Conway demolishes the Lakeland 100© www.sportsunday.co.uk
Men's L100 leaders early on
There are three times per year that you can be guaranteed of hot humid weather. The London Marathon, The F.A. Cup and the Lakeland100. The Lakeland 100 AKA the Ultra Tour of the Lake District has fast become the most important 100miler on the UK race calendar…
Here our man at the races Richard Felton aka @ukrunrambles tell it like it was, and thanks to SportSunday for the great shots.
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It has the beauty of the Lake District (a circumnavigation from Coniston-Wasdale-Buttermere-Dalemain-Ambleside-Coniston), it has the distance and it has over 20,000ft of vertical gain!
The day will ultimately be remembered for one man- Terry Conway (Ambleside AC). Terry was the Reigning champion and course record holder and he spent 19hrs and 50 minutes (new course record by 2hours and 8minutes) consolidating his position as the UK’s number 100 miler (ok we have the Likes of Bragg and Sharman but they haven’t run a UK 100 for a few years).
© www.sportsunday.co.uk
The man, Terry Conway
Terry made his move shortly before the halfway mark when he decided to swiftly run down Ed Batty and open up a resounding lead over the rest of the field, from here he just sliced through the lakes like he was racing a road marathon. His Ultra Amigos teammates Paul Tierney and Barry Murray kept him company for almost 50 miles before they jointly finished 2nd in 22:01.
Despite the dominance the race would not have been the same without a small side plot. 2 guys stepping up from impressive performances in last year’s Lakeland50 decided to give this a real crack and ultimately provided the catalyst and the Prey for Conway. Ken Sutor, 3rd in the 2011 50, took the first two checkpoints as the leader and pulled the chasing field along at a remarkable pace.
The chasing field including the bold 24year old, 5th in 2010 50, took over Ken after 17 miles and not only kept the lead but slowly built it until mile 56 when Conway decided the 26min lead was getting too much and by mile 66 Batty had been swallowed up by the marauding train. It was brave taking on some incredibly experienced Ultra Distance runners which also included 2010 Lakeland100 champion Stuart Mills and Scott Bradley the 2012 Highland Fling winner but Batty gave it a shot and opened up the race wonderfully, this could have easily been Terry Conway from start to finish but Batty provided the what if?
The Woman’s race really was a start to finish job. Rachel Hill went peddle to the metal for 105miles to become only the second woman to run sub 30hrs. The winning time was 28:47 which was only 23mins behind Gaynor Prior’s 2011 record.
© www.sportsunday.co.uk
Rachel Hill
We knew Rachel, a member of the Fell Runners Association, could run but this was sheer class. Julie Gardner and Nicky Taylor seemed to be the biggest threat and kept her within 50minutes for the majority of the race but it was Catherine Holloway who came through strong for second with a time of 29:49 a tremendous feat for someone with only flat ultra credentials until this point (Country to Capital winner 2012).
The strength in depth last weekend has only added weight to the argument that the UK has some athletes ready to breakout into the international Ultra World.With the ISF just announcing that they are adding a 100mile race to their calendar it’s a perfect time for the UltraAmigos, especially Conway, to think about venturing further a field and making a name for themselves.
Full results are here with some great shots of the 100 and the 50 via Sport Sunday.
© www.sportsunday.co.uk
After having to abandon his Fish River Canyon Trail Run record attempt in 2011 due to heavy rains, Ryan Sandes will be back again at the beginning of August 2012 to hopefully defeat his long standing nemesis – breaking the record for the quickest time to run the Fish River Canyon Trail in Namibia. The record for the 84km trail run – set in one of the harshest climates and terrains – was originally set on the 13th of July 1990 by South Africans Ronnie Muhl and Bruce Matthews – both seasoned Comrades runners – in a time of 11hrs 42min. It was then beaten by 3 Namibian locals Russell Paschke, Charlie du Toit and Coenraad Pool on the 16th of August 2003 in a time of 10hrs 54min.
Charlie du Toit, a veteran of 4 Comrades Marathons and who has a sub 7hr 30min silver medal finish to his credit, summed up this achievement by announcing that in his opinion it was harder than anything he had done before. “This canyon is not for the faint hearted and an attempt to run it should not be taken light heartedly”.
