, I understand it is not easy to understand as it is written in the rules ou should not, and also some parts are marked directly in the grass by organisation (see descent to les Chapieux). 5) comparing this with doping is very ridiculous. Just explain to US runners that it is nothing to win here : no money. We don't have any professional trailrunners in France : not any ! Everybody has a job to do everyday before. (except Marco Olmo that is now retreated at 59 years old!). This idea of dopage is just a misunderstanding betwen people who don't know them. In Europe, we don't understand why you accept pacers for 100 miles, we think it is not equity. It is just different uses for different countries, no more. 6) Whatever, you explain well why you should stop, and it is very understandable. You have a very good point of view of this race, and really you will be welcome by all top runners. Regards, good luck for Spartathlon !. Hi Scott (and all other runners)

1) I am a french good runner with quite good results, even very far from yours… I am quite popular as I founded a trailrunning equipment brand in Europe, I write a two pages review in th n°1 french running magazine, and I did many aces and know all good runners.

2) Sure that you (and other foreign runners) were welcome here ! All top runners enjoyed you come here, to compete with you and othr US famous runners. You will be welcome again !
But I understand easily that it is not easy to have good results for a first time when you don’t know everything of the race. Even if we know you succeeded abroad like Spartathlon ! It is always easier to run at home than 5.000km far. (for myself I did not finish also !)

3) Everyone here would enjoy to come to run 100miles in US ! Top runners would come without problem ! (I think about that for next year).

4) I do not agree with you on 1 point : about the problem of cutting te path. When I read your text, it is as if runners would go out of the path everytime. And that is not true ! Sometimes yes, but few time. But it does not change the race. And if you are used to go to mountains (what I am sure you are !), you find easily these cuttings. I know Marco Olmo do not that, because you break your legs more when you go stright away. But it is also a small polemic about this in France… So I don’t say you are lying, not at all, I just say it does not change the race, and you could have done this easily. Whatever, I understand it is not easy to understand as it is written in the rules ou should not, and also some parts are marked directly in the grass by organisation (see descent to les Chapieux).

5) comparing this with doping is very ridiculous. Just explain to US runners that it is nothing to win here : no money. We don’t have any professional trailrunners in France : not any ! Everybody has a job to do everyday before. (except Marco Olmo that is now retreated at 59 years old!). This idea of dopage is just a misunderstanding betwen people who don’t know them. In Europe, we don’t understand why you accept pacers for 100 miles, we think it is not equity. It is just different uses for different countries, no more.

6) Whatever, you explain well why you should stop, and it is very understandable. You have a very good point of view of this race, and really you will be welcome by all top runners.

Regards,
good luck for Spartathlon !.

]]> By: Cougarbait http://www.scottjurek.com/blog/2007/08/26/2007-utmb-report/#comment-108 Cougarbait Tue, 28 Aug 2007 08:43:11 +0000 http://www.scottjurek.com/blog/2007/08/26/2007-utmb-report/#comment-108 SSJ, No shame in living to fight another day, one can only have so many major goals in a year, you have nothing to prove to anyone for your results speak for themselves. I just have this feeling -- you'll be back there, Tour De Force next time.....no stone unturned just to see what's under the rock. Good luck at Spartathlon, Greece needs our thoughts and prayers. -CB SSJ,
No shame in living to fight another day, one can only have so many major goals in a year, you have nothing to prove to anyone for your results speak for themselves. I just have this feeling — you’ll be back there, Tour De Force next time…..no stone unturned just to see what’s under the rock. Good luck at Spartathlon, Greece needs our thoughts and prayers.
-CB

]]> By: American men schooled at the Ultra Tour du Mont-Blanc | Trail Running Blog http://www.scottjurek.com/blog/2007/08/26/2007-utmb-report/#comment-107 American men schooled at the Ultra Tour du Mont-Blanc | Trail Running Blog Tue, 28 Aug 2007 04:53:31 +0000 http://www.scottjurek.com/blog/2007/08/26/2007-utmb-report/#comment-107 [...] out Scott Jurek’s race report as [...] [...] out Scott Jurek’s race report as [...]

]]> By: olga http://www.scottjurek.com/blog/2007/08/26/2007-utmb-report/#comment-106 olga Tue, 28 Aug 2007 03:34:02 +0000 http://www.scottjurek.com/blog/2007/08/26/2007-utmb-report/#comment-106 Scott, thanks for the insites, re-focus and go after Spartathlon! Best to Leah, Lisa and Glenn, enjoy beautiful Greece and run strong! Scott, thanks for the insites, re-focus and go after Spartathlon! Best to Leah, Lisa and Glenn, enjoy beautiful Greece and run strong!

]]> By: gjoss http://www.scottjurek.com/blog/2007/08/26/2007-utmb-report/#comment-105 gjoss Mon, 27 Aug 2007 21:43:29 +0000 http://www.scottjurek.com/blog/2007/08/26/2007-utmb-report/#comment-105 Hello Scott, I hope you'll come back next year, you are a big champion, and the UTMB -(and CCC) need to have big competitors like you (not only europeans) These races are really wonderful, particulary this year with the sun :-) Good luck for the Spartathlon, and see you next year in Chamonix José from France Hello Scott,
I hope you’ll come back next year, you are a big champion, and the UTMB -(and CCC) need to have big competitors like you (not only europeans)
These races are really wonderful, particulary this year with the sun :-)
Good luck for the Spartathlon, and see you next year in Chamonix

José from France

]]> By: cebollita http://www.scottjurek.com/blog/2007/08/26/2007-utmb-report/#comment-104 cebollita Mon, 27 Aug 2007 15:20:25 +0000 http://www.scottjurek.com/blog/2007/08/26/2007-utmb-report/#comment-104 Thank you for writing so thorougly about your experiences. As this race approached I thought about how little time you had to recovery from Hardrock and simply wondered! I'm very glad you enjoyed your adventure and hope Leah did too. Rest up! Thank you for writing so thorougly about your experiences. As this race approached I thought about how little time you had to recovery from Hardrock and simply wondered! I’m very glad you enjoyed your adventure and hope Leah did too.

Rest up!

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