Selection Sunday has arrived! The great thing about the March Mile Madness tournament, though, is the fact that it’s a self-selecting group. The first round is open to 64+ runners, and anybody can join at any time up to the last day of the round (though only runs posted after joining the challenge will count.)
In honor of the tournament kick-off tomorrow I’d like to provide a little preview, profiling a few of the runners who will be participating.
Favorites
AKA the dailymile team. Quite a few are taking part, and beyond being enthusiastic community members many are accomplished runners sure to make a good showing.
Matthew L.: Besides consistently putting up 50-60 miles each week, Matthew can pop off a 5-miler at 6:27, making him a serious threat in the 5K and 10K rounds.
Steve S.: Another double threat. Put up almost 90 miles last week, and an 18 minute 5k this week. Tapering for the HAT 50K could hold him back, though.
Kathy S.: This host of Run Talk Radio is also a serious threat. Her weekly mileage has been lower recently, but she’s been known to string together runs totaling 50+ miles.
Kristen F.: Kristen’s got the stamina for this tournament, no doubt: she logged 155 miles this week alone. The question: can she stay off the bike long enough?
Speedsters
The dailymile team isn’t the only group of accomplished runners, of course.
Steven W.: Steven’s got some speed. Even fighting the lingering effects of wine and whiskey a week ago at the Coogan’s 5K he nearly cracked 6:00/miles. But has he got legs for distance?
Andrew P.: Another speedy participant, Andrew ran a 10-miler in one hour just today. He’d be a real threat if he can make it to the speed rounds.
Ron W.: Hills, distance, and speed: Ron seems like he might have the combination necessary to succeed. Keep an eye on him!
Distance Freaks
My kinda people, these folks put in some serious mileage.
Richard L.: No slouch, Richard put together a string of 5 marathons in 7 days recently, and a Monday-Sunday week totaling 130 miles. Hard to beat that. But has he got the speed?
Linda A.: Consistently high-mileage weeks, ranging from 60+ to 90 miles. Goes to show that cross-training in the pool definitely pays off!
Nick C.: Distance shouldn’t be a problem for Nick: he just ran the Copper Canyon 50-mile Ultramarathon in under seven and a half hours, good enough for 6th place!
Triathletes and Cyclists
Some excellent athletes, but they spend a bunch of time on their bikes or in the pool. How will they fare when all that matters is the foot race?
Brad B.: Definitely has the fitness for this even, with legs that propel him over 100 miles each week. And with runs like his most recent 19-miler in the 20mph wind, he’s shown he’s a real threat.
Christine B.: Another triathlete, Chrstine also logs impressive mileage week-in and week-out. We’ll just have to wait and see if she’s a fish out of water (or cyclist off her bike) in the tournament.
Craig B.: Seems we runners might be overrun (get it, overrun?) by triathletes! Like Brad, Craig’s no stranger to the long run, and that can only help him in the first round.
Adrian W.: Adrian’s a runner, but with a 40-mile ride this week you’ve got to question his loyalty to the sport. I kid, I kid. With his 6:38 pace in the Shamrock Shuffle recently, he could make a run deep into the tournament.
Unknowns
Not everybody discovered dailymile right away, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have what it takes.
Madelyn H.: Madelyn joined the site at the end of January, and since then she’s been putting together consistently strong weeks with a mixture of medium and long-distance runs.
Anela N.: Talk about newcomer! Anela joined the site yesterday, and could be the dark horse of the tournament, so send her some motivation!
Chris B.: Ok, who am I kidding, Chris isn’t a newcomer, and is hardly an unknown. But he is coming back from injury, so there’s plenty of question as to how he’ll do. Whatever the outcome, I’m sure we’re all glad he’s back running!
Of course, with almost 90 participants so far there are dozens of other contenders out there waiting to make a name for themselves, or just have a blast taking part in the madness! So what are you waiting for, join the fun!