Comments on: Race of the Year…The North Face Endurance 50! http://karlmeltzer.com/2008/11/race-of-the-yearthe-north-face-endurance-50/ World Class Endurance Runner Mon, 06 Sep 2010 12:40:44 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: HamantagKeydaynah http://karlmeltzer.com/2008/11/race-of-the-yearthe-north-face-endurance-50/#comment-1950 HamantagKeydaynah Mon, 29 Dec 2008 02:06:08 +0000 http://karlmeltzer.com/?p=286#comment-1950 aspzazathzllgzjrwell, hi admin adn people nice forum indeed. how's life? hope it's introduce branch ;) aspzazathzllgzjrwell, hi admin adn people nice forum indeed. how’s life? hope it’s introduce branch ;)

]]> By: Speedgoat Karl http://karlmeltzer.com/2008/11/race-of-the-yearthe-north-face-endurance-50/#comment-1940 Speedgoat Karl Tue, 23 Dec 2008 17:54:25 +0000 http://karlmeltzer.com/?p=286#comment-1940 Perhaps making a 100 mile mountain trail race an olympic sport would open some eyes, but it won't happen in our day. As a spectator wouldn't it be cool for mr costas to check in once in a while to see the lead peleton 10 hours into a 100. The media might just eat that up, or they may not. You are exactly right saying noone cares but other ultrarunners. Even people that run 5 and 10ks...most have never heard of a 100 miler. The NF put down lots of cash for this one, but as an RD, they don't just throw down 30,000 for any race, it has to be there own....very understandable, why give me 10,000 to give away for some brutal 50K. Not worth it to them. I still wonder if they think it's worth it to throw down 30 g's...probably not worth it, they'll have to sell lots of shoes and gear to an relatively cheap crowd :).. Yah, I'll go bowling, at least it's cheap! :) Perhaps making a 100 mile mountain trail race an olympic sport would open some eyes, but it won’t happen in our day. As a spectator wouldn’t it be cool for mr costas to check in once in a while to see the lead peleton 10 hours into a 100. The media might just eat that up, or they may not.

You are exactly right saying noone cares but other ultrarunners. Even people that run 5 and 10ks…most have never heard of a 100 miler.

The NF put down lots of cash for this one, but as an RD, they don’t just throw down 30,000 for any race, it has to be there own….very understandable, why give me 10,000 to give away for some brutal 50K. Not worth it to them. I still wonder if they think it’s worth it to throw down 30 g’s…probably not worth it, they’ll have to sell lots of shoes and gear to an relatively cheap crowd :)..

Yah, I’ll go bowling, at least it’s cheap! :)

]]> By: peter h. http://karlmeltzer.com/2008/11/race-of-the-yearthe-north-face-endurance-50/#comment-1939 peter h. Tue, 23 Dec 2008 13:50:22 +0000 http://karlmeltzer.com/?p=286#comment-1939 just realize that TNF is probably the only company out there willing and able to put that kind of money down. other companies either can't afford it, or don't think it's worthwhile. get yourself and your races sponsored by TNF and you'll be all set, making a nice living. work with the other niche brands who specialize in trail running shoes, and you'll be supporting the real forces behind the sport and it's innovation, but you won't be making much. after all, you're a trail runner. what do you really expect? the real reason top Ultrarunners aren't making good money is not b/c the sport is too dull for TV, but b/c the companies behind the sport are small (and the big ones don't want to put their eggs into the trail ultra market), overall interest in the grand scheme of things is very low, and ultra runners make up a miniscule percentage of the active population. nobody cares outside of other ultrarunners. harsh but true go bowling just realize that TNF is probably the only company out there willing and able to put that kind of money down. other companies either can’t afford it, or don’t think it’s worthwhile. get yourself and your races sponsored by TNF and you’ll be all set, making a nice living. work with the other niche brands who specialize in trail running shoes, and you’ll be supporting the real forces behind the sport and it’s innovation, but you won’t be making much. after all, you’re a trail runner. what do you really expect?