Enter the Sandman, “A few years ago I had the privilege of running part of the Fish River Canyon on one of the stages of the Racing the Planet Namibia race. The canyon is one of the most beautiful places I have seen, but at the same time is one of the harshest environments I have run in. I really battled in the canyon due to the extreme heat and terrain and running in there was one of the toughest days of my athletic career. Since then it has been on my list to come back and defeat. Last year we were all ready to tackle the record attempt, when heavy rainfalls and flooding in the canyon forced us to abandon everything. This year it will happen, I will not let the canyon get the better of me for another year,” says Sandes.
On the 23rd of July, Ryan will be heading up to the Fish River Canyon to attempt to break the current record. Ryan will be scouting the route for a few days with Russell Paschke and Tinus Hansen from www.africanextremepromotions.com, and assisting with the Fish River Canyon Ultra Marathon. He will then attempt the record run on the 01st of August.
“I know this challenge is going to extremely tough, especially coming off the back of my running the Western States 100miler in the USA at the end of June, but I can’t wait to get back into the canyon. The record attempt will be filmed by the African Attachment / Wandering Fever so I will keep everyone posted on where and when you can watch it,” says Sandes.
Joining Ryan on his attempt to run the 84km trail un-aided will be a couple of enthusiastic journalists to see if they could survive even running part of the distance.
For more info or to follow Ryan’s record attempt please follow Ryan on his facebook page ort on twitter @RyanSandes.
Race preview: Speedgoat 50km - July 28, 2012
Talk Ultra's Ian Corless gives us a preview of the second edition of the Ultra SkyMarathon® Series, The Speedgoat 50k:
Start training now..... cuz' it's gonna hurt! What else would you expect from Speedgoat Karl Meltzer. In 1989, Karl moved to Utah and in his own words became a 'ski bum'. But in 1990 he started to run and in 1996 he became an ultra runner.
To date he has 55 race wins, 47 of them in ultras. He has won Hardrock 100 five times, Wasatch 100 six times, Massannutten 100 three times and in addition to this he has run the Appalachian Trail - 2176 miles in 54 days, 21 hrs and 12 min - and recently, in 2010, he did the Red Bull Human Express, running from CA to St Joseph, MO a distance of 2064 miles in 40 days. So, he likes races that are tough, long or a combination of both.
Speedgoat 50k is no different. What it lacks in distance it makes up for in severity and vertical gain. This race consists of 11,420' of total climbing. The whole race taking place at an altitude above 7600', with the majority above 9200'. Karl is proud when he says: "it is the most technical race east and west of Snowbird Ski Resort."
Rocky, rooty, snowy, very steep hills, even steeper descents all over nasty, wet rocky terrain. If you like a fast 50k, this race is NOT for you. Needless to say, there is nothing easy about it. If you enjoy tough races, this race is for you.
The 2012 edition of the Speedgoat 50k is now part of the new Skyrunning Ultra Skymarathon Series. The first race in the series was the 80km Transvulcania La Palma in the Canaries, won by Dakota Jones in the mens race and Anna Frost in the ladies race.
Photos © Jared Campbell
Ultra SkyMarathon® Series
- SPAIN: TRANSVULCANIA ULTRA MARATHON - La Palma - May 12
- USA: Speedgoat 50K - Snowbird, Utah – July 28
- ITALY: Trofeo Kima UltraSkyMarathon® - Valmasino, Sondrio – August 26
- SPAIN: Cavalls del Vent - Cadi-Moixeró Natural Park - Pyrenees - September 29
- FRANCE: La Course des Templiers - Millau, Grands Causses - October 28
Needless to say, the addition of Skyrunning to the Speedgoat means that it's profile for this year will be greatly increased. When I spoke to Karl, his excitement was palatable: "I'm stoked, the race is gonna be sick. We have a stacked field and in the mens race it is almost impossible to predict who will triumph the field is so competitive. Anton Krupicka is using this race as his 'comeback' after a long lay off, last years winner Nick Clark will toe the line and from Europe we have Thomas Lorblanchet from France, young star Philipp Reiter and of course the 'king' himself, Kilian Jornet from Spain. In the ladies race we have a great field but it's less deep than the mens and providing that Frosty (Anna Frost) is fit and well, she is the out and out favourite, but Nikki Kimball will be hot on her heels"
Karl also added; "This year we are proud to announce a $10,000 prize purse, with a few extra $1000 for incentive bonuses on the mountain. Top 3 runners will receive the cash awards."
