Home > News

Another epic workout for Joe Skipper – this time without any controversy

Am I now an ultra runner?

Photo by: Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images for Ironman

When we posted a story about Joe Skipper’s 325 km ride in March of 2020, it turned out to be one of the most-read stories of the year. In the midst of a lockdown where British residents were told they could only go outside for one bout of exercise per day, Skipper made his one outdoor workout count, riding for nine hours while carrying his own hydration and nutrition so he didn’t have to stop anywhere.

Ironman New Zealand champ Joe Skipper criticized for 325 km ride

Skipper just posted another impressive run workout on Strava that comes without the same sort of controversy, but should serve as a warning for the British athlete’s competitors as he heads into the 2022 season.

The run was 50 km, which he completed in 2:57:48. That’s an average of 3:33/ km for a run that’s eight km longer than a marathon. During the run he finished a marathon in 2:28:57, which is a shade under 3:32/ km.

“When I was a kid I used to get the train to school from Lowestoft to Norwich every morning,” Skipper writes in an Instagram post. “Then when I got into cycling my dad would take my bike over to school in the summer and I would cycle the 50 kilometres back home and try to beat my sisters that used to get the train back.”

“I had wanted to run from Norwich to Lowestoft for as long as I can remember, it’s been a bucket list challenge for me for at least 15-20 years and now I’ve finally ticked the box and completed it,” he continues.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Joe Skipper (@notanotheraveragejoe)

Since the fall of 2019 Skipper has been on a tear, winning Ironman Florida in record-setting time (that record was broken by Gustav Iden in November), Ironman New Zealand in March of 2020 (again setting a new record), winning Ironman UK in July of this year, finishing third at Ironman Lake Placid three weeks after that, taking second at Ironman Switzerland in September, then winning Ironman Chattanooga over Lionel Sanders three weeks later.

Ironman champion Joe Skipper “lucky to walk away” from crash

At the end of his post Skipper asks “Am I now an ultra runner?”

Between his 325 km bike and now his speedy 50 km run, it sure looks like Skipper has what it takes to excel over even longer distances than a full-distance triathlon. So we’d say, yes – Joe Skipper is an ultra runner and ultra cyclist. One imagines, though, that he’ll be looking to be in top form in St. George, Utah, in May when he “only” has to complete a 3.8 km swim, a 180 km bike and a 42.2 km run.