#2 in the Second Amendment Soliloquy Series
(wherein I shoot my mouth off)
by RasThe Ultra Race Of Champions, by its very name, purports to crown ultrarunning royalty. Race Directors J. Russell Gill III & Francesca Conte envision UROC as "the annual world championship" of the sport. But exactly what sport? In issue #411 of Running Times Magazine Gill is quoted as saying, "...Ultradistance running has finally matured to a point where it needed its annual Super Bowl." This is where Mr. Gill and I take diverging paths, and a good percentage of his is paved.
I've never thought of my sport as "ultradistance running". I think of it as "ultrarunning" or "trail running" or "endurance running". And even if the term doesn't contain the word "trail" it should be assumed to be parenthetically inserted, ie "ultra(trail)running" or "endurance (trail) running". It may seem that I'm merely parsing syntax, but since we are advanced hominids using complex language, it's reasonable to assume the word choice is meant to convey a specific meaning.
I think Gill's use of "ultradistance running" convey's the amalgam of road and trail running that the UROC organizers feel sums up the sport, as has consistently been reflected in the UROC courses. They see the blend of road and trail as leveling the playing field for runners who come from either discipline. I see it as a bastardization of both. In my mind, the only reason to run on pavement is to connect sections of trail or dirt road that lack an intersection. When asked about the UROC course in the lead up to this year's race, Anton Krupicka said, "If the course isn't fair - sufficiently hilly and technical enough to appreciably differentiate it from a road race - it is going to alienate the highest-level mountain athletes." One could handily make the case that this is exactly what's happening.
In the end what it comes down to is different ways to play the game. But it's exactly those differences that interpret the sport being played. I'm a martial artist and both a participant in and fan of combat sports, and can see this point well illustrated in the fighting arts. In boxing, only striking with the closed fist is allowed. Clinches are immediately broken up by the referee, and tripping is a foul. Muay Thai (Thai Boxing) allows strikes with the fists, elbows, knees, and feet (or shins), clinching is a key component, and tripping or throwing your opponent to the mat wins points. Submission Grappling is completely based on clinching, tripping, throwing, choking and joints locks. No striking is allowed. Mixed Martial Arts allows and awards points for all of the techniques listed above.
My point being that the rules (including venue: ring, cage, trail, road) don't describe the sport, they define it. In that sense the Ultra Race Of Champions may accomplish exactly what it sets out to: crowning the King and Queen of mixed road and trail ultradistance running. To my mind that is a small fringe segment, and as a participant, that is not the sort of play that interests me. As a spectator, though, I was very excited about the elite field that the 2013 UROC had drawn.
Kilian Jornet. Rob Krar. Dakota Jones. Sage Canaday. Are you kidding me? I would tune in to watch that field on Hollywood Squares, let alone squaring off in a 100k race. Going into it I knew that the amount of asphalt would be a bane to Jornet and a boon to Jones and Canaday. I didn't know how it would play out for Rob Krar, but at mile 40 Dakota, who was trailing Krar by 4 minutes, said, "Rob Krar is really fast on the roads!" So that question has apparently been put to rest.
Rob Krar registered on my radar at about the same time I registered on his, seeing as we set our Fastest Known Times in the Grand Canyon mere days apart. When I messaged him my congratulations on his blazing fast Rim to Rim to Rim time that took down Dakota Jones' long-standing record, in addition to already holding the FKT for a single crossing, which he had set the previous year, he responded with a Friend request and the message, "Thanks Ras, equally impressive feat yourself! Love your determination to remain self supported during your effort. Stunning what your body and mind are capable of." Very cool. Very real. This wasn't just some nipple-band-aided rhinestone cowboy. Little did I know he was about to steal the Western States 100 away from an incredibly competitive elite field in his 100 mile debut.