the real reason top Ultrarunners aren’t making good money is not b/c the sport is too dull for TV, but b/c the companies behind the sport are small (and the big ones don’t want to put their eggs into the trail ultra market), overall interest in the grand scheme of things is very low, and ultra runners make up a miniscule percentage of the active population. nobody cares outside of other ultrarunners. harsh but true

go bowling

]]> By: Speedgoat Karl http://karlmeltzer.com/2008/11/race-of-the-yearthe-north-face-endurance-50/#comment-1937 Speedgoat Karl Mon, 22 Dec 2008 18:29:15 +0000 http://karlmeltzer.com/?p=286#comment-1937 The fastest Ultrarunners should be paid to be stars. I have never said Ultraunning isn't about money. Yah, for most it's about getting to the finish line and enjoying the outdoors on trails or roads, and that's what keeps the core of the sport coming back. For top runners to be on top, they must train hard, and that takes time and effort, and if they are representing a company or sponsor, they should be compensated for that. It doesn't have to be a huge 20,000 check with every win, but every little bit helps to pay the bills. The real reason top Ultrarunners aren't making real money is because the media can't put it on the idiot box for couch potatoes to watch it. Had there not been a cash prize at the NF 50, Ulli, Matt, the Japanese runner, and a few others right behind them, would have likely stayed at home and gone for their own run. Think about it, money brings competition. You have no idea how many people have asked me how much I won at the last 100. When I tell them nothing, just a rock on a piece of wood. They fall off their barstool in disbelief. I thought it was also a shame to see two guys "tie" at the TRT 100 this year. They were racing for money and decided to split it and tie for a national championship? Were they just both kind of tired and didn't want to race the last 25? Most Ultrarunners thought that was very cool....I just think they should have raced the thing to make it far more interesting. I would have leaned at the line to take the extra money. For some of us who choose to "attempt" to make a living at it, get a little frustrated when sponsors want all these things, but don't compensate for our efforts. Realistically we should have taken up a different sport to make money, perhaps bowling or snowboarding, where the media can watch. Granted, these guys are good at riding the halfpipe, but there's no real endurance there, just a bunch of beer afterwards...amongst other things. And they are laughing, and they should be. I would be too. For the record you caught me on a very sarcastic afternoon, all about timing. I'm going bowling............ The fastest Ultrarunners should be paid to be stars. I have never said Ultraunning isn’t about money. Yah, for most it’s about getting to the finish line and enjoying the outdoors on trails or roads, and that’s what keeps the core of the sport coming back.

For top runners to be on top, they must train hard, and that takes time and effort, and if they are representing a company or sponsor, they should be compensated for that. It doesn’t have to be a huge 20,000 check with every win, but every little bit helps to pay the bills.

The real reason top Ultrarunners aren’t making real money is because the media can’t put it on the idiot box for couch potatoes to watch it.

Had there not been a cash prize at the NF 50, Ulli, Matt, the Japanese runner, and a few others right behind them, would have likely stayed at home and gone for their own run. Think about it, money brings competition. You have no idea how many people have asked me how much I won at the last 100. When I tell them nothing, just a rock on a piece of wood. They fall off their barstool in disbelief.

I thought it was also a shame to see two guys “tie” at the TRT 100 this year. They were racing for money and decided to split it and tie for a national championship? Were they just both kind of tired and didn’t want to race the last 25? Most Ultrarunners thought that was very cool….I just think they should have raced the thing to make it far more interesting. I would have leaned at the line to take the extra money.

For some of us who choose to “attempt” to make a living at it, get a little frustrated when sponsors want all these things, but don’t compensate for our efforts. Realistically we should have taken up a different sport to make money, perhaps bowling or snowboarding, where the media can watch. Granted, these guys are good at riding the halfpipe, but there’s no real endurance there, just a bunch of beer afterwards…amongst other things. And they are laughing, and they should be. I would be too.

For the record you caught me on a very sarcastic afternoon, all about timing.

I’m going bowling…………

]]> By: peter h. http://karlmeltzer.com/2008/11/race-of-the-yearthe-north-face-endurance-50/#comment-1936 peter h. Mon, 22 Dec 2008 17:43:20 +0000 http://karlmeltzer.com/?p=286#comment-1936 for a group of people who claim ultrarunning isn't about the money, you sure seem to be putting a lot of emphasis on the cash prize in this race once upon a time running distance was not about the money or the ridiculous marketing claims of innovation and technology in shoes. it was just about running. what happened? for a group of people who claim ultrarunning isn’t about the money, you sure seem to be putting a lot of emphasis on the cash prize in this race

once upon a time running distance was not about the money or the ridiculous marketing claims of innovation and technology in shoes. it was just about running. what happened?

