Your point is valid Scott, but not the majority. The casual runner and the hardcore runner want to see the stars. Like Boston. This requires a separate production like ManningCast for Monday Night Football or tuning in to a specific NASCAR driver's radio. Your vision COULD be achieved through a joint effort of platforms that ALREADY recognize and celebrate the back of the pack. How about a livestream of the race from the combined viewpoints of Ten Junk Miles, The Adventure Jogger and Zoe Rohm of DNF? Those establishes fanbases are the audience of which you speak. Imagine Ryan Ploeckelman interviewing DNFs at aid station cutoffs. Imagine you tagging along with the cutoff guy. (I don't remember his name - see I'm one of you). Imagine Zoe Rohm waxing poetic during the golden hour. Like you, this is what I would watch.
As a frequent DNFer and ultra-runner-wanna-be I find myself skipping past WS coverage. The elites are just that - elite and I can't even relate. I tried to watch some of it, but it's just so not the everyman type of event I like to think ultrarunning is. Kudos to all who toed the line which in and of itself is a huge accomplishment. I like hearing about the non-pros/elites as they are way more inspiring to me.
Well put Scotty. I follow some of the stories of the elites leading up to WS, such as Tim Tollefson and Camille Herron, but that's because they've been around and I've followed them a while. I am less interested in the newbies vying for the podium, but Saturday's race, I did read up to learn about Adam Peterman. Like you, I scan the entrants list for old friends and then make a point of seeing how they did and congratulating them. This is the second year in a row I did a 50M on the same day as States, so I missed the daytime coverage, but I didn't feel like I missed out. Still, I admit, I hope to return to WS one day! (I ran it once in 2016.)
Some of the most compelling ultra footage I've ever seen is this short montage of an aid station at a 100-miler in Tennessee. Would love to hear these stories told.
I agree 100%, partly because I think the WSER hype is a little out of control and partly because I’m more interested in the regular folks. I do follow some of the elites but usually have just a few that I’m focused on. There have been some short films focused on back of pack but I’d definitely watch a livestream that focused on them the whole day/night.
I agree 1000%...as a former professional athlete I understand media outlets focusing on the elites...the issue I have is the clear omission of the back of the pack runners. How about an interview of the last few official finishers? How about a brief recap from the woman that finished just minutes after the cutoff? Why is this not happening? These media outlets are there at the track. They HAVE to be aware of the intrigue and attention of all the fans witnessing it on the track and assume people watching at home are also very intrigued and would like to know some of their race day story. Your post here is so needed as I'm sure many have the same ideas. Let's hope media outlets listen to the fans and not just to the sponsors.
I love this idea. At the risk of getting bashed, I think that the coverage of KONA IronMan did a good job of this. They would always mix in people missing cut offs, people who had bike crashes and had to carry their broken bikes, and also covered the golden hour. It painted the reality of the event and made it relatable. Seems like it could work and also shine a light on the event and our sport. Besides how much of the elite race really happens early?
I agree wholeheartedly. I think the coverage would benefit from adding some of the on-the-bubble stories during the day. How many runners are within 30 minutes of cutoff at each aid station? For the few that got cutoff at each, how many years did they have to requalify before they finally made the lottery? The size of the crowd at the high school for Golden Hour shows how much interest there is in the 'average'(!) runners back there. I was fortunate to attend the Golden Hour this year and last; they were both electric. The audience went wild for Jennifer, didn't matter at all to the crowd that she was a dnOf. She ran 100 flippin' miles and finished!
I agree on many levels. I think probably 80% (and that’s a guess) of WS runners are people who worked hard to get a qualifier, put their name in the lottery and often waited years to have their name pulled. Some of us do love to follow the elite race but not at the expense of not hearing all the other stories. Seems like a balance could be found. But I’ve also run in many races where the RD was seemingly only really interested in the front runners. I love that you are someone who is more interested in people, their lives and their journeys.
I think a live update at each cut-off point throughout the run is an OUTSTANDING idea. Runners struggling to get up and go, or fill bottles, or frantically getting their stuff together with their crew. Pacers are chomping at the bit to go. Aid station volunteers are doubling and tripling-down on the support they're giving. Total drama. Like, finish line drama at 5+ different spots throughout the day/night.
The only really great part of the race is watching the Golden Hour coverage! The glory and misery of watching ordinary people push themselves to extraordinary lengths to finish (or not) just under the wire is sporting drama in it's more pure and relatable form!
Scotty you should pick random "local" ultras and do interviews of their race directors as a way to help promote them and focus on events that truly cater to the "Average Joe". I think that would fit in really well with the types of podcasts TJM already does. It would also help bring attention to all the amazing and wonderful people that this sport is really comprised of rather than the "Nike Elites" that the corporate interests are starting to push.
Its a unique sport, running and Ultra running, where elite and average folks are on the same course. Lots of stories out there on this race (385 of them to be exact). Looking over the entries, the stories beg to be told. How about the ten people who got in (finally) with some absurd amount of tickets (128)? That was a lot of qualifying to finally get in How about the 20 people over 60, and the one guy who was 70 running his second WS? How about Meghan Canfield, who wore bib 61, is 61 years old and has 12 WS finishes? Yeah, there are a lot of interesting stories out there... (and I am a fan too). Great article Scotty.... ( and I would never tell you to eat dick). See you July 31st at the Badger race.
