Scott Jurek, ultrarunner and bestselling author of Eat and Run.
A dominant force in the sport of ultrarunning for years and a runner who has gained, Legendary status. Way back In 1999, an unknown runner, Scott took the lead in WSER100 (Western States Endurance Run and) never looked back and went on to win the race. Scott then followed this amazing result up with six more wins; an unprecedented seven WSER wins in a row. It is extremely doubtful that those consecutive performances will ever be bettered or equaled. Scott has won races all over the world and at all distances; Spartathlon, Hardrock-100, Badwater-135 and in 2010 he set an all American record for 24-hours (165.7-miles) which was recently broken by Mike Morton.
Scott become a household name when the book, Born to Run became an international bestseller. The book chronicled the story of running and how the sport has developed. It discussed shoe design and explored the amazing Tarahumara Indians. Scott travelled to Mexico and spent time and immersed himself in the local culture. The experience changed many peoples perspectives and although Scott is not a ‘barefoot’ runner, the book and the stories told pioneered the current trend for minimalist and barefoot running.
Hailed as one of the top runners of the decade by the Washington Times and he was crowned Ultra Runner of the Year three times by Runners World.
Since 2010 Scott has raced very little as he finished writing his book, Eat and Run and then travelled the world to promote it. In the book he combines his passions for running and his Vegan diet.
He returned to racing the 100-mile distance earlier this year at Leadville 100 and placed in the top 10. He has admitted that retirement is near. However, he does still have a few objectives on his bucket list.
So, what is on that bucket list?
Follow Scott on Twitter @scottjurek
Take a look at the images from his ‘Day in the Lakes’ with local runners and his wife, Jenny. HERE
It started like this, ‘Pardon for the last minute message, but I just found out I will have this Friday free when I arrive in London. Are you available to do a run? Is there something we could do in the mountains-trails within striking distance of London. I fly into Heathrow at 7am Friday.’ Scott Jurek
Now Scott and myself had discussed running together at some point in time, however, this message came as a bolt out of the blue. Ironically, I received this email as I was leaving Colorado after covering the UROC race in Vail. Scott lives in Boulder, so, we were actually only 90-mins away from each other!
I initially looked for trails close to London but Scott insisted, he wanted to come to the Lakes. So committed was he and Jenny that he changed his flights and arrived in Heathrow at 0500 on Friday after a 9-hour flight. They travelled across London and then jumped on a train to arrive midday in Windermere.
I was well aware that this was Scott’s first ever trip to the UK, so, it was important to provdie an opportunity for people to join us. I offered the chance for 8 people to join us. Quite simply, email in and names would be selected out of hat.
I contacted The Climbers Shop in Ambleside and they offered a venue for us to meet and they also provided the facilities for a ‘meet and greet’ with Scott later in the day at 5pm.
Needless to say it was a memorable day for all involved and Scott loved the Lakes, the views, the trails and the terrain.
Will he be back…?
Nothing is 100% but don’t rule out a return trip for an attempt on some ’rounds’ and you never know, the UTLD may just be on his bucket list before he retires.
I’d like to thank Scott Jurek and his wife, Jenny for a memorable day and being so committed to run with some serious jet lag and fatigue.
Marc Laithwaite, RD for the Lakeland 100 and 50 who gave up his day to join us. Not a difficult decision I imagine.
I’d like to thank The Climbers Shop for great last minute help and cooperation with a venue. The 8 runners who joined us for a memorable run on the trails and all those who came to the shop for autographs and photographs later in the day.
Images available for personal and commercial use HERE
Episode 45 of Talk Ultra and on this weeks show we have a great interview with a legend of Mountain running, Jonathan Wyatt. We speak to man of the moment, Rob Krar who has had an incredible 2013. The news, a blog, up and coming races, Smiles and Miles and this week we have no Speedgoat… however, we do have a Talk Ultra favorite, Stevie Kremer joining us to host the show!
“Records are meant to be broken and I know this mark will be broken in the near future, but to say that I am the fastest American EVER to run 100 miles is so rewarding. However, it doesn’t define me as a runner and certainly not as a person. I often get asked these days, “What is your training like?” and “What do you eat?” And though my training and diet have changed through the years, I think the difference is this: I don’t race in search of something. When I race, it is a celebration of what God has bestowed upon me. He has given me a gift that allows me to do things with running that I never thought possible.”
