I came into this curious about your UTMB opinion—and left thinking about Andy instead. I didn't know about him—"someone keeps saving him a seat at the table" is the line I can't shake.
I followed the whole UTMB week religiously this year, and getting to spectate a sport I love at that scale was pure joy. Your question about what the machine is allowed to kill lands hard for me. I spend my days in an industry where the machine quietly kills the unmeasurable, human (fun) stuff because it doesn't scale, so watching someone protect the Andys feels like the whole point.
And that finish chute got me: just like Ironman—corporate, absurdly expensive, and it's a feeling nothing can replicate, soaking in every second through the crowds and noise. There's room for both, I think. I hope! The global spectacle and the hometown 50K.
Finally got around to reading (and listening to) this properly and in peace. Really liked it and totally feel you, Josh. The distinction between UTMB and “by UTMB” is super useful. And having been at Matt's Andy Parkin event myself, that tension between the machinery around UTMB and the people, history and culture underneath it felt especially tangible. I'm glad we got to see this other side.
Yes, my friend Billy White in Stockholm worded it to me that way. I wonder if 'by UTMB' really is the thing hurting UTMB's reputation. I'm going to spend sometime looking into that.
I don't think events like UTMB are bad per se. I just think every year they become a little less relatable. for my of my listeners/followers they look at it as "not for me" because it requires getting stones at races that aren't accessible for a chance to go to Europe which seems inaccessible. It can be perceived as for the "rich fast people." I'm sure that's not even close to reality. Also, all we see is the mega influencers and commercialization. I'm sure there are tales of everyday folks, grit and determination. Stories of journeys and sacrifice taken to get there, etc. But these have to be sought out. but Andy Glaze's video reels come up in my feed every hour. (nothing against or critical of him, just an example of the kind of material that is getting thrown at me all day). I don't even know if this makes sense, but it's how I feel :). cheers!
I see that - 'for the rich fast people'. It cost a lot to run that particular event and possibly more to aggregate the stones.
Also, yes, from far away its experienced almost entirely through the lens of the loudest influencers. The 99.9% of the runners aren't elite or newsworthy. And they're there to run not play around in the brand village. Though they might find the energy cool... I would.
It makes sense. And worth noting. Its a center of gravity but the the average local 50Ks combine to a larger center of gravity though widely distributed.
I came into this curious about your UTMB opinion—and left thinking about Andy instead. I didn't know about him—"someone keeps saving him a seat at the table" is the line I can't shake.
I followed the whole UTMB week religiously this year, and getting to spectate a sport I love at that scale was pure joy. Your question about what the machine is allowed to kill lands hard for me. I spend my days in an industry where the machine quietly kills the unmeasurable, human (fun) stuff because it doesn't scale, so watching someone protect the Andys feels like the whole point.
And that finish chute got me: just like Ironman—corporate, absurdly expensive, and it's a feeling nothing can replicate, soaking in every second through the crowds and noise. There's room for both, I think. I hope! The global spectacle and the hometown 50K.
Yes. I love that you see the nuance and leave room for both. Great comment.
Finally got around to reading (and listening to) this properly and in peace. Really liked it and totally feel you, Josh. The distinction between UTMB and “by UTMB” is super useful. And having been at Matt's Andy Parkin event myself, that tension between the machinery around UTMB and the people, history and culture underneath it felt especially tangible. I'm glad we got to see this other side.
Yes, my friend Billy White in Stockholm worded it to me that way. I wonder if 'by UTMB' really is the thing hurting UTMB's reputation. I'm going to spend sometime looking into that.
I don't think events like UTMB are bad per se. I just think every year they become a little less relatable. for my of my listeners/followers they look at it as "not for me" because it requires getting stones at races that aren't accessible for a chance to go to Europe which seems inaccessible. It can be perceived as for the "rich fast people." I'm sure that's not even close to reality. Also, all we see is the mega influencers and commercialization. I'm sure there are tales of everyday folks, grit and determination. Stories of journeys and sacrifice taken to get there, etc. But these have to be sought out. but Andy Glaze's video reels come up in my feed every hour. (nothing against or critical of him, just an example of the kind of material that is getting thrown at me all day). I don't even know if this makes sense, but it's how I feel :). cheers!
I see that - 'for the rich fast people'. It cost a lot to run that particular event and possibly more to aggregate the stones.
Also, yes, from far away its experienced almost entirely through the lens of the loudest influencers. The 99.9% of the runners aren't elite or newsworthy. And they're there to run not play around in the brand village. Though they might find the energy cool... I would.
It makes sense. And worth noting. Its a center of gravity but the the average local 50Ks combine to a larger center of gravity though widely distributed.