KoopCast Insights from Ultramarathon Pacing Strategies with Baptiste Morale | KoopCast #243
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May 16, 2025 Baptiste Morale, author of groundbreaking research on ultramarathon performance, dives into the nuances of pacing strategies for trail runners. He reveals insights from analyzing Strava data of the 2023 UTMB, showcasing how uphill ability and flat ground speed differ and require targeted training. The discussion includes a fascinating case study on Jim Walmsley’s climb performance improvements, the importance of durability in training, and innovative sled training techniques. Baptiste also shares practical tips for identifying individual performance weaknesses based on gradient-specific tests.
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Jim Walmsley's Steep Climb Challenge
- Jim Walmsley lost 76% of his 2022 UTMB time difference behind Kilian Jornet on gradients steeper than 20%.
- This steep gradient weakness was identified as the key performance gap for Jim in the race.
Jim Walmsley's Alps Training Success
- Jim improved his steep climbing ability after training in the Alps before winning UTMB 2023.
- His improved performance on steep slopes was evident in a 100-mile race in Croatia earlier that year.
No Single Perfect UTMB Profile
- There is no single optimal profile to finish a race at a given time in UTMB; athletes can have very different strengths.
- Some excel on flats while others are better on steep climbs, allowing different race strategies to reach similar finish times.