So as Karl has pointed out this is a stacked field. I am sure that the addition of the Skyrunning profile and some great prize money has provided increased interest. But who will win the race and can the course record of 5:43:20, set by Kevin Shilling set in 2010, be taken down... certainly one would think that if the record is going to fall, this may very well be the year!
Predictions MEN:
- Anton Krupicka has been racking up his training and made the decision not to race at Hardock and make sure that is recovery from injury was more controlled. Speedgoat 50k is his first race in 18 months and one has to assume that if he is turning up, he is turning up to race!
- Kilian Jornet missed Western States after a tragedy during one of his 'Summits' attempts but returned to racing form with a Vertical K win at Mont Blanc and then a win in the Mont Blanc Marathon. He was then in Spain for Kilian Classic and then this coming weekend, 20-22nd July he will be racing in Italy at the Skyrunning Dolomites race. The Speedgoat will certainly suit Kilian.
- Nick Clark had seemed a little despondent with his racing form in early 2012. He had expressed to me on several occasions that he just wasn't 'firing' on all cylinders. Particularly his race in Zegama made him re think but re think he did and only recently he once again turned up at Western States and came away with a podium place. Nick has won the Speedgoat before and holds the third fastest time on the course at 5:46:38. You can never rule Nick out.
- Max King is not an ultra runner as such but he is a mountain runner and on paper is the fastest marathon runner at the race. Max also had a disappointing race at Zegama but the 50k distance and this course may very well play into his hands.
- Joe Grant has previously run the Speedgoat race and holds one of the fastest top 10 times with 6:12:15 (almost have an hour slower than Nick) but in 2012 he has increased strength and excellent form. However, Speedgoat falls just 2 weeks after Hardrock 100 and after a superb 2nd place at that super tough 100 miler one has to ask if Joe will have recovered to be able to 'race' at Speedgoat.
- Jason Loutitt is a top mountain runner and has placed 2nd at the IAU Ultra Trail Championships, has won Hurt 100 and is quick over the marathon distance. All these elements make him a real contender for the Speedgoat title.
We said this field was stacked and from Europe we have Thomas Lorblanchet and Philipp Reiter, both of these runners raced at Transvulcania La Palma and placed well. Philipp in particular has won several races and most recently was victorious at the Salomon 4 Trails. The fifth fastest time ever recorded at Speedgoat was set by Erik Storheim with 6:08:42 in 2009 he has race experience and along with Nick Pedatella they may prove to be the dark horse outsiders.
Photos, clockwise from top l-r: Karl Meltzer, Anna Frost, Nikki Kimball, Killian Jornet, Anton Krupicka, Joe Grant, Max King and Nick Clark
Predictions LADIES:
- Anna Frost is the out and out favourite after a stunning run at the Transvulcania La Palma, she not only obliterated the ladies record but made big inroads to the overall results and nearly creep into the top 10 overall. However, she has recently posted on her blog "Currently placing a question mark over this race with fatigued legs still keeping my two feet on the ground." so we are unsure if she will race...
- Nikki Kimball is back on form! No doubt. She showed some real emotion on the finish line of the Transvulcania La Palma with a stunning 3rd place and then pre Zegama with tired legs I asked her how she intended to race "I'm gonna kick ass!" and she did placing in the top 10. Her most recent top 5 at Western States in 18:31 is a further indication that she will be turning up at Speedgoat to run and race hard.
- Meghan Arbogast is fast! Certainly she is more suited to the flatter, fast courses and she excels on the road. She placed 10th lady at Western States in 19:45. Meghan will be up at the front of the ladies race and the shorter distance may well play into her speed hands!
A fight for the podium may very well come from Julie Bryan who has had two wins in 2012, admittedly over shorter terrain and more notably Kerrie Bruxvoort who has won 3 50k races; Golden Gate Dirty Thirty, Greenland Trail and Mesquite Canyon. My outsider would be Bethany Lewis.
What is the course like?
This race consists of 11,420' of total climbing. With the whole race taking place above 7600', with the majority above 9200'. Karl is proud when he says: "It is the most technical race east and west of Snowbird Ski Resort."
Rocky, Rooty, snowy, very steep hills, even steeper descents all over nasty, wet rocky terrain. If you like a fast 50k, this race is NOT for you. Needless to say, there is nothing easy about it. If you enjoy tough races, this race is for you.
