After taking silver four times, Jonas Buud finally won the IAU 100k World Championships and did so in convincing fashion. In the following interview, Jonas talks about how he came to win this year, how he stuck to his plan, and how he was motivated by the strong Swedish team this year.
For the rest of the story of Saturday’s race, read our 2015 IAU 100k World Championships results article.
[Click here if you can’t see the video above.]
Jonas Buud, 2015 IAU 100k World Champion, Interview Transcript
iRunFar: Bryon Powell of iRunFar with Jonas Buud after his win at the 2015 IAU 100k World Championships. You’re finally a World Champion, Jonas. Congratulations.
Jonas Buud: Thank you.
iRunFar: Please tell me you’re really happy about this.
Buud: Yes, of course. Four times second, so finally it’s victory. Of course I’m happy.
iRunFar: How many times total have you run the world championships?
Buud: Seven times.
iRunFar: Seven times—four seconds and a win. What was different yesterday?
Buud: I don’t know. I ran it a bit faster than others. The plan was to do about the Swedish record of 6:28. It started at a pace that will end there somewhere and just to continue, and all the others just disappeared.
iRunFar: What was your final time?
Buud: 6:22.
iRunFar: So you broke your own Swedish record and a personal best by a good bit.
Buud: Yes. Yes.
iRunFar: Were the conditions good out there?
Buud: Yes, I think so. It was a bit windy in the beginning and on the second and the third loop, we had to run through a lot of 50k runners. That was a bit messy in some parts, but otherwise it was perfect.
iRunFar: Early in the race, the American, Jim Walmsley, went off the front. Were you guys at all worried about him?
Buud: No. No, because if he had a good pace… we thought if we continued this pace we’d be around 6:20, and if you’re running 6:20 you’re probably going to win anyway.
iRunFar: You were on the right pace, the regular Jonas Buud plan.
Buud: Yes.
iRunFar: There was a pack of six or seven or 10 guys behind Jim, and slowly every lap a couple guys came off, and then it was you and Steve [Way]. Did you expect to be racing Steve for a long time?
Buud: Yes, I thought so, but he disappeared at 40 or 50k or something. It was a bit early to run by myself, but that was… it didn’t matter anyway because my plan was to do my own race, so it’s in the plan.
iRunFar: Did you get any extra motivation this year from having, on paper, a good Swedish team, and then as the day progressed…?
Buud: Yes, it was really good because it was something to catch up with runners on the last loop, and I didn’t see any Swedish runners which was really good. I know that they’re probably around or under seven hours, so that’s really nice.
iRunFar: That would put your team in really good shape because unlike cross country, it’s cumulative time, so every second you run better, chances are increasing for your… I was going to say double gold, but you brought home four gold medals or five?
Buud: Five.
iRunFar: You swept the individual world champion, team world champion, European champion, and masters champion.
Buud: Yes, it’s nice.
iRunFar: Are they going to confiscate this at the border? Smuggling bullion into the country?
Buud: [laughs]
iRunFar: Simply incredible. You ran three weeks ago UltraVasan, a phenomenal race, so much better than last year. Which of these two races is better?
Buud: I don’t know. It’s amazing both races. It’s incredible. I don’t know how I can make the choice.
iRunFar: You can be fit, but to have two seemingly perfectly executed races…
Buud: Yes, in three weeks, it’s amazing.
iRunFar: After the race, Steve Way first telling you you were amazing and you should be more excited but also was keying in on the fact that you’ve done a lot more cycling this year and a lot less mileage.
Buud: I only had about 100 miles for the maximum week, and that’s… last year, I used to run a lot more, so it’s…
iRunFar: Felt a little fresher out there maybe?
Buud: Yes, maybe.
iRunFar: You also probably ran more yesterday than you have since UltraVasan, is that true?
Buud: Yes, I’ve been just resting and preparing the last three weeks and not so much running.
iRunFar: Well, it certainly worked out well for you, Jonas. I’m glad to see a really big smile on your face. You’re normally pretty… pretty quiet, but it was a long time coming.
Buud: Yes.
iRunFar: Congratulations.
Buud: Thank you.
iRunFar: Will we see you anywhere else this year?
Buud: Yes, I’m running Les Templiers.
iRunFar: Templiers, you’re going to go back there?
Buud: Yes, that’s something completely different. It’s much climbing.
iRunFar: Maybe get a little time on the trails before then?
Buud: Yes, I think so.
iRunFar: Enjoy some BanAna Trail?
Buud: Yes, some loops.
iRunFar: You have some great trails up there. Enjoy.
Buud: Thanks.