Even though Krar came in second at Western States, he essentially stole the race from winner Timothy Olsen. When the dust had settled, Olsen received his due for his title defense at Western, but the buzz was all about Rob Krar. And rightly so. Krar didn't get caught up in the excitement and burn himself out trying to run down the elites at the start. Like an old hand at 100 miles, he settled into his pace and ran his own race, even stepping off the trail early on to let faster runners by, runners such as Ian Sharman, whom he would pass again later in the race. As the miles wore on, Krar gradually accelerated. He was extending his lead over Mike Morton and gaining ground on Tim Olsen when the finish line cut short his hunt. But one could make a convincing argument that had it been a 105 mile race, Krar would have topped the podium. It was an utterly awe-inspiring 100 mile debut. And it sparked the sort of excitement that reminded me of Anton Krupicka's appearance on the national radar.
At UROC Rob went out fast and never slowed. He led the race for roughly 50 miles. Jones then pulled into the lead for a few miles only to have Krar snatch it back and run away for the win with a three minute margin. In a turn of phrase I wish I could claim as my own, Bryon Powell referred to it as "Krarnage". Post UROC, Krar once again demonstrated both his humility, and penchant for making use of social media, tweeting to Dakota Jones, "@thatdakotajones Thanks for the most challenging and exciting race of my life. You are a BEAST. Hope our paths cross again soon!"
At mile 40 of UROC Kilian Jornet said to Bryon Powell, "That's the most I've ever run on pavement. So boring." And in some ways it seems that Jornet is not just bored with pavement, but bored with racing. I can't help but wonder if his lackluster and non-podium performance was a silent protest of sorts against the 'safety' of organized, supported races. Jornet's recent book, "Run Or Die," part autobiography and part race/FKT memoir, is rife with disillusionment with organized racing. And although Kilian asserts in his book, "...I think I run simply because I like doing it; I enjoy it every minute and don't wonder why," his performance at UROC did not reflect that.
In light of his recent speed mountaineering ascents, it seems Kilian is seeking out those moments when one takes one's life in one's hands, when a perfect performance is all that separates life and death. It calls to mind the early days of rock climbing, before bolted routes, hex nuts, and spring loaded cams, when "leader mustn't fall" expressed both the risk and the purity of the sport. And Kilian doesn't seem to be able to find that on the pavement. But his 4th place finish was more than enough to earn him the Ultra Skyrunning title for 2013. After the race Jornet tweeted, "Muy contento del titulo Ultra skyrunning y la 4a posición en la uroc, mi primera carrera de 100km trail-asfalto ;)" roughly, "Very content with the Ultra Skyrunning title and 4th place at UROC, my first 100k trail-road run." And of course, semi-colon close-parenthesis, in any language, is a winking smiley face. Yes indeed, Dr. Cooper, I believe that is sarcasm. Maybe not so silent a protest after all.
I would have liked to see Kilian give it his all. And I would LOVE to see him face off against Rob Krar on a technical mountain course, especially since Krar seems to have the chops for it. Perhaps next season we'll see Rob Krar make his presence felt on the European circuit and face off once again with the likes of Jones and Jornet on a more technical course. Transvulcania would be the perfect venue for a showdown between those three. UTMB also comes to mind. Or maybe an FKT-off in the Grand Canyon. With this trio, the venue needn't be limited to an organized, supported race.
Please understand that I mean no disrespect to or criticism of any of the race directors or runners I mentioned. I have the utmost respect for everyone involved in the Ultra Race Of Champions, both organizers and competitors. I am not saying that anyone is "doing it wrong". I support and am in favor of all forms of running, except maybe joggling. I'm not a big fan of themes or gimmicks or costumes, but I'm 100% in favor of covering miles by foot. So if someone wants to do it on asphalt, or on a rubberized track, or with an inflatable duck around their waist, far be it from me to judge. But don't expect me to play if I don't like the sport defined by the rules.
Killian knew what he was getting into and it is somewhat irritating to take stance like that. There are those who excel on flatter courses that step up to the mountains and don't complain (other than with a smile about the beating they took). He is an exceptionally gifted runner but I expect he will be be beaten on the mountain courses, too, in the coming years.
ReplyDeleteGoods points, Jay. I think it may be that the only reason Kilian entered UROC was to go after the SkyRunning title, and all he had to do to take that was stay ahead of Sage Canaday. Since Canaday had GI issues throughout the race and fell back far enough that he really wasn't in the conversation, Kilian simply had to finish. If Sage had been pushing him, I think Kilian could have given it a lot more. H was walking dirt road sections near the end.
