I just discovered your podcast a few weeks ago and burned through all 69 episodes. I’ve just been waiting, hoping more would be released. Did you get into Berkley’s this year?? Thanks for the great show.

Jared

Thanks, Steve

The Doctor

In seriousness, great job on Boston Qualifying! Now remember, for it to be an actual qualifier, as you’ve told me, you need a shirt and to pay an entrance fee; both of which I can help you with! And to think that you even managed to get past my Mechanical Robot Dog that I sent out to stop you, awesome!

So I have no doubt that you actually did as you claim though, after all, who could ever doubt someone that claims “Climbing Mount Everest is something that tourists do while they’re in the area”! Your word is golden!

PS, I did make sure that my picture on the wall at the burger joint included my Boston jacket. I posed looking back over my shoulder, kind of like Fabio. It really was pretty awesome; I have to agree with you there! The Doctor

Steve, Barkley Fun Runner, 2001

Later I became pretty dehydrated and started slowing down; 1.3. And I did spend part of my time on trails, which is good for 1.4 at least I figure. Now my pace I held at 8:20, so as most ultra distances are run much slower, I add in a multiplier of 1.4, and when I finally made it home, the Librarian (my wife) yelled at me for about 5 minutes for being late, which I think earned me another 1.1 multiplier, at least!

So, in all I ran 84 miles, by the time I was done with the math. Funny thing though, my stupid Garmin only said I ran 18! Of course I was pretty upset by this, as obviously it had a problem of some sort – possibly bad satellite reception, I don’t know. I called Garmin support and told them the entire story, listing every multiplier I mentioned above, and yet they still insisted nothing was wrong! The guy had the nerve to tell me that a mile only “counts” if I actually go a mile! The nerve!

Well, once again you and me agree – I’m sure my run should have counted for 84 miles, I don’t care what the folks at Garmin say. Between me and you we need to solve this problem of mileage under rating! Again, I’m with ya Trail Slammer!

Tomorrow I’m going for 200 miles in preparation for my Mt. Everest climb (I don’t think for a minute that I could do the Barkley thing, so I thought I’d start small and work up….)

PS - I think the government shutdown will get me at least a 1.25 multiplier…..

The Doctor…

The Doctor….

To my shock and horror, he was not impressed! The first thing he asked me was “So you mean they don’t even run?” I responded, “well, no, but they hike! And that’s a lot different than walking; it’s a LOT harder!” He responded back, “you mean they walk?” I conceded this was true, but I told him that it can be super hard to walk sometimes, and that walking doesn’t make him any less of an athlete then if he ran. My co-worker shook his head in doubt….

He then asked me “So, if he’s walking, I mean, hiking, does he go up and down mountains like you did in Leadville?” I told him that in fact he did, that there was as much as a 3,000 foot climb! He asked, “Well, wasn’t Leadville a climb up to 12,600 feet, and even Wasatch had more up and down then that?” I conceded that was true, but, now becoming annoyed, I insisted that this was still an “athletic event” because you don’t get to walk on a defined path; you have to actually use a compass to find your way around – what could be more athletic than that? Strangely, he nodded his head and said “But don’t boy-scouts do that at, like at 10 years old?” By now I was getting very upset that he would infer that walking, I mean hiking, without a trail was not an athletic event. I finally became very upset with him and said “Look, the Trail Slammer IS an ATHLETE! I bet it’s a LOT of WORK walking for a long time, I mean hiking, especially if you need to use a COMPASS to tell you which way to go! Sure, maybe you’ve never heard of this event before, nor have many other people, but that’s because only a few people are even qualified to walk, I mean hike, and use a compass like this!” I then told him that you had to write an ESSAY to get admitted, and it had to be properly worded – ‘grammar counts at this level my friend!’ “So, how can you even compare this to the 50 mile runs I do? I know this will be a LOT tougher! In fact there are many places on this course where you can easily slip while you’re walking, I mean hiking, and scratch your leg! Really, really badly!”

I was mad and walked away; and he was just laughing at me! Laughing! Well, I really don’t understand what some people are thinking Trail Slammer, minimizing an awesome athletic event of walking, I mean hiking, and compass reading! I just wanted to tell you that I worked hard, and will continue to work hard, to make sure that people have not only heard of this event, but will appreciate it for the grueling, walking, essay writing, and compass reading athletic challenge that it is!

