Jim Walmsley after taking 22nd at 2020 Olympic Marathon Trials

[@number1fan262]

First fricking marathon (let alone a road marathon, in crappy wind--hills are no issue for him imho--) & he runs such an incredible --2:15--. He should be SO PROUD of himself-- his fans (we) are!!! It was such a privilege seeing him go past at mile 17. I know he was running alone by that time, which sucked, but I could finally see in person what a beautiful stride he has. Others' depictions of his running style/gate were right on! Like a gazelle! Hoping he decides to run Leadville some year. I'd love to meet & visit with him.

[@donaldbeck5602]

Jim is awesome. He brings a lot of interest to this sport

[@eriksteenkamp3621]

To think he is a ultra runner marathon speed is totally different well done walmsly

[@htmonaro1969]

Clearly a humble man putting a positive spin on what must have been a very disappointing day. Jim is an elite runner, who wanted more but missed the big early moves. He's not alone, I think. We non-elite runners think 22 is great, but I think Jim sounds like that's not what he was hoping for.

[@m3xikanolokoruiz]

well ofc everone that competed wanted to qualify, thats redundant. He knows he gave his best effort and i think hes pretty happy with the result considering its not his element and hes competing against elites in the field.

[@seancullen99]

@@m3xikanolokoruiz He might be humble here but he's been pretty cocky on the ultra scene...to his detriment on occasion!

[@giovanniferraroni1560]

Beast. Came close to top 20 at the end there

[@austinado16]

Thumbs up Jim! You did fantastic and you represented runners well. You've got a heart of gold man, and you're an outstanding athlete and runner!

[@michaelormondrobinson]

So much respect for Jim. ✊🏼

[@darrenhooley8472]

Jim is such an amazing talent to be able to cross over from the mountain scene and finish near the top of this super stacked field. I'm sure if he focused purely on marathons he could dial it in to finish races consistently at the elite level; however, I'm glad he is committed as he is to trail running. The sport has really benefited from him by setting the bar at an extremely high level during his career.

[@shunsuikyoraku5428]

To be honest his talent level on the roads can easily be determined by his college times and it ain’t the top of elite fields. Trails are his home, he should stay there and be happy that people faster than him don’t do trail. Also Max King did better at the marathon trails lol.

[@markhill2173]

@@shunsuikyoraku5428 'he should stay there', because person on internet says so. That's him told.

[@jimoconnor8597]

Love to see all the road warriors try a mountain marathon with Jim now. LOLOLOL

[@jimoconnor8597]

@@shunsuikyoraku5428 This isn't college anymore. The marathon road runners would be destroyed by Jim on the trails.

[@jimoconnor8597]

@Real boxing Fan1 Jim beat Ward (and hundreds of others), who is a real road marathon runner. If he focused on leg speed, I believe he could compete. It isn't always about the fastest time in a marathon (Ex. Linden at Boston). Sometimes it is about the race and Jim can race.

[@noahmcmurtrey1114]

Imagine he just turned around and ran another marathon after he finished😂😂

[@number1fan262]

He what? Did he?!?!

[@pepega3344]

@@number1fan262 he's still running in this video

[@jimoconnor8597]

He will soon enough... Comrades..

[@ctaijiro]

"If you do it right, you're gonna find the same hurt no matter what"

[@mbengaful]

Word.

[@denisegiles1961]

It's a totally different beast....admire you for putting yourself out there. Just remember.....Marathoners who would try to cross over into trail/mountain racing, could not do what you do!

[@tomrankin2564]

Yes Jim you are a Legend! Amazing time for a first marathon and I’ve definitely still got your back!💪🏻👍🏻

[@marlinweekley51]

No way could any of the 21 in front of him touch Jim on the trails - awesome job 🏃‍♂️🏃‍♂️👍

[@emilienbialecki448]

Jim! well done! good luck for the future! its good to try new things peace

[@richardpate1897]

Awesome guy.

[@dylanberes9487]

Now Galen should run Western or the Grand Canyon against Jim.

[@danielfarrugia3884]

Dylan Beres ha ha! That would be interesting

[@shunsuikyoraku5428]

Galen would break 13 at states lol let ultra fans have their god lol

[@danielfarrugia3884]

@@shunsuikyoraku5428 not a chance in hell.

[@jimoconnor8597]

He would drop real early. Never would even see Jim on the course.

[@wrenpyle7098]

Shunsui Kyoraku bwhahahaha galen wouldnt even break 18

[@emili.0285]

Much respect and love to this guy

[@4409eliot]

i want jim to try marathon again. his journey is so interesting and i find him so inspiring.

[@Mookiethedog]

2:15 “it’s not bad”. Dude you’re the best!