DeleteLet's not forget that this was part of the Skyrunning series. UROC is not a skyrun ("as defined by the rules"). That's not UROC's fault. It is the fault of the ISF who chose to include the race in the series (probably in an attempt to run after the North American market). I think Kilian's comment was more aimed at the ISF than at UROC itself. I doubt that KJ would ever choose to run this race if it wasn't the last of the Skyrunning series where other runners competing and doing well (Sage) at the race could take the title away from him.
ReplyDeleteIf you want to be considered the best ultrarunner in the world, ya gotta be able to tackle different disciplines. Flat, mountains, technical, altitude, etc. I don't know who that person is, but I know who it's not.
ReplyDeleteEric, I think "Best Ultrarunner in the World" would be an incredibly contentious thing to attempt to define. But a definition based on what you said above would most likely point at Kilian. Even though Kilian complained about the course (a complaint I myself have made about a number of races I've run) and walked sections, he still very handily managed 4th in an extremely competitive elite field. He was tied for third AFTER the road section. He can run flats, but he's made it clear he doesn't like to.
DeleteComplaining and not trying your hardest does a complete disservice to the sport. It's not like the course was hidden before the field showed up.
ReplyDeleteI agree, Mike. Although I don't think Kilian meant his comment to be mean-spirited. He's made similar comments before. There is a culture-clash here between North American and European running cultures. But Kilian had to run UROC to lock in the Ultra SkyRunning title.
DeleteEric - you're supposing though that Kilian "wants" to be considered the best ultrarunner in the world - I think you'll find he doesn't... titles like that don't really interest him!
ReplyDeleteThis is basically the great divide between USA and Europe. In USA it's a sport of Ultrarunning (mostly done in natural/wild environments of which mountains is just one) , in Europe it's a sport of mountain running (done over various distances, some of which are ultra distance). Kilian is a mountain runner not an Ultrarunner. I am absolutely sure he has no desire to be considered the best Ultrarunner in the world - not even on his radar.
DeleteThe problem is not with the UROC race, which is fine for a USA defined Ultrarunning race, but in it having been chosen for the Skyrunning series by ISF, which is a mountain running organization. How did they make that choice?
I am sure Kilian was disappointed by the course, as I imagine most Europeans who were running.
In "Run Or Die" Kilian makes it clear that he loves racing, he loves competing, and he loves winning. But he also shows ambivalence toward racing. But regardless of whether Kilian WANTS to be the best ultrarunner in the world, there are plenty of reasons to think he may just be. He should have been named Ultrarunner Of The Year at least once by now, but that distinction is limited to residents of North America.
DeleteIt was a shame Kilian didn't like the course and decided not to give it his all. It's the opposite attitude of Mike Wardian who's willing to race on any surface, even if it's not his 'strength'. That's a guy who never gives less than his best and never complains.
ReplyDeleteThere is what you can give physically and what you can give mentally. Maybe that is all he had mentally that day. He could have been exhausted and just not in it that day. Can't say I blame him him. Of the like 100 major events he has competed in over the year (skimo, MUT races, and FKTs) he had a down one. So what? I'm sure Wardian has had down races too and I don't think we have a census of everything Mike has said in every event he has raced.
DeleteNot to take anything away from Wardian. He is one of my heroes and if he muttered about a course being boring or entered a race with no intention of going for the win would not change my esteem for him.
Ian, I agree. A better way to make his point would have been for Kilian to win UROC.
DeleteHowever, what he did is similar to the strategic DNF some elite runners will take if they are not performing optimally. Whether he was lacking motivation or just saving wear and tear on his body, he seems to have just done the minimum to seal up the Ultra SkyRunning title.
I'm such a big fan of Kilian and I really wanted to see him face off with Rob Krar. And as we all know, Dakota is a handful for Kilian as well. It could have been epic. Actually, it WAS epic, but Kilian was a few minutes behind the epicness. But all of this discussion just goes to show what an amazing athlete we all consider Kilian to be. He took 4th place amongst a pretty stacked elite field, and it's clear he wasn't giving it everything. That still astounds me.