Jim Walmsley | The Return of the King at the 2024 Western States 100
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- čas přidán 2. 07. 2024
- Jim Walmsley is one of the greatest ultrarunners of all time.
Heading into the 2024 edition of the Western States 100, he was already a three-time winner (2018, 2019, 2021) returning after a two-year hiatus to focus on victory at the Ultra Trail Du Mont Blanc (2023). With exceedingly high expectations coming into this year’s race and the sport on a steep, upward curve of professionalization, we wondered how Jim would fare.
He was understandably coy in parts of our pre-race interview, so it remained to be seen what would unfold on Saturday. As it turned out, Jim experienced one of the greatest battles of his ultrarunning career in this race. But like a seasoned veteran of the course and the sport, he was able to stay tough, deliver a clutch performance, and ultimately secure his fourth win here.
This short highlight film captures some of Jim’s key moments from our pre-race interview as well as certain times out on the Western States course at spots like Dusty Corners, Michigan Bluff, Forest Hill, and the Rucky Chucky river.
If you enjoyed the livestream coverage this past weekend, you might enjoy this companion highlight reel too. Special thanks to BROOKS, the presenting sponsor of Singletrack's race coverage.
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Thanks for watching! What'd you think about Jim Walmsley's performance out there last Saturday? How about the rest of the men's race? How about the women's race?! Leave a comment below. We wanna hear your thoughts. - Finn
Yes, after thoughts you and the crew are sharing are fascinating. Thanks
Some may disagree but his range is the best of our generation. He has evolved tremendously, and this run really cements his overall legacy. I bet he runs WS one more time and if he wins, moves onto Hardrock or other big mountainous races. Just my 1.5 cents.
Let me add onto that **best range ever thus far..
I think this race was a perfect representation of what he said on your POD before the race about giving advice to his younger self (I think that was the spot) where he talked about not chasing course records because courses change and then it doesn't matter. Go for the win above anything else (or the place you want). That's EXACTLY what he did this race. He knew exactly where his competitors were the whole race and he went for the win. Had time to change his shoes a few times etc. He didn't force going for the record (that he already has) but rather did what he had to do to win. Awesome advice and awesome win!!
Steely determination and grit - i think he proved he has those qualities in spades after UTMB and WS now. Also he has a professionally minded crew. Hard to beat.
Super Lucky to know Jim. I knew Jim since he worked at iRun in Phoenix. Arizona is proud of Jim.
Amazing race by Jim. Fantastic highlight video. If we only had footage of the battle between Rod and Jim from Foresthill. Goosebumps at how close this race was. Hearing on the livestream that Rod was leaving aid stations ahead of Jim blew my mind. I didn't think anyone would push Jim. He is the King!
Rod's immediate postrace (finishline) interview was sooo sweet!!! Rod said he wasn't thinking he could win; "I just--someone I've looked up to for so long--I just wanted to run with Jim." And Rod's voice cracked a little bit.
0:19 HELL YES. Well done JIM!! tell em.
Not racing the younger self!!! Pure wisdom there! ❤❤❤🙏🏽💕
"part of that is my secret, not yours"...FTW
yeah hes obviously gotten comfy doing his thing.
You should not only interview the top elites, but pull a random name from the middle or end of the pack and interview them also.
Great shout Jeff 👍
his answer to your question is interesting as much as it is deflective. the issue is that he is in an extremely unique position. one that a lot of others are curious about, yet he is withholding about what we are curious.
My dream? My stride at mile 5 to look like Jim Walmsley's stride at Mile 58 in this race. I'm not even close!
Dudee the Press Publish hat goes so hard. Love to see it!
Great video
GOAT
I remember when Jim’s team (most of them are super talented runners, don’t get me wrong) started running with him towards the finish and the commentator goes - Well, it’s convenient that Jim has 99 miles on his legs at this point, so others are able to actually keep up lol
That pretty much sums it up. What a day.
Legend 🏃🏻♂️🏃🏻♂️👍
3:35 Swim Walmsley!
Hayden Hawks was right there too, and could've been the top finisher - very close race at the end
Does he, by chance, represent Hoka?
Live video, no talking, no commentary, the only coverage needed. More of this, less of the rest.
Rod ran a great race too, and I do like the guy's personality. I mean, at least externally (seems a nice guy), but man I totally lost respect for his trainer. Guy sounds like a right DB. Acting like Jim won because he was in "as of yet to be released shoes." As if Tecton 2.5s being released gives those Nike, North Face and Solomon runners a chance? Were they going to run in. Tecton 2.5s too? Reminded me of the whole Kipchoge thing.
He also goes on to suggest that it wasn't all roses--how Jim threw up...blah-blah... Everybody throws up at some point during their competitive runs. Sally McRae had practically semi-recently normalized it. At Western States she even said something to the effect of, "I'll throw up--I don't care...let me try the soda." Jim throwing up and finishing with the second fastest coarse record is f'ng phenomenal if that's true. I think that DB was just jealous because Jim didnt use pacers, and probably also didn't use a trainer and nor a dietician...I dont know.
I got the same vibe from Rod's coach! How he tried to piggyback on Rod's notoriety by putting a long comment in there saying he is also Rod's best friend, encouraged him to do trails, etc. Saying he paced Rod in some races, blah blah. But in Rod's interview, Rod says NOTHING about that coach and Rod says Tim Tollefson "was the first person to believe in me." Also Tim was the one who turned around and saw Hayden in hot pursuit and pushed Rod to keep his 2nd place. (Hayden did a 5'23" final mile🎉 to finish 16 seconds after of Rod.) That "coach" guy was also trying to promote his reddit AMA (all answers were useless) and his other platforms. Rod most likely burst onto the scene cuz Rod finally enlisted a nutritionist a few months ago! Thanks for seeing thru that coach too!!!
@@jillsy2815 Yeah Rod needs to dump that guy. Clearly that guy isn't a trail cultured guy. No DBs allowed in this sport 😂 I haven't heard him say a kind thing. I like Rod. He seems to have a great personality. But if he gets along well with that guy maybe there's something I don't know about him too.
@@kessilrun6754Hopefully Rod dumps the guy. I'd frankly be afraid of sabotage at this point. Slow fades are actually the best bet with guys like "DB" and maybe that's what Rod's been doing. DB even admitted on his post that he was doing nothing but sitting at his computer the entire day after the race so obvi not involved in the celebrations (nor the recovery!) Also, he said he expected to not hear from Rod for several weeks which doesn't sound like they are "besties" or even close at all. Rod is probably just nice to everyone. No sense making an outright enemy when the slow fade works fine. 😂 Good point about the shoes plus Jim admits he was surprised and a little overwhelmed to have company so late in the race and alarmed enough to go ahead and gain some minutes with what 10 miles or so left so as to avoid a sprint finish. I don't think the shoes made much difference except he did say he loved the built-in gaitors cuz no more worrying about rocks in his shoes. I think Rod said he's doing Diagonale des Fous on Réunion Island (?October?) -- DB will likely be history by then. 🙏🏽
Why the guy keeps calling him “baby”?…. 😂
Besides how well an athlete does in a race it doesn't tell the full story regardless. For instance, what training regimen do they put themselves through months or yrs prior, where do they train. Jim I'm Flagstaff, Rod in Mammoth lakes, Hayden in Cedar City, all at 7,000 ft , why? Average reader doesn't know why they train up there! Called legal doping . Who coached them? How many yrs have they been racing. Only Rod post- race ont sheds some light on his background if you watch him.. Therefore they whole story is never told in these post race interviews.
Makes me sick seeing more people with cameras than runners and crew. Leave the runners alone and stay the f%ck out of their way.