[@brianhubbard41]

Awesome job Jim. I was pulling for you all the way. Proud fan!

[@i_run_far1132]

Hell yeah Jim! I’m damn proud of you and you’re still my favorite runner. That was an awesome run!

[@emithen]

Thank you, Jim. You’re a good man.

[@adamgottschalk1907]

consistently inspiring, great job!

[@Elidogz]

Awesome jim you have so much to be happy & thankful for being able to crush road marathons & do ultras in the way & time that you do them 🙌

[@roustabout4fun]

Quite a crossover......Hard to top Happy! Great day.....you enjoyed the Experience....Good stuff.

[@fuscia13]

Awesome job Jim, so versatile in your running! Keep it up

[@superruca]

This guy ran 90-something miles straight without stopping (until he went the wrong way. He would’ve set a course record. Western 100, I think?) His talent goes beyond the marathon. Great job Jim!

[@daddoesitALL]

jenny r he eventually set the course record there a couple years after the wrong turn race you mentioned 😀

[@superruca]

aka Trey he’s an inspiration.

[@JoelDavis13]

And then followed the year after by besting his own record from the year before. The records he's smashed are unparalleled by anyone in the trail running world. He is our sports Eliud Kipchoge!

[@brianmessemer2973]

Western States 100. Ran it in 14:30 in 2018 and 14:09 in 2019. That's 8:30 pace for 100 miles, on a mountain trail course with 40,000 feet of elevation change. Hard to comprehend how amazing that is.

[@barrymckeown5783]

he didnt run 90 miles without stopping he stopped multiple times at aid stations........................love Jim and he is amazing but he did stop multiple times during that and every ultra he ran

[@805trailrunnersventuracoun6]

Great Job man! Good work!

[@bizzygeernaert-davies8306]

Got to love Jim. Well done on your acheivement.

[@jddallager1699]

Terrific race, Jim! Stay healthy as you prep for Comrades! Hoka athletes were superb!!

[@Twize]

Awesome job Jim!

[@desmondyap5391]

for an ultra runner, his finish time is amazing. really fast

[@runningwithsimon]

Amazing athlete, inspiring guy!

[@garyfrye3156]

Great job Jim, I would love to see you all run back to the start again. Or maybe just invite them all to Comrades.

[@shunsuikyoraku5428]

Lol you just don’t get it. Jim is just a decent division 1 ncaa runner that went to trails. If all the guys that beat him today decided to run trails he’d be out of business lol.

[@Sheruff1978]

The same could very well be true for the marathon guys if he left the trails and focused solely on marathon's. Claiming to be able to judge his full potential based solely on his college times is extremely short sighted. There is a lot more that goes into it. I know a lot of people running faster in their 30s than they did in their 20s. Not because they are more capable in their 30s but because they have better training, are more dedicated, and focused. There's no telling how motivated he was in college. I agree that marathon's and Ultras are different beasts BUT to say Jim isn't capable of being an elite marathon runner, is like saying Rupp isn't capable of being an elite Ultra runner. Fact of the matter is we don't know that either of those statements is true. They are obviously both incredibly talented, gifted and motivated athletes. I personally wouldn't bet against either of them at any distance. If either of them set their mind to it there's no telling what they could accomplish. Regardless of what either of them ran in college.

[@jimoconnor8597]

@@shunsuikyoraku5428 Man you don't know ultra running at all. So do you think Killian is just average too? WOW!

[@athoughtjust1498]

Amazing and humble athlete.

[@ianbritton7534]

Top man Jim. Proud of your effort.

[@ErnieOne]

👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍🏃🏽‍♂️

[@gavinmaboeta6401]

"YOU ARE YOUR PR"

[@jaxongrn]

If you can’t appreciate this guy, you don’t like sports. Cheers Jim!

[@nehemiah9190]

Seeing a marathon through an ultrarunner’s eyes is so cool. I think he will only get faster than 2:15, lets just hope he has the spirit to try another one!

[@diskoeric2248]

he mentioned being in 210 shape. A huge let down for him, surely

[@jono2154]

Jim ran really well!

[@JStock1032]

Jim out here quietly shitting on the marathoners lol

[@vasquitoycia]

Great race Jim.

[@didoma73]

the heart? no the hurt!

[@MrJackchap]

Great job Jim!!

[@mmaryboyshorts5624]

👍🏼 Fantastic job. Keep challenging yourself.

[@roger_is_red]

Jim is really cool

[@DaleHawkins]

Great race, Jim!

[@patricklemire9278]

2hr15minutes is freaking stout for a guy who is used to 8-minute mile race pace in the ultras. Well done, lad.