Talk Ultra
You can hear pre race chat and post race chat with race director, Karl Meltzer in a Meltzer Moment on Talk Ultra. Episode 14 will be released on Friday July 27th with pre race chat and episode 15, released on Friday August 10th, will have analysis, results and hopefully some interviews from the race. Shows are available on iTunes and Libsyn
Check out the race website for further information: karlmeltzer.com/speedgoat-50k/
Check out the Skyrunning (ISF) website for further information on the Ultra SkyMarathon® Series
The Long Training Runby Gary Dudney
Ultrarunners are an idiosyncratic bunch. They practice the sport in a thousand peculiar and individual ways. But on any given weekend, a high percentage of them will all be doing pretty much the same thing: completing a long training run. That’s because the long run is widely recognized as the most important element in the ultrarunner’s training regime, especially for the beginner.
When you trained for a marathon, you probably did a series of long runs starting at about eight miles in length and an hour and a half in duration and then worked your way up in a lock-step manner to something like 20 miles and three and a half hours. You probably also had very specific pace and distance goals in mind that were a critical part of attaining your target marathon time. For ultra training, forget all that. Time spent on your feet, not miles covered, is what is important, at least, if your goal is to just finish your first ultra. Let the distance covered and your pace work themselves out.
As far as a “program” is concerned, you’ll want to work up through progressively longer runs, doing one a week, adding about half an hour each time, until reaching the four- to fivehour range. Then build up to six to seven hours. Once you’re running in that range, do your long runs every other weekend or do two runs for every three weekends.
Unlike those grim marathon workouts where you are constantly watching the clock, the pace for these long runs should be relaxed, allowing you to easily carry on a conversation with your running buddies. Walk the uphills and don’t be afraid to take a break once in a while if you feel like it. Your body will be making the correct physiological adaptations for the very long distances of ultrarunning as it adjusts to these long slow workouts. As one trainer puts it, you want to get your metabolism to “burn the right stuff at the right time.”
Your long runs will also serve as your laboratory for stress-testing all the variables of ultrarunning, such as eating and drinking, clothing, equipment, lubricants, and shoes. What to drink and how much to drink are critical questions you will need to find answers for during your long runs. How much you should eat, what energy gels work for you, and what solid foods agree with you after significant mileage are also questions you will need to explore. The long runs will teach you about your feet, what shoes and socks work best, and how to protect yourself against blisters. My first significant long run was six hours through a wilderness area on the most technical trails I had ever seen. By the end of the run, I had run out of food and water. I had blisters, a turned ankle, and several bleeding wounds. I was sunburned and I felt like I just barely made it out alive. In other words, I spent six invaluable hours learning some critical lessons about ultrarunning. The next time I went long, I was much better prepared.
Don’t shy away from difficult conditions during your long runs. If you are only running a few miles, no conditions seem intolerable, but if you are going long, you will have to figure out how to deal with adverse circumstances that are going to last awhile. Go out in the heat of the day and find out if you’ve brought enough water and used enough sunblock. Head out into a rainstorm or into icy winds to test your rain gear or see if you’ve layered on enough clothing or too much. Run on some technical trails or pick a route that takes you through lots of elevation change, especially if that is the type of terrain you expect to face on race day. Do a long run at night to test your lights and to get yourself accustomed to the sensations of running in the dark. Races will not always offer you optimal conditions so you shouldn’t be doing long runs only in optimal conditions if you truly want to be prepared for ultra racing.
Another reason for tackling a series of long runs is the mental conditioning they provide. Facing the strain and fatigue of those later miles in a long run and pressing on builds your confidence in your ability to complete an ultra distance. Pick a weekend and try running back to back long runs on Saturday and Sunday. The second run will demonstrate to you what it is like to run on tired legs and challenge you to keep a positive frame of mind when the going gets tough.
You can also practice your reactions to facing that moment when you feel you are out of gas and want to quit. Think up a positive and reliable mantra or phrase to repeat to yourself in tough circumstances. Crank your music up and try to distance yourself from the pain, or better yet, learn to accept the pain as a normal part of the process and see it for what it really is, feedback that you are running hard and doing well. Practice systematically relaxing all parts of your body as you run along. Try taking a break but then returning to the run with fresh determination to get to the end.
The fact of the matter is that over the course of your ultrarunning career, you will easily spend more time engaged in long training runs than you will spend actually racing and probably more time than doing all your shorter workouts combined. If you can find a way to enjoy your long runs, you will end up enjoying the lion’s share of your ultrarunning training.
Interested in writing for RunAddicts.net? Get started now!