TALK TRAINING – with Marc Laithwaite
INTERVIEW
This week’s interview is with Jonathan Wyatt. Jono is a legend in mountain running and as you will hear has incredible diversity and speed
Scott Jurek, arguably one of the most dominant ultra marathon runners of our time will come to the English Lakes on Friday 04th October.
Scott Jurek, seven times winner of the iconic Western States 100-mile run, winner of the Hardrock 100 in 2007, winner of the Badwater Ultramartathon in 2005/06, winner of Spartathlon 2006/07 and 08, previous US record holder for the 24-hour running a distance of 165.7 miles in Brive La Gaillarde in 2010 and most recently author of the book, Eat & Run will come to the English Lakes on Friday the 4th October as part of a whistle stop journey to the UK.
Scott will be attending the London Vegfest on the 5th/6th October at London Olympia (here) and will be at the Bloomsbury Institute on Monday 7th October (here) in the continued worldwide promotion of his book, Eat and Run. Despite an extremely busy schedule, Scott has found the time to coordinate a run and impromptu meet and greet with Ian Corless (photographer/writer at iancorless.com and host/creative director of ultra running podcast, Talk Ultra) in the English Lakes.
Ian has interviewed Scott multiple times and they have often discussed the possibilty to run and enjoy the best of the UK’s trails and mountains. ‘It’s a conversation Scott and I have had several times. He told me the last time we chatted that one day he would make the trip and run in the Lakes. Of course, I never thought it would happen’ Ian explained.
‘It has been extremely short notice, ironically, I was in Colorado when I got Scott’s message. He was literally just ninety minutes away. He expressed interest to run on Friday and so I went to work immediately’ explained Ian, ‘Originally we looked at London possibilities due to time pressures but Scott came back to me and inisisted that it was the Lakes that he wanted to come to. In some respects, this was better for me. I know the Lakeland 100 and 50 routes very well so I contacted Marc Laithwaite, the Lakeland 100/50 race director and a plan was put into place’.
Scott is a legend of ultra running and as such demand to run with him is expected to be high. Therefore Ian is providing the option for eight people to join Scott, Jenny his wife, Marc and of course Ian on the trails this Friday with an estimated start time of 1:00pm. Location and details to be provided via email.
If you’d like to be in with a chance to join the run, you need to email talkultra@gmail.com before midday Thursday 03rd October providing your name, email address and telephone number.
To avoid disappointment and to maximize the opportunity of Scott coming to the North West, Ian has contacted The Climbers Shop, Ambleside and they will host a meet and greet opportunity at 5pm, Friday 4th October. This will be an open event allowing everyone the opportunity to get a photograph, autograph or maybe even get a copy of Eat and Run signed.
Ian went on to say, ‘I was well aware of the interest and demand that Scott would bring and of course, just eight peoiple joining us on the trails leaves many people disapponted. So I contacted The Climbers Shop and they have kindly stepped in at the elevnth hour and are providing a venue for everyone to meet’.
The Climbers Shop is located in the centre of Ambleside on Compston Road, LA22 9D2.
SCOTT JUREK will join myself and Marc Laithwaite (Lakeland RD) in the English Lakes this coming Friday for a run on the Lakeland 100/50 course. We would have liked to make this an ‘open’ event but due to time restraints and logistics we are offering 6-8 people the opportunity to join us.
You will need to make your own way to a central Lakeland location and be available from midday (1200) tbc and able to run 12-18 miles comfortably. How can you join us? Well we want to make this as fair as possible, so, please email talkultra@gmail.com with your name and and telephone number. All emails will be added to a list and 6-8 names will be chosen at random and notified via email, phone and on the Talk Ultra Facebook page.
You can also use the form below.
Needless to say, this may very well be a once in a lifetime opportunity to join an ultra running legend.
On another note, thank you to everyone who provided input for a trail in or around London. This was the initial request and it changed. I really appreciate the effort everyone went to. However, Scott is in London Saturday, Sunday and Monday so you may be able to link into one of the other events. Thanks
All images are available to purchase for personal or commercial use HERE
The 2013 Skyrunner Ultra World Series came to an exciting conclusion in Vail, Colorado on Saturday as many of the top ultra runners in the world lined up against each other for the Ultra Race of Champions. Starting at 0700 in the small town of Breckenridge and concluding in the center of Vail, some 100km later this race was always going to be an exciting nail biter and it didn’t disappoint.
Sunny skies the day before the race turned to dark grey, light rain fell and then snow. So much snow that on the highest sections of the course, particularly in the early stages of the race; eighteen inches of snow covered the ground. At 12,000 feet temperatures in the wind were around -14 deg. It was cold! However, Colorado has never looked so good. Deep blue skies, beautiful sunshine and so much snow it made one feel like Christmas.
