An Extraordinary 14 Months for North American 100 Mile Races – iRunFar

It has been fairly a rare 14 months on this planet of 100-mile path working in North America. Beginning with the Western States 100 final 12 months and ending with the Leadville 100 Mile final weekend, we’ve got seen three performances which have discovered their approach into my checklist of the highest three males’s and girls’s performances of all time and, in so doing, have knocked off three legendary performances from yesteryear.

Previous to June 2023, my prime three North American ladies’s 100-mile performances of all time seemed like this:

1. Ann Trason – 1994 Leadville 100 Mile
2. Ellie Greenwood – 2012 Western States 100
3. Ann Trason – 1994 Western States 100

Then alongside got here the 2023 Western States 100 and Courtney Dauwalter’s mind-bending 15:29 course report run. With that, Trason’s 1994 Western States 100 run was got rid of the checklist, and Greenwood’s 2012 Western States 100 efficiency was relegated to 3rd.

A 12 months later, this previous June, Katie Schide — who completed second on the 2023 Western States 100 behind Dauwalter — gained in 15:46, and bumped Greenwood off the checklist completely. As of in the present day, due to this fact, my ladies’s podium appears to be like like this:

1. Courtney Dauwalter – 2023 Western States 100
2. Ann Trason – 1994 Leadville 100 Mile
3. Katie Schide – 2024 Western States 100

Katie Schide, 2024 Western States 100 champion. Picture: iRunFar/Meghan Hicks

On the boys’s facet, earlier than final weekend’s historic run on the Leadville 100, my North American males’s prime three 100-mile performances of all time seemed like this:

1. Jim Walmsley – 2019 Western States 100
2. Jim O’Brien – 1989 Angeles Crest 100 Mile
3. Matt Carpenter – 2005 Leadville 100 Mile

With David Roche’s unbelievable course report run on the 2024 Leadville 100 Mile, Carpenter’s title was got rid of the checklist, making my present podium seem like this:

1. Jim Walmsley – 2019 Western States 100
2. Jim O’Brien – 1989 Angeles Crest 100 Mile
3. David Roche – 2024 Leadville 100 Mile

David Roche successful the 2024 Leadville 100 Mile and setting a brand new course report. Picture: Life Time

Whereas these rankings are solely mine, and definitely topic to evaluation and criticism, it’s attention-grabbing to notice what number of of those performances have occurred just lately, no matter the place one would possibly rank them.

A lot has been mentioned in regards to the present state of long-distance path working and ultrarunning, and the growing professionalism within the sport. I imagine this — together with vital enhancements in coaching, vitamin, sneakers, and kit — has made excellent performances extra frequent.

At this level, it’s arduous to say the place the ceiling may be. That being mentioned, it additionally highlights how spectacular the performances of Carpenter, Trason, and O’Brien have been within the context of historical past. I, for one, am curious to see the place this report development will go as we see the continued progress and evolution of the game. I sit up for being alongside for the journey.

Bottoms up!

AJW’s Beer of the Week

This week’s beer of the week comes from David Roche’s hometown of Boulder, Colorado. Mountain Solar Pub and Brewery is a Boulder brewery specializing in small batches of scrumptious beer. Annapurna Amber is a smooth-drinking Vienna Lager that transports one again to the Alps. Crisp and refreshing, Annapurna Amber is the quintessential summer time mountain beer.

Name for Feedback

• What are your prime three female and male ultrarunning performances ever?
• What different extraordinary runs have occurred prior to now 12 months?