I was in a local bookstore recently and I was asked by a sales associate if I needed help finding anything. Curious, I asked him if they had any books on ultra running. His response was, “what is ultra running?” So I gladly explained what ultra running and ultra marathons are. He responded by saying – “why would anyone want to run a race longer than a standard marathon?” Honestly, I couldn’t give him an answer because I didn’t know!!!!
So it got me thinking, why does someone want to put their body through the agony of an ultra marathon? Why does someone want to battle super sized painful blisters, extreme muscle aches and pains, very possible dehydration and hallucinations, very possible extreme puking, loss of toe nails, great potential for injury, and the list goes on. Why would anyone want to do that to themselves? I think it comes down to two choices:
Passion or Insanity.
Okay, right away I am going to rule out insanity and go with passion. People fall in love with the idea of challenging themselves and the really passionate ones never seem satisfied. For example, many people love to swim, so much so that some even attempt to swim across large bodies of water such as the English Channel. Are they insane for attempting that? No, but they are passionate about it.
Look at Dean Karnazes; a man who never seems satisfied and keeps striving for bigger challenges. He ran 50 marathons in 50 days in 50 states! Currently, he is attempting to run across America! Is he insane? No, but extremely passionate and very inspiring!
I feel with the proper training ANYONE can run an ultra marathon. Ray Zahab said it best when he stated, “Running is 90% mental and the other 10% is mental”. If you think you can do it then you can do it. Plain and simple. Running a marathon is a huge challenge, running an ultra is an extreme challenge.
I have decided that I want to take on the extreme challenge. Yes, I couldn’t finish my 1st marathon race due to a calf injury that occurred during the attempt. And yes, I got down and depressed about it. And yes, I thought about whether or not I can do this running thing, and blah, blah, blah. Bottom line – I can be an ultra runner and I will be an ultra runner.
Mark my words. By the end of 2012 I expect to have 2 to 4 ultras under my belt.
Holy cow! Did I just type those last words? I must be INSANE!
Anton Krupicka: InterviewAnton “Tony” Krupicka
Age: 27
Ht/Wt: 6ft, 154lbs
Birth State: Nebraska
Sponsors: New Balance, GU, Udo’s Oil
Q: Mr. Krupicka. Thank you so much for not running for a few minutes so I could talk with you. Among the ultrarunners I know, discussions about you or your race performances seem to always start with an agreement that nobody really knows how to pronounce your last name. Once that is agreed upon, we then discuss how you obliterated everyone else in “that” race. Do you prefer Anton or Tony?
A: Well, my last name is pronounced “crew-pitch-kuh”. It’s Czech. My name is Anton—it was my great grandfather’s, and I like to preserve the family heritage—but most of my close friends call me Tony.
Q: Height and Racing Weight?
“The only times I can remember weighing myself in the last few years is at 100 mile races. I was 154 at both pre-race check-ins for Western States and Leadville last year. I remember I was 142 at the finish line of Western, though. I’m guessing that scale was a bit off.”
Any Other Sports or Training?
“not really.”
Years training/competing in running?
“ I’ve been running and competing since 1995. I’ve been running predominantly mountain races since 2006.”
What’s your preferred race distance?
“I don’t really have one, but I guess I’m best at 50 and 100 mile mountain races.”Shoe Model or Type?
New Balance MT110. It’s the update to the MT101 and will be out in early 2012, I believe. Best shoe I’ve ever worn.
Favorite Local Training Area?
I really like running from my doorstep, and I really like running to a summit, so most of my running takes place on the 8000’+ peaks on the western outskirts of Boulder, CO—Green Mt, Bear Peak, and South Boulder Peak. In the summer, though, the Indian Peaks (13,000+’) are only a 30min drive to the west. I
also really like running on the trails of the Pikes Peak region.Favorite training or recovery food?
I’m not quite sure what that means. In training, if I eat anything, it’s GU gels. For recovery, I generally eat whatever I can find in the kitchen. Baked goods, fruit, big salads.”
Weekly Training Mileage during season?
140-180 miles per week. “150 mountain miles is kinda the sweet spot for me.”
What’s your longest training run in miles or hours?
68 miles/10:16 back in November 2010. I did a solo circumnavigation of Pikes Peak on the ‘Ring The Peak’ trail but got off-route a couple of times (I think it would be ~64 miles if one ran the intended route the whole way).
