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Micah Ward · Posted: Wed Jul 24, 2002 3:03 pm Post subject: Great Ultra Perfomance

This past weekend at the Jim Skophammer 12 Hour, Ray Piva set a pending age group world record by covering 66 miles 930 yards. Piva is 76 years old. He also came in 6th place out of 31 runners.

This is not a fluke as Piva shows up regularly in the ultra results on the west coast. If my memory serves me correctly he completed Western States within the 30 hour time limit after he was 70 and is the oldest official finisher there. I'll research that and get back.

Micah Ward · Posted: Wed Jul 24, 2002 3:56 pm Post subject:

Just became aware of another one. Pam Reed is the OVERALL winner of the Badwater Ultra which is taking place right now. It is 135 miles from the floor of Death Valley to the top of Mt. Whitney. She finished in 27:58 (that is hours and minutes remember) for a pace of 12:25 per mile.

Another female is currently in second less than 30 minutes ahead of the first two guys. All together there are @80 runners in the race.

Micah Ward · Posted: Wed Jul 24, 2002 4:00 pm Post subject:

Correction, we have a stagger start to figure in here. The race started in three waves at 6 am, 8 am, 10 am. Reed was the first to finish from the 6 am wave so it is possible that someone from the other waves could best her time.

In any case it was a great performance on her part. Very Happy

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Paul · Posted: Wed Jul 24, 2002 6:21 pm Post subject:

Micah, any thoughts on how Pam Reed would have faired at the WS100 vs Ann and Emma?? The elevation change must be well over 10,000 feet!! Surprised

Paul

edited to change spelling of Emma

Conway · Posted: Wed Jul 24, 2002 9:19 pm Post subject:

That has got to be one killer race !!! Altitude chagne alone would be enough to knock most people out ... Let alone the 135 miles !!! I think Dan needs a sweating icon !!! I just lst 3 lbs thinking about it ....

Paul · Posted: Wed Jul 24, 2002 9:41 pm Post subject:

The floor of Death Valley at 10 AM in July!!! Surprised

I can't even imagine being out in the sun there for 10 min let alone starting a 135 mile run!!!

Paul

Micah Ward · Posted: Thu Jul 25, 2002 3:37 am Post subject:

Just checked the Badwater results and Reed's time is still holding up as people from the other starting groups start to come in.

I'll have to research Reed's past. I don't know if she has run Western States or not.

www.badwaterultra.com has some great pictures from the race and a results board with periodic updates. I'm going to keep an eye on it at work today.
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Distance_Guru · Posted: Thu Jul 25, 2002 11:51 am Post subject:

Hey MW, what is the purpose of a staggered start for a race of this nature?

There can't be that many people entered in the race, so I wouldn't think that would be the reason. And like Paul said starting a race in Death Valley at 10am just seems cruel. Of coarse I find it hard to believe that anyone in their right mind would want to race 135 miles starting in Death Valley in July and climbing that much. It's insane Surprised

,and by insane I mean insane even for an ultra!.
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Micah Ward · Posted: Thu Jul 25, 2002 3:56 pm Post subject:

Taken in order:

1. Reed's past. She has an extensive history of running ultras. In 2000 she ran Western States in a little over 24 hrs. Her finishing times from other races are consistant which means she does not have the "leg speed" to challenge Trason or Davies but she can obviously maintain a good, if not fast, pace through extreme distances.

2. Why the staggered starts? Don't know. I'll research it though.

3. Why run Badwater in the first place? A quote from an ultra site:

"It takes an idiot to run a marathon. It takes a special kind of idiot to run an ultra!"

Paul · Posted: Thu Jul 25, 2002 3:58 pm Post subject:

Clicked on some pictures of Pam Reed (runner # 14). She must have been wearing some serious sun block, all she has on is a singlet and shorts. I am assuming this whole race is run on asphalt?? Meaning at least you don't have to worry much about turning an ankle. DG, not a lot of fast twitch fibers in this group?? Rolling Eyes

Paul

Micah Ward · Posted: Thu Jul 25, 2002 4:18 pm Post subject:

Reed did turn out to be the overall winner. And it looks like she may have won by 4-5 hours. I think it is run on asphalt the whole way.

I can't find out why they stagger the start. Your guess is as good as mine.
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Paul · Posted: Thu Jul 25, 2002 4:45 pm Post subject:

Timewise it appears that Reed might have been able to run the WS100 in 20+ hours, competing with Luanne Parks for third overall for women. How old is she?? Maybe her "speed" has picked up a bit. Its exhausting just thinking about this stuff!! If only my fat cells could be frightened into shrinking!! Surprised

Paul

Micah Ward · Posted: Thu Jul 25, 2002 5:05 pm Post subject:

I believe she is 41. A young lady compared to us. Very Happy

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Paul · Posted: Thu Jul 25, 2002 7:18 pm Post subject:

I would imagine the grade changes in the WS100 are much more severe than in the Badwater. Those are horse trails in the WS100 vs roads in the Badwater. There might not be any downhill sections of note in the Badwater. And as you and others have pointed out, the downhill sections are more murderous on your quads than the uphill sections.

Paul

Micah Ward · Posted: Fri Jul 26, 2002 3:51 am Post subject:

Yeah, Western States is constant up and down while Badwater seems to be a gradual climb. The biggest thing Badwater has in difficulty has to be the temps. I don't know of any race in the US that comes close to having to deal with that.
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