[@19Kamau79]

Thought his 50mile record is a lot faster than 8:00/mile

[@bigNowhere1]

His 50 mile record was 5:50 per mile, roughly. Much faster than 8.

[@justmegawatt]

Imagine training only for marathons and then trying to compete against people in running a half marathon. You're probably not going to do as well as the people who trained specifically for that event. Jim is 100 miler trying to compete against 26 milers.

[@hoospoodles]

Congratulations

[@theultratourist3506]

I would love to see more marathoners crossover to ultras.

[@paulanthony1689]

Jim isn’t used to running these kind of sprint races

[@benitoramos8608]

That’s his warm up for his ultra trail run.

[@inkjob12]

great job ......

[@gudboyngdisyerto]

on one interview he said the tougher the condition is,the better for him because he is used to it in ultras. well they got tough condition in atlanta. he probably thought he had an advantage because of the rolling hills.

[@chuarh7393]

gudboyngdisyerto he definitely wouldn't have made it to 22nd being in a field of very experienced elites and a distance he's not used to if not for the tough conditions

[@danieltsuedo334]

absolutely no regrets..., great stuff

[@jamesroe8934]

But how well did he handle the hugs?

[@jamesroe8934]

Oh, he said "heart" right?

[@stromdiddily9166]

Monster runner

[@r_unner_G]

He should defo do a marathon later in the year in Europe somewhere.

[@Jackie_Rosewood]

Congrats👏🏻👏🏻

[@JOHNNYHAULAWAY]

Probably needed about 60 or so miles to catch em

[@AirRyan45]

Is this a PR for Jim?

[@christophermurphy9136]

Technically yes, this is the only marathon he’s ever run so this would be his PR

[@thomasphilyaw8593]

I was really hoping Jim would make the team. Like he said, fall out of the pack on a windy day your done

[@peterlemonjello1626]

He deserves respect, but he just doesn’t have the lag speed to do a sub 2:10.

[@shawnbrennan7526]

Oh, please. 2:15 on that course on that day certainly translates to a 2:10 on a flat course.

[@Asentro76]

Shawn Brennan and the last 9-10 miles were super windy and alone. I have no doubt Jim would be comfortably sub 2:10 with the right conditions and dedicated training for the distance.

[@shunsuikyoraku5428]

Shawn Brennan he said himself 3 minutes is fair, stop getting carried away lol he’s not a 2:10 guy

[@shunsuikyoraku5428]

Asentro get real. His peak potential is 2:11.

[@shawnbrennan7526]

@@shunsuikyoraku5428 And what is your PR? Mine is 2:57, so I'm decent but nowhere near these guys. I might have beaten a few of the stragglers in the women's race.

[@KOMROOK]

Jim now needs to settle down...get a real job....and earn some money. Dad's basement is no longer a viable refuge....

[@paulhill1451]

Really got to say I am turned off by this interview. Blaming the wind and you not staying with the pack as the reason you didn't do as well as you wanted? Show some respect for the distance. Sure, it's not 100 miles, but you aren't running at a 6:30 pace either. Everyone had the same conditions. You just got beat. Giving some respect to the required speed endurance needed to excel at the marathon instead of just saying, "Well, it was over a lot faster" would have at least shown you understand the amount of work required to run fast for 26.2 miles. Go back to the trails where you can stay and never earn a spot on the Olympic team.

[@paulhill1451]

Seriously, this is like if an elite marathoner lined up to run an elite mile, and then, when the winning time was 3:50 and they ran a 4:06, they blamed the wind and the curves of the track for the reason they didn't do well.

[@TheDuhgreat]

Agree 100%. Don't blame the wind and then talk about how ultra's are tougher.

[@pasadenaphil8804]

It's not an excuse. It's a serious disadvantage. Runners in a pack are like semi-truck drivers on the highway, the leader provides relief to the trailers. So they rotate the lead. Once you drop out of the pack, you're on your own. Had it not been as windy, running in a pack would not have been as important and falling out of the pack wouldn't have been insurmountable.

[@AlwaysTrain]

2:15 is a pedestrian time. I think he could of done much better

[@joshjoyce795]

2:15 IS A PEDESTRIAN TIME MIGHT BE THE CRAZIEST THING IVE HEARD IN 2020

[@AlwaysTrain]

Josh Joyce He went from elite to sub-elite base on this mediocre performance🥱

[@gabornyers7091]

@@AlwaysTrain What is your PB, Mr. Pedestrian Champ??

[@nikkatsu5005]

Ed Gar most likely runs times in the 1:59 marathon range!

[@AlwaysTrain]

Gabor Nyers There were too many hills! it was too windy!😩😫