Do you have a favorite race?I enjoy any event with solid competition up front and several big climbs. Western States, Leadville, Miwok and White River have all been a lot of fun. Of the races I’ve done (which isn’t that many), I guess I’ve been most impressed with the White River 50’s course.
Q: Very few ultramarathon runners will ever cover mountain miles with the speed and efficiency that you do. Do feel that you have an athletic gift or more so, that you have trained your body and mind for endurance?
A: Hmmm. I think it’s more that I’ve trained my body and mind. I’m a very very mediocre sub-marathon distance runner. My pure running talent is objectively not very great. However, long races in the mountains are all about comfort and proficiency on that mountainous terrain and in that unpredictable, variable environment and I am very comfortable in the mountains. This is a result of having a huge passion for the land and of spending a lot of time every day running over mountainous terrain. There are probably thousands of athletes, who—if they decided to train the way I do—would make me look silly in any long distance mountain race. However, beyond an inherent passion for the mountains, there aren’t many incentives for a gifted runner to prepare for these races. So, I guess I have that passion, but I don’t really see that as “talent” or an “athletic gift”.
Q: What about “racing”. It’s a fact that a very small percentage of athletes toe the starting line of a 100k or 100 mile ultra with intentions of racing the other athletes. If we could see inside your mind, would we see you are concentrated on the clock, split times, the other front runners…or perhaps you are making decisions about effort purely on internal physiology? Can you provide some insight on that subject?A: Sure. I race because it provides a community of like-minded individuals that I’m able to identify with. I think any non-sociopathic human is looking for that in one way or another. Racing is a satisfying and often joyful celebration of this running/mountain lifestyle that I’ve chosen. I also race to feed my ego. No doubt. I’m competitive as all get out; I like to beat other people. But, inside my mind in a race, the primary goal has become to just win races. As recently as a couple of years ago I was oftentimes too focused on time during races, but the competitive depth of the fields has risen enough—and I’ve failed enough times at chasing time goals—that I now enter any race with the primary intention being to win. This means I’m obviously paying attention to other runners, but for me to get the most out of my body I also have to be very internally-focused during a race paying attention to what my body needs and what it’s telling me it can do. However, in any long race—typically in the last quarter—continuing at a hard pace becomes a rigorous mental game. Basically, you have to will yourself to continue to endure a lot of pain, care more about the final result than the next guy, and just not give up.
Q: What do you do in preparation for a foreign event. Specifically, do you spend a lot of time researching course maps or watching videos to become familiar with a course you have never run? What things help you mentally prepare for competition in an unfamiliar location like that?
A: I don’t really do much. I usually make sure to look at a course profile to get an idea of where the major climbs are and I’ll also look at the course map to have a general feel for where the race is going. Usually I’m just excited to race on new-to-me trails.
Q: Who or what inspires you to train harder or work toward seemingly impossible goals?
A: The mountains themselves are without a doubt my greatest inspiration. There’s nothing more satisfying than the primal feeling of being able to move quickly and proficiently through a rugged, natural landscape. So, just the feeling that comes with being at peak fitness annually is definitely inspiring. Additionally, I’m inspired by people that I feel appreciate the land and interact with it in the right way and are clearly pursuing a type of personal growth through these interactions. This list of people would include a lot of my close friends and fellow competitors at the top of the sport, but I’m definitely inspired by all kinds of people who I see as embodying the attitude and ethic that I strive for in my own mountain running and life. This includes successful climbers like Ueli Steck, Dean Potter, Reinhold Messner, and Steve House, but it also includes faceless, largely nameless other folks in backcountry skiing, surfing, slacklining, sport-climbing, bouldering, etc. Basically, anyone who is earnestly interacting with their chosen environment with sincerity, purity, and the minimum of material trappings.
Q: A close friend told me he climbed to the summit of a 14,000′ mountain here in Colorado…and prior to reaching the top, looked back to see a mythical mountain man running uphill at a ridiculous pace way above the tree line. That man carried no fluid, no food, and didn’t even wear a shirt. For a few minutes, he thought you were running without breathing. Please tell me you get dehydrated during a jaunt like that….
