The world's best runner participating in Ultravasan 2019

August 17 is the big running day in the Vasaloppet Arena. Four different races with ten different classes will run: Ultravasan 90 for women and men; Ultravasan 45 women and men; Vasastafetten women, men and a leisure class; and Vasakvartetten with women, men and leisure. When it comes to Ultravasan, one of Scandinavia’s biggest ultrarunning races, there are about ten percent more registered participants compared to this same time in 2018 and there are still plenty of places available in both Ultravasan 90 and Ultravasan 45.

It was at Hoka One One’s 100 km invite only race in Sacramento, California, on Saturday May 4 that 29-year-old Jim Walmsley from Flagstaff, Arizona, passed the 50-mile mark with the best recorded time ever, 4.50.08. (In order for this record to be approved he had to complete the race. The high pace to beat the record took its toll but in the Californian heat he still set a new personal 100 km record.) The previous 50 miles record was 4.50.51 and it was set as early as 1983 by Bruce Fordyce in the London–Brighton ultrarunning race.

Jim Walmsley has been selected by the American UltraRunning Magazine as ”UltraRunner of the Year” 2016, 2017 and 2018. Several Americans have tried to win Ultravasan but so far no one has succeeded. The question now is if maybe Walmsley can beat Jonas Buud’s track record of 5.45.08 from 2015? Jim always sets high and tough goals when competing and tends to start strong.
”I like to think I’m more willing to push into a pace with an unknown outcome,” says Jim Walmsley. ”It’s both a strength and a weakness, but I feel it sets me up to surprise myself and do things I may not have otherwise thought possible.”

Elov Olsson who won Ultravasan 90 2017 comments on Jim Walmsley coming to Dalarna to run this summer:
”It will be fun. Of course it’s a huge thing for Ultravasan and Vasaloppet to have such an ultrarunning star participate. His presence also means I’m up against incredible competition, but that is just fun and challenging.”

Fritjof Fagerlund, who was in brilliant form last year when he won Ultravasan 90, and came ninth in the 100 km World Championship three weeks later, has also said in a TV interview that he looks forward to meeting Jim Walmsley in Ultravasan on August 17.

Jim Walmsley’s website >

Jim Walmsley on Instagram >

FACTS/Ultravasan winners 2014–2018
Ultravasan 90, men
2014 Jonas Buud, IFK Mora FK (SWE), 6.02.03
2015 Jonas Buud, IFK Mora FK (SWE), 5.45.08 (Record time)
2016 Jarle Risa, Undheim IL (NOR), 6.11.49
2017 Elov Olsson, Ockelbo SK (SWE), 6.07.37
2018 Fritjof Fagerlund, LK Roslagen (SWE), 6.01.56

Ultravasan 90, women
2014 Holly Rush, Team Bath AC (GBR), 7.09.04
2015 Jasmin Nunige, Switzerland (SUI), 7.02.35
2016 Jasmin Nunige, Track Club Davos (SUI), 6.54.32
2017 Ida Nilsson, Högby IF (SWE), 6.51.26
2018 Alexandra Morozova (RUS), 6.43.55 (Record time)

Ultravasan 45, men
2014 Roman Ryapolov, IFK Mora FK (RUS), 2.49.47
2015 Fritjof Fagerlund, Rånäs 4H (SWE), 2.45.30
2016 Roman Ryapolov, IFK Mora OK (RUS), 2.41.47
2017 Erik Anfält, Örebro AIK (SWE), 2.40.28
2018 David Nilsson, Högby IF/MotionMetrix (SWE), 2.39.33 (Record time)

Ultravasan 45, women
2014 Gloria Vinstedt, Sweden (SWE), 3.28.13
2015 Caroline Dubois, France (FRA), 3.13.22
2016 Lisa Ring, IK Nocout.se (SWE), 3.04.18
2017 Joasia Zakrzewski, (GBR), 3.06.12
2018 Lisa Ring, IK nocout.se (SWE), 3.03.00 (Record time)

FACTS/ All top ten placements in Ultravasan are available here >