Interview with Mike Smith 1) I don’t know where to start. You’ve completed 16 races at the 100 mile distance in 2014 alone, 73 in the last eight years, 89 overall. This includes races at 51 different venues. How would you sum up your staggering success at the 100 mile distance? I’m not sure success is a very good description. I seem to learn something new at almost every race and each experience is different. I like to think I do have a strategy that at least allows me to finish most of the races I start. It typically includes the old standbys like walking up hills, trying to avoid sitting down anywhere (especially aid stations), don’t waste time in aid stations (get what you need and get out), and, above all, try to have some fun out there. 2) You obviously have extraordinary recuperative powers to finish so many events (no less than six 100 milers each of the last eight years). What’s your secret to staying healthy? Simple, my training mileage is embarrassingly low. Seriously, if I’m not racing that weekend, I might run a total of 25-30 miles in a week. However, I did race about 25 weekends in 2014 (at least a marathon distance). Sometimes I have 0 training miles when doing 100 mile races for consecutive weekends. I also do weight and core workouts during the week. That training schedule will mean I’ll never be leading the pack at a race, but I can usually recover well enough between events to finish. 3) You’ve participated in the biggest events on the 100 mile circuit, as well as some of the lesser known ones. Do you have a preference for one over the other? I do have some favorite races (Umstead, HURT, and Rocky Raccoon). What I discovered during 14 years of doing the 100 mile events is that even the races that started small (never filled) have grown more popular and more difficult to gain entry (lotteries, etc.) I do enjoy doing new races and these are often smaller events. However, I have learned it is sometimes best to avoid the first year to let them work some of the kinks out (course marking, aid, and logistics). 4) You’ve raced at practically every section of the country. Which area has been your favorite to run and why? You obviously enjoy traveling. Any funny stories to share from years of running? There are lots of great races out West and you can’t beat the scenery. I’ve done three Rim2Rim2Rim crossings of the Grand Canyon and never tire of that beautiful landscape. Hawaii is a unique and scenic environment, and there is no place I would rather be in January. RDs are beginning to find some great trails in the Midwest and East, too. I enjoy visiting different parts of the country and world. I wouldn’t say I’m a big fan of the travel process itself, but I’ve learned to take it in stride. I have some great memories of completing races with friends and making new friends during events. Most of the funny stories are of the “you had to be there” variety. Sometimes it involves facing some impossibly difficult trail, race, or weather conditions; that you really just have to laugh about when in the middle of it. I’ve learned to accept leading my friends astray during a race (getting lost) as just one of those unique experiences we can laugh about later. I always try to maintain a good sense of humor and not take things too seriously. The alternative just doesn’t seem like much fun to me. 5) What are some of your proudest moments during any of your 100 milers? Conversely, are there any races where you struggled and wondered whether you would make it? I look back on 2014 with some sense of accomplishment. While I completed more 100s than any other year for me, I also completed the Grand Slam events. Odd thing is I have done all those races before, but this year I ran faster times for each of those races as part of the Slam. Not what I expected. I also ran a 100 mile PR at Tunnel Hill this year, not what I expected at my age and especially with all the other racing this year. The struggles are much easier to remember, because they occur often. For example, I have run HURT 10 times, but only completed the 100 three times. Just when I think I have that race figured out, it throws a new challenge at me. Hardrock was a challenge each time and kept me wondering about finishing until the end. I’m usually close to the cutoffs in the first half of Leadville. Badwater was simply a matter of surviving the elements, while having had no experience in those kinds of conditions. The way I see it, those struggles are what keep me coming back. 6) What are the biggest changes you’ve witnessed in ultra running over the past 5-10 years? Is the sport going in a direction that you’re pleased with? Overall, yes, the sport is moving in a positive direction. The shoes, apparel, gear, hydration, and nutrition options are all improving as a result of greater participation in trail and ultrarunning. While some may complain about the increased difficulty in the entry process for some races, I think it is more than offset by the additional number of races that have been added (just consider the number of 100s today vs 10 years ago) and the opportunity to meet all those new folks sharing the trails with us. I think we have seen a shift to more talented younger runners showing interest in ultra events and I think that is healthy for the long term. 7) What is your mental strategy going into each event? Does it differ from race to race? How do you deal with the bad patches during the race and what does it usually take for you to pull yourself out of it? I try not to set my expectations too high. I can usually tell at some point how the race will go, but it’s dangerous to assume too much early in the race. Weather changes, trail conditions deteriorate, you have stomach issues, you fall (maybe injure something), you get lost, the aid station runs out of water or have nothing you can eat, your flashlight dies (or you didn’t pick it up soon enough), and the list goes on… So your best strategy may be to just be flexible and resilient. I tell people that as bad as it seems, it’s probably going to get better. The weather improves (or you are at least properly dressed now), the trail is runnable again, your stomach will feel better later, you forget about that scraped knee, you find the trail again, the next aid station is better equipped or you have a drop bag there, etc. 8) You’ve completed the first two 100 milers at the Indiana Trail 100. What brings you back in April? The first year was tough in the mud, so I wanted to come back that second year to experience some better course conditions. It’s also close, since I’m in the Indianapolis area, and the time of year is good for the rest of my race schedule. 9) What are some of the other races you have planned for 2015? Are there any races that you haven’t run yet that you would like to, whether in the US or abroad? For 100s, I have HURT, Rocky Raccoon, Monument Valley, Umstead, and the IT100. I’m sure I will register for a few more and they will probably be events I haven’t done before. At one time, I had a goal to finish all the different 100s, but there just seem to be more new ones every year. I also want to do a run in Asia and Australia/New Zealand to complete my runs on all continents. Not sure about this year for those. 10) As someone that has completed more 100 milers than anyone else running in our event, what advice could you provide someone attempting their first 50 or 100 miler? See my challenges above and understand you will probably face one or more of those at some point in your race, it gets better. You can tell my training advice would probably suck for anyone running a reasonable amount of races in a year, so I’m not going there. I’m going to steal some advice from the late Blake Norwood (RD for Umstead and ultrarunner) “Eat before you are hungry, drink before you are thirsty, and walk before you are tired”. Try to relax and remember this is supposed to be fun! See you on the trails.
Posted on: Wed, 21 Jan 2015 12:17:58 +0000
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