Monday, June 01, 2009

The Myth of the Lonely Long-Distance Runner (Time Magazine)


Claire Suddath of TIME Magazine did an interview with Chris McDougall, author of the new book, Born To Run. I think they both did a good job of capturing the ultra spirit (plus a funny story of Jen Shelton puking up beer and jalapeno pizza). You can read the full story here.

Highlights:
[Prize money] is actually one of the big debates in ultra-racing right now; some of the top competitors want there to be prize money but the second money gets into it, the sport is ruined. Right now, there's a certain sense of amateurism and purity to the sport. I was crewing for ultra-runner Jen Shelton during one race and she was gunning to win, but she ate a jalapeno pizza and pitcher of beer five hours before the start, so at mile 40, she blew up and was retching on the course. When she lifted her head up, she realized that two of the guys she had been competing with were standing there waiting for her. She was 40 miles out in the woods alone and they wanted to make sure she was okay. They took her to an aid station and once she was cared for, they took off [for] the finish line. You get a sense of real camaraderie out there because ultimately it's about everyone pulling together.
Classic!

- SD

19 comments:

  1. Thanks for sharing that article with us Scott.

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  2. That's what I love about ultrarunners!

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  3. Hi Scott,

    I'm a big fan of your blog. Any chance you could get an interview with Scott Jurek or Michael Wardian? Part of what makes them interesting is their alternative diets (vegan/vegetarian), and it would be very interesting to hear their comments on nutrition.

    Thanks, Nir

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  4. I don't agree with his simplistic view on prize money, ultimately a race is about competition, and rewards bring out the best. If you solely want purity, just go out, find a trail, and run.

    We're all different, I enjoy running in itself, but get the most out of training hard, racing hard, and pushing to improve even at mid-age.

    I've never found a lack of camaraderie among front runners, in fact I would argue it's some of the strongest in the trail/ultra running communities (because of the familiarity race to race).

    Will G.

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  5. Well said, Will.

    Nir - That's a good idea to interview Wardian. There are a few good interviews out there with him already (here, and a video here, I believe. I like the fact that he and his son hold the world record for marathon with a baby stroller. ;-) Hopefully I can meet him at States.

    I would love to do an interview with Scott Jurek, but he has not responded to any e-mails/inquiries over the last few years. He does have a great blog of his own which includes a lot of fuel/eating tips.

    SD

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  6. I don't intend to disparage people that do competitive ultra's as I get why. But, for me running in the mountains is more like backpacking in that I do it self contained. I find purity in the fact that I am responsible for my fueling and taking what I need for a 40 miler. I don't have someone handing me filtered water, gels, bars, etc.. It is all on me whether I make it or not. That to me is what running ultra's is really about. But again, to each their own.

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  7. This is a great article! When I got a knee injury for the first time in 17 years of running I began to research the running on your toes movement and came across the Tarahumara Indians. There running is so pure. Here are some of the things I picked up from what I learned: http://www.seriousrunning.com/blog/uncategorized/learning-from-the-running-techniques-of-the-tarahumara-indians/

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  8. Nice article but the bit about Tony is misleading as he has been sponsored both by New Balance and La Sportiva. He does wear minimalist shoes but not ancient XC flats.

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  9. scott, thanks for sharing the article and your great blog (i've been a reader for years). and brad, i have to point out that i had a long conversation with krupicka about his love for his decrepit flats. i went for a run with him while he was wearing them, and he got very anxious after accidentally leaving them in the trunk of my car.

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  10. Chris!

    Thanks for stopping by the blog, and congrats on all of the great press you are getting for your book. I got it on iTunes yesterday, and am two chapters in. Great stuff! Sounds like quite an adventure.

    SD

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  11. Scott:
    I see you added 2XU to your logos. Are those the compression socks you were wearing at Miwok? Is this your official endorsement of compression socks? I can't decide if it's the latest fad or worthwhile. You would think more people would wear them if they made that much difference.
    Ashar

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  12. chris mcdougall6/02/2009 07:09:00 PM

    i'm dying to check out the audio version myself -- i've been traveling nonstop for five weeks and haven't had a chance to plug in. i hear the actor really nailed it. too bad we missed each other at WS camp (luis escobar and i spoke at the sunday night dinner), but maybe we'll find each other before the race.

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  13. That is a freakin' hilarious pre-race meal on the part of Jen Shelton. Jen Shelton is my new hero. I agree though-- I think there's much less "let-me-push-you-off-the-trail-so-I-can-win" in ultra running- in fact, I've never experienced it (I mean, I'm not ever gunning to win, but I'm going to make a vast generalization), and I've seen and experienced lots of moments like the Jen Shelton puking-with-support moment.

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  14. Chris,

    As a follower of Anton for some time now, I know he wears a variety of shoes when he runs. He makes detailed notes of which pair he uses and what modifications he has made in his training journals and on his website. I have no doubt he has a "special" pair which he would hate to lose but they're not the only shoes he runs in. In any case, it's a small point. The larger message that "less is more" is on target and much needed.

    I really enjoyed you book Chris. You have done a great thing for all us "Natural Born Runners." Thanks.

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  15. I'm worried I might be getting drawn into trail running/ ultras.
    Great blog!

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  16. I'm about 15 chapters in, and this book is MESMORIZING. I think it's going to hook more new ultraunners than Dean Karnazes. ;-)

    I'll do a full write-up once I finish it up. But I'm just amazed at how well it's capturing what I love about this sport.

    SD

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  17. chris mcdougall6/06/2009 12:11:00 PM

    brad, i see your point. i just re-read the quote and it could come across as if i were saying those are the only shoes he wears. what i was trying to get across is the fact that he still wears them, even though they're years past the expiration date given by the shoe industry.
    scott, i'm glad and grateful that you're enjoying the book. my goal from the start was to depict the sport the way runners really experience it, as a treat and not self-inflicted torture.
    i'm only halfway thru my first listen to the audio version and i'm already a swooning member of the Fred Sanders Fan Club. what an awesome reader.

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  18. I've tried running with shoes that are flat and do not provide any motion control for my low arch feet and I have developed injuries to my i.t. band and swollen ankles. It took me about three weeks to get rid of it. I even wear othotics on my shoes for daily war otherwise my ankles hurt all day. I think its wrong for this guy to say that shoes with motion control are a waste of money. If he had my feet he would be singing a different tune.

    Marco Denson

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  19. Marco,

    I think the point is that years of wearing motion control shoes and orthotics made you susceptible to injury when you tried to wear minimalist shoes for the first time. I actually agree with you, because I wear non-minimalist shoes with orthotics, but I'm sure the "experts" would say that you didn't ease into it enough, and that it takes time to undo the patterns your feet and body are used to.

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