A: I mean, I suppose I certainly do get dehydrated, but for me a mountain run isn’t about trying to feel as comfortable as possible the whole time. If I wanted to do that, I would just stay on the couch. But it certainly isn’t necessarily about arbitrarily enduring suffering, either. If I wanted to do that, I can think of all sorts of things to do to self-inflict physical pain. Rather, I like getting out in the mountains and stripping away distractions and traveling the most aesthetic routes and doing so on the mountain’s terms as much as is reasonable. Most of the time, for me, this means a pair of shoes and a pair of shorts and GO! I don’t like carrying stuff when I run and I enjoy the satisfying feeling of finishing a run slightly depleted and feeling like I just ran up and down a mountain with very little between me and the mountain, so I certainly don’t mind finishing my daily 2-3hr mountain run slightly dehydrated and bonking.
Q: What does Anton Krupicka eat when he’s not running? Do you use recovery nutrition after your runs? Tell us generally, how you eat from day to day…and what nutritional selections work well in your busy life?
A: I have almost nothing interesting to say on this topic. I try to keep things simple, eating fresh, whole foods, but I’m not terribly rigid about it and eat plenty of baked goods and probably way too much sugar. I don’t like the idea of having strict requirements and not being willing or able to adapt, but at the same time I definitely try to eat a fairly healthy spectrum of simple foods. Breakfast/lunch is typically some form of baked good and fruit, usually apples. Dinner varies wildly but will often include some kind of greens/veggie salad and/or a vegetable and cheese sandwich or pasta with veggies, etc, etc. Last night it was hot so I had a fruit smoothie with banana, strawberries, acai, almond milk, blueberries and Udo’s Oil and a tomato and cheese quesadilla. It’s 4 o’clock right now and so far today I’ve had a couple pieces of toast, about half a dozen apples, and a couple cans of diet root beer. I have no idea what I’ll have for dinner.Q: What goals can you share with us? Are there races, course records, or performance-based goals that you have set-aside for the near or distant future? What is to come from Anton Krupicka in the next couple years?
A: I am interested in racing the top athletes in the sport. I’m also interested in seeking out events that are a celebration and an embodiment of the history, community, and aesthetic of bipedal mountain travel. There are several good events here in the United States, but more and more it seems that those values are best exemplified in the mountain racing culture in Europe. Races over there are insanely steep and technical, picking the most aesthetic routes over the terrain and the local community and culture get very excited about endurance events in a way that is only seen in the United States when it comes to the nauseating antics of professional team sports played in stadium arenas. In Europe, it seems there is a popular and well-expressed appreciation for the mountains as sporting arena whether it be exemplified in the enthusiasm for events like the Tour de France, mountaineering in the Alps, or the Skyrunning Series. I don’t know if I’ll make it over there for more than just the Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc in Chamonix, but I’d like to at some point. The Le Grand Raid Diagonal de Fous on Reunion Island also interests me. At the same time, I am very inspired by the classic long distance mountain races here in the US, such as the Pikes Peak Marathon, Hardrock, Angeles Crest, Western States, and Wasatch. So, who knows.
Q: Where might we see you race in the next few years? While mountains seem to be your strong-suit, what about Badwater or world-level 100k competition? Do you foresee any competition outside of mountain trails?
A: I currently have very little interest in non-mountain events, but I do admit that at some point I’d like to see what I’m capable of in a road 100k. I respect versatility in running and like the comparisons that can occur through a standardized event like a road 100k. However, the mountains are what inspire me the most, so that’s likely where future competitive efforts will continue to be focused.
Q: Anton, you are an inspiration to me and many other athletes. You run to the physiological breaking point and display human performance at an incredible level. Do you have any words of wisdom for the athletes who will read this?
A: I get asked this sort of thing a lot and really the keys to success in ultra distance mountain racing are devastatingly simple: pile on the miles, be CONSISTENT with your daily running, run lots of vertical on rugged terrain. Period. The hard parts of that areA) truly being consistent. I think not missing days is extremely important and am surprised at how variable a lot of folks running will be. I missed 12 days total in 2010, four of which were recovery from 100 mile races and another four of which were the result of some crazy flu-like illness. I know this consistency was a huge part of my success last year.
B) not getting injured. I’ve been injured for the past 4 months, and it has reinforced the fact that running training, at it’s core, is an injury-prevention game. If you can stay uninjured and consistent, you will improve.
Tony, thank you for your time. You are a humble, gifted athlete, who runs beyond the physical…thank you for your inspiration and best of luck in your upcoming races.
-Interview by: Jerry Armstrong; Boulder, CO
special thanks to Rob O’Dea Photography
More Reading: http://www.antonkrupicka.blogspot.com/If you're enjoying TrailAndUltraRunning.com help us with a small donation of $1 or $2.
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