The buzz in the small town was tangible as runners wrapped up in puffa’s and beanies waiting for the 0700 ‘GO’. It soon came and the 200+ strong field departed in a rush. Two early cash primes were won by Sage Canaday and Emelie Forsberg, a pattern was unfolding and as many had thought in pre race predictions, two outright favorites had taken the bull by the horns and were starting as they meant to go on.
However, Emelie was certainly suffering from the altitude and had to ease off allowing Stephanie Howe to take an early lead out at the front. For the men though, the field was very much a who’s who of ultra running and Dakota Jones, Rob Krar, Kilian Jornet and Jason Wolfe reeled Sage in.
At Frisco, 14-miles into the race a front group had formed and then the climb to the highest point of the course came. At an altitude of 12,000 feet and freezing temperatures, a winter wonderland awaited the runners. Kilian Jornet and Dakota Jones arrived first, running together matching stride for stride. I was convinced that if conditions remained like this Kilian would for sure dominate!
Less than a minute behind, Rob Krar followed and then Sage Canaday. Sage looked less relaxed and calm in the knee-deep snow; his arms were outstretched as he tried to balance. A string of other top contenders followed, Ryan Ghelfi, Cameron Clayton, Luke Nelson, Mike Versteeg and so on. The descent from the summit was tricky in places as running water had turned to ice.
Emelie Forsberg used the snow to her advantage and reclaimed some time from Stephanie Howe, as she ran past me on the descent she shouted, ‘I feel better now, the altitude was making me feel very uncomfortable’. However, Emelie was still one minute in arrears.
Vail Pass at 33-miles was a significant turning point in the race, Rob Krar used his speed and took hold of the race and started to push. Dakota Jones followed. A flat road section that covered approximately 19% of the course demoralized Kilian; confident that his World Skyrunner Champion title was secure he eased back and allowed Cameron Clayton to run ahead of him.
Emelie reclaimed the lead at Vail Pass and never looked back. She continually pulled away from Stephanie Howe and at the finish in Vail she had secured UROC victory and the Skyrunner Ultra World Championship title with 23-minutes to spare in a time of 12:06:34 (her first 100km). Stephanie Howe ran a great race and considering she very nearly didn’t start due to a potential injury issue, she looked super pleased with her 12:29:26. Third spot for the ladies podium went to Michele Yates in 12:46:24, considering Michele had won Run Rabbit Run 100-miler just two weeks prior, this was an incredible result for her.
The men’s race however was less formulaic. On the descent to Minturn, Dakota Jones came charging through the forests with Rob Krar 1min in arrears. He looked strong and focused.
Minturn, mile 52.5 saw runners turn and head back up the trail. Jones appeared running every step of the way and then 90 seconds later Krar appeared with hands-on-knees powering up the climb. He looked less relaxed than Jones and at this stage one would have most certainly put money on a Jones win.
Cameron Clayton was 3rd at this point, he was way too far back to contend the top slot and Kilian Jornet was far enough behind in 4th not to contend the 3rd place on the podium, so, barring a disaster, Clayton had 3rd guaranteed.
With less then 4-miles to go, Krar and Jones were together and then Krar unleashed a break neck descent to the line that Jones later went on to say, ‘jeez, that guy was an animal on the descent. All respect. It was a great race, a pleasure to run with one so talented and the better man won’.
The better man did win; Krar broke the Skyrunner tape and then covered his face with his hands. ‘I can’t believe what just happened’. Exhausted, shocked, elated he was embraced by his wife and the victory sunk in. 2013 has been an incredible year for Krar, to put this in perspective, just a couple of years ago he thought he may never run again!
On the line, sitting in a chair, buckle in his hand, cowboy hat shadowing his face he said, ‘It was the hardest effort in my life, possibly the hardest course I have run. The course had a great mix of terrains making it a fair course’ I asked Rob, about the final climb when he was 90-seconds in arrears, ‘I caught him (Dakota) at the top. I was really hurting in Minturn I thought I was down and out but with a mile to go I caught him and pushed.’
The 2013 Ultra Race of Champions was without doubt a great race. It was a fitting finale to the Skyrunner Ultra World Series and of course, excitement now builds as the 2014 calendar in finalized. However, we do have a Vertical Kilometer and Sky Running World Champion to announce at the final race of the 2013 Skyrunner season in Limone, Italy.
All images are available to purchase for personal or commercial use HERE