]]> By: Jacob http://karlmeltzer.com/2008/11/race-of-the-yearthe-north-face-endurance-50/#comment-1928 Jacob Thu, 18 Dec 2008 07:49:33 +0000 http://karlmeltzer.com/?p=286#comment-1928 nice write up @ the northface website. http://www2.thenorthface.com/endurancechallenge/races/2008/sca_recap.html nice write up @ the northface website.
http://www2.thenorthface.com/endurancechallenge/races/2008/sca_recap.html

]]> By: sal http://karlmeltzer.com/2008/11/race-of-the-yearthe-north-face-endurance-50/#comment-1921 sal Sun, 14 Dec 2008 16:02:50 +0000 http://karlmeltzer.com/?p=286#comment-1921 hey you guys are forgetting about Sal bautista, a new runner and will be present at the north face 50 miles championship in san francisco. he has a best time of 3:39 at the bulldog 50k and has only ran one 50 miles at the 2008 50 miles at the san francisco chamionship. he ran 7:29 and without training. He was juat training for the 5 miles since he rans for college. He has promisseed the top 3 for next year. he is only 24 years old hey you guys are forgetting about Sal bautista, a new runner and will be present at the north face 50 miles championship in san francisco. he has a best time of 3:39 at the bulldog 50k and has only ran one 50 miles at the 2008 50 miles at the san francisco chamionship. he ran 7:29 and without training. He was juat training for the 5 miles since he rans for college. He has promisseed the top 3 for next year. he is only 24 years old

]]> By: Speedgoat Karl http://karlmeltzer.com/2008/11/race-of-the-yearthe-north-face-endurance-50/#comment-1912 Speedgoat Karl Wed, 10 Dec 2008 09:29:07 +0000 http://karlmeltzer.com/?p=286#comment-1912 I had no problems following the course. As a middle of the packer, I just followed all your footsteps. Geoff explains it perfectly though, some places all the sudden had nothing and I had to guess. If there is a race of this caliber, it should be able to be followed blind. Like I did, I didn't know where the course went at all times. I had no problems following the course. As a middle of the packer, I just followed all your footsteps. Geoff explains it perfectly though, some places all the sudden had nothing and I had to guess. If there is a race of this caliber, it should be able to be followed blind. Like I did, I didn’t know where the course went at all times.

]]> By: geoff roes http://karlmeltzer.com/2008/11/race-of-the-yearthe-north-face-endurance-50/#comment-1911 geoff roes Tue, 09 Dec 2008 22:48:25 +0000 http://karlmeltzer.com/?p=286#comment-1911 the course markings were a bit random. in some spots i thought it was great and then all of the sudden you'd come to a junction with nothing. i read over the route description about 30 times leading up to the race and in a couple spots that was the only thing that kept me on course... and in a couple other spots i was lucky to be running with about a dozen other guys because between all of us we were always able to figure things out with almost no delay. overall though i thought it was a very well laid out course and limited trail marking just adds to the fun in my mind (as long as the route is described on the race website). i think it's a more fun route to run than the route that the miwok takes through those same trails... but yeah, like you karl, i wish it were a more technical trail, and not such a damn hard surface. the course markings were a bit random. in some spots i thought it was great and then all of the sudden you’d come to a junction with nothing. i read over the route description about 30 times leading up to the race and in a couple spots that was the only thing that kept me on course… and in a couple other spots i was lucky to be running with about a dozen other guys because between all of us we were always able to figure things out with almost no delay. overall though i thought it was a very well laid out course and limited trail marking just adds to the fun in my mind (as long as the route is described on the race website). i think it’s a more fun route to run than the route that the miwok takes through those same trails… but yeah, like you karl, i wish it were a more technical trail, and not such a damn hard surface.

]]> By: Susannah http://karlmeltzer.com/2008/11/race-of-the-yearthe-north-face-endurance-50/#comment-1910 Susannah Tue, 09 Dec 2008 12:35:35 +0000 http://karlmeltzer.com/?p=286#comment-1910 Race could have used better trail markings, though! Wardian got lost for a long while at the unmarked, and sporadically-manned out-back point, and there was the bunch of us (me, Adam Lint, Joe from Portland, the two front-running Brazilian women, plus a few others) who added 7-8 minutes and an extra mile to our race about 4 miles in. Oh, the horror. Totally changed the women's race, OMHO, :) Must have been others going astray in other various places, too. Race could have used better trail markings, though! Wardian got lost for a long while at the unmarked, and sporadically-manned out-back point, and there was the bunch of us (me, Adam Lint, Joe from Portland, the two front-running Brazilian women, plus a few others) who added 7-8 minutes and an extra mile to our race about 4 miles in. Oh, the horror. Totally changed the women’s race, OMHO, :) Must have been others going astray in other various places, too.

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