I’m with ya trail slammer! The Doctor….

Dear Trail Slammer: I have been inspired by your efforts to get into the Barkley Marathon, and as such decided to work to gain entry into a major challenging event myself. The event is in North Carolina, and it’s called the Krispy Kreme Challenge. Participants run 2 miles to a Krispy Kreme store, where they are handed a box of a dozen doughnuts. The hopefully hungry runner eats all 12 doughnuts, and then must high-tail it the 2 miles back to the start line. Brutal stuff, much like the Barkley, and to top it off you have only one hour to do it.

I of course wrote a detailed essay with my running qualifications, mentioning my 100 mile runs (and attempts) and even my recent 50 mile 2nd place age group award. I also discussed my doughnut eating experience throughout the years. Additionally, I used you as a reference for good measure.

Well, I received word today that I was accepted! Although the race director wondered why I included an essay, passport, social security number, and blood sample with my application – apparently it was not necessary; but again I’ve seen the way these things work – I’m certain if I hadn’t included this information my application would have been, well, “lost”.

But I’m in – it just goes to show you how similar we really are; both of us out finding, and conquering, tremendous challenges! I’m starting training tonight with 6 Krsipy Kreme doughnuts – of course I’ll build up over the coming weeks.

Thanks for the inspiration! The Doctor…

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly. So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.”

Theodore Roosevelt

This is a touchy situation, and one that I personally would only truly trust Runner’s World to answer. I will make clear where you might likely find this answer in Episode 44.

TS

I read in the recent Runner’s World magazine a very interesting question. The question is regarding two runners, let’s call them runner A and runner B - and these two runners liek to run together. It seems that runner B frequently brings their keys on their shared runs, and those keys relentlessly jingle as they run, and this is quite annoying to runner A.

Runner’s world suggests that the runner A simply tells runner B that this is bothering them, but I’m not sure if this is the best way to handle this running situation or not. Can you please shed some light on this, and give your advice?

Thanks for your help,

The Doctor

Thanks for putting your time into this and sharing your thoughts. You’re an incredible runner, and a great person - There’s no shadow I’d rather run in than yours!

The Doctor…

I think your listener has it right, and agrees with what I’ve been saying for the last two years; there is no simple answer to which run is “harder”, Leadville or Wasatch. I believe that if the altitudes were magically equal for comparison sake, from a course perspective, Wasatch is tougher due to the overall total climb. However now add in the fact that Wasatch allows 6 additional hours to finish; does that offset the additional climb? Well, I seriously doubt the extra climb is worth 6 more hours, but let’s say for comparison sake it does. At this point in our comparison the two are equal as we traded climb for finish time, but now let’s add in altitude; a factor that Leadville has and Wasatch does not – this variable is huge; how does the altitude affect the individual? Well, if you live in the Leadville area (Tony for example) it probably provides no disadvantage. If you live in a state close to sea level, it likely provides a very serious disadvantage.

So, in a one sentence answer to a question that has at least 3 significant variables (total climb, time allowed time to finish, and altitude) here it is: “If you’re altitude acclimated, then the two are equivalent. If you’re not altitude acclimated, then the lack of altitude acclimation will now make Leadville more challenging for you.”

There you are, case closed. No simple answer; just depends on how altitude affects you personally, mostly due to acclimation, or a lack of it. On the bright side, you pulled off Leadville anyway, so you’re even better then you thought you were!

Thanks for spending your time.

Good luck tomorrow.

-Ian

Best of luck for future endeavours, Eoin (pronounced Owen)

I only just found you on iTunes about two weeks ago, and this is the episode I’m currently caught up to. So I’ve been listening to you everyday so far.

Just love your honest, conversational style. I’m not an ultra runner yet, but it’s goal now. I regularly run half-marathons, and will be pursuing full marathons next year as a stepping stone to ultras. The insider knowledge you share, and the details of your personal journey, are inspiring me and informing me and I’m feeling more mentally prepared than I thought I would at this point.

I particularly like your focus on measuring and tracking your performance (I specialise in this for business and truly believe as you do that it applies to any endeavour we want to pursue to excellence).

So a huge thanks for taking your time to share this with us all. I’m totally engaged in your story.

Thanks m8! Penrhynplodder