Your point is valid Scott, but not the majority. The casual runner and the hardcore runner want to see the stars. Like Boston. This requires a separate production like ManningCast for Monday Night Football or tuning in to a specific NASCAR driver's radio. Your vision COULD be achieved through a joint effort of platforms that ALREADY recognize and celebrate the back of the pack. How about a livestream of the race from the combined viewpoints of Ten Junk Miles, The Adventure Jogger and Zoe Rohm of DNF? Those establishes fanbases are the audience of which you speak. Imagine Ryan Ploeckelman interviewing DNFs at aid station cutoffs. Imagine you tagging along with the cutoff guy. (I don't remember his name - see I'm one of you). Imagine Zoe Rohm waxing poetic during the golden hour. Like you, this is what I would watch.
As a frequent DNFer and ultra-runner-wanna-be I find myself skipping past WS coverage. The elites are just that - elite and I can't even relate. I tried to watch some of it, but it's just so not the everyman type of event I like to think ultrarunning is. Kudos to all who toed the line which in and of itself is a huge accomplishment. I like hearing about the non-pros/elites as they are way more inspiring to me.
Well put Scotty. I follow some of the stories of the elites leading up to WS, such as Tim Tollefson and Camille Herron, but that's because they've been around and I've followed them a while. I am less interested in the newbies vying for the podium, but Saturday's race, I did read up to learn about Adam Peterman. Like you, I scan the entrants list for old friends and then make a point of seeing how they did and congratulating them. This is the second year in a row I did a 50M on the same day as States, so I missed the daytime coverage, but I didn't feel like I missed out. Still, I admit, I hope to return to WS one day! (I ran it once in 2016.)
You hit it on the nose, Scott! Great thought out letter! Thanks for all us who struggle.
Some of the most compelling ultra footage I've ever seen is this short montage of an aid station at a 100-miler in Tennessee. Would love to hear these stories told.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NcG1fwv_7QM
I agree 100%, partly because I think the WSER hype is a little out of control and partly because I’m more interested in the regular folks. I do follow some of the elites but usually have just a few that I’m focused on. There have been some short films focused on back of pack but I’d definitely watch a livestream that focused on them the whole day/night.
I agree 1000%...as a former professional athlete I understand media outlets focusing on the elites...the issue I have is the clear omission of the back of the pack runners. How about an interview of the last few official finishers? How about a brief recap from the woman that finished just minutes after the cutoff? Why is this not happening? These media outlets are there at the track. They HAVE to be aware of the intrigue and attention of all the fans witnessing it on the track and assume people watching at home are also very intrigued and would like to know some of their race day story. Your post here is so needed as I'm sure many have the same ideas. Let's hope media outlets listen to the fans and not just to the sponsors.
Thanks Scott, great perspectives! Thanks for putting it out there.
I love this idea. At the risk of getting bashed, I think that the coverage of KONA IronMan did a good job of this. They would always mix in people missing cut offs, people who had bike crashes and had to carry their broken bikes, and also covered the golden hour. It painted the reality of the event and made it relatable. Seems like it could work and also shine a light on the event and our sport. Besides how much of the elite race really happens early?
I agree wholeheartedly. I think the coverage would benefit from adding some of the on-the-bubble stories during the day. How many runners are within 30 minutes of cutoff at each aid station? For the few that got cutoff at each, how many years did they have to requalify before they finally made the lottery? The size of the crowd at the high school for Golden Hour shows how much interest there is in the 'average'(!) runners back there. I was fortunate to attend the Golden Hour this year and last; they were both electric. The audience went wild for Jennifer, didn't matter at all to the crowd that she was a dnOf. She ran 100 flippin' miles and finished!
I agree on many levels. I think probably 80% (and that’s a guess) of WS runners are people who worked hard to get a qualifier, put their name in the lottery and often waited years to have their name pulled. Some of us do love to follow the elite race but not at the expense of not hearing all the other stories. Seems like a balance could be found. But I’ve also run in many races where the RD was seemingly only really interested in the front runners. I love that you are someone who is more interested in people, their lives and their journeys.
I think a live update at each cut-off point throughout the run is an OUTSTANDING idea. Runners struggling to get up and go, or fill bottles, or frantically getting their stuff together with their crew. Pacers are chomping at the bit to go. Aid station volunteers are doubling and tripling-down on the support they're giving. Total drama. Like, finish line drama at 5+ different spots throughout the day/night.
The only really great part of the race is watching the Golden Hour coverage! The glory and misery of watching ordinary people push themselves to extraordinary lengths to finish (or not) just under the wire is sporting drama in it's more pure and relatable form!
Scotty you should pick random "local" ultras and do interviews of their race directors as a way to help promote them and focus on events that truly cater to the "Average Joe". I think that would fit in really well with the types of podcasts TJM already does. It would also help bring attention to all the amazing and wonderful people that this sport is really comprised of rather than the "Nike Elites" that the corporate interests are starting to push.
Well said, Scott.
Great points and consistent with how you run TJM podcast (and why I listen). BTW, eat a dick :)
Its a unique sport, running and Ultra running, where elite and average folks are on the same course. Lots of stories out there on this race (385 of them to be exact). Looking over the entries, the stories beg to be told. How about the ten people who got in (finally) with some absurd amount of tickets (128)? That was a lot of qualifying to finally get in How about the 20 people over 60, and the one guy who was 70 running his second WS? How about Meghan Canfield, who wore bib 61, is 61 years old and has 12 WS finishes? Yeah, there are a lot of interesting stories out there... (and I am a fan too). Great article Scotty.... ( and I would never tell you to eat dick). See you July 31st at the Badger race.