Valmsley has collected both titles and fast times in recent years. The 29-year-old Arizona guy has been named "Runner of the Year" by the industry magazine Ultrarunning Magazine for the past three years.
Not without reason: this year he has set a world record over 50 miles (just over 80 km) and broke track records in classic Western States, a legendary 100-mile race in terrain.
In Saturday's race in the "fathers track" the bet was crazy from start, 32.29 up to the first check in Smågan, 2.5 minutes faster than Buud's opening in 2015 and in Evertsberg halfway a lead of almost five minutes against the Swedish ultra runner's record run.
Then the concern for Valmsley started, in Hökberg after just over seven miles the times were parallel and he could not answer the closing distance and match Bud's listing on 5.45.08.
However, he can look forward to being the first American to win the Ultravasan.