Category Archives: Athlete Interviews

I enjoy interview other adventurous people and finding out what makes them crave the wild and the illusive horizon.

Bitter the Beast – Q&A with Zach Bitter

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This past weekend I got the chance to met and race (well at lest for a few miles) Zach Bitter. Zach who in addition to having run the fastest 50 miler in the nation last year also won the Midwest North Face Challenge in 2010 and placed 2nd in 2011. I can honestly say this is a fun guy to cheer on. His passion for the sport really comes through in his dedicated outrages training schedule and sticking around hours after his race to chat it up with fellow runners. Below are a few Q&A’s about Zach’s record braking John Dick 50k (his first 50k) this past weekend and his up coming 2012 ultra races.

Zach Bitter Leaving an aid station during the Midwest Regional North Face 50 Mile with pacer Brian Finnel. In 2010 Zach won the race in 6:02 and came back the following year to place 2nd with a 6:08

This past weekend you just smashed the John Dick Memorial 50k course record by over 20 minutes setting the new mark at 3:32. Were you expecting to run such a fast time on the icy course going into the race?

To be honest with you no. I planned to treat the race as a training run. I had a total of 246 miles logged in the 13 days leading into the race, so I wasn’t sure how my legs would feel. Usually at the end of a running cycle like this my legs feel pretty heavy, but for some reason at JDM 50k I felt really smooth, so I just went with it.

Did you have any low points during the race? If so how did you pull yourself through them?

I didn’t really have any real low points. I guess the toughest part of the course for me was round four up the big hill on the out and back section of the course. My quads were burning a little more there than in other places. With tough spots like this I usually try to break the race down. I stop thinking about finishing and just focus on getting to a certain point on the course. It helps reduce becoming overwhelmed.

This years Ice Age 50 is shaping up to be quite the show down. With yourself, Timothy Olson (2012 100k USATF Champ) who is more of a pure trail / mountain runner and Matt Flaherty who seems to race just about everything distance and definitely has some leg speed with a 4:17 mile pr, 2:22:53 Marathon PR. And the list goes on from there… How do you see the race playing out?

I think the talented field will cause the race to get out fast. I see this resulting guys testing their limits and someone coming out with a spectacular time, maybe even a course record.

Now for some fun questions…  Whats your favorite kind of GEL?

I like anything fruity with a pinch of caffeine

Are you growing your hair out?

As of now, yes. But I can be a bit impulsive with my hair style based on convenience.

Favorite Running Book or Movie?

I would say Born to Run is my favorite running book. I think it really captures the drive inside an ultra-runner. I am eagerly anticipating the arrival of Bryon Powell’s book, Relentless Forward Progress, which I just recently ordered.

Who’s Your Running Hero?

Roy Pirrung. He is a great story, and a timeless ultra runner who truly embraced the sport, and continues to push his limits.

In Wales there is a 22 mile race where runners go up against riders on horses back. In 2004 Huw Lobb became the first and only runner (on foot) to win the race. If we all pitched in and flew you to Wales do you think you could take down those horses for us?

Haha! I would certainly be willing to try. That sounds like an adventure impossible to turn down.

Read Zach’s Race report of the John Dick 50k and follow his running blog Here. Zach’s product Sponsors - Fuel Belt, Illuminite, Sportmulti, Feed the Machine, Vespa, and Drymax.

Door County Fall 50 - Zach Cruising to the 2011 fastest 50 miler finishing in 5:26

Interview after winning the Midwest North Face 50 in a time of 6:02

Interview – Timothy Olson / Bandera 100K USATF Ultra Champion

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I am excited to bring you one of our first athlete interviews on the blog. Timothy Olson has just came off a huge win at this years Bandera 100k down in Texas which served as the USATF Ultra Championship for the 100k distance. Timothy ran a gutsy race taking it out hard with Dave James before James dropped around the 50k and Timothy opened up an 11 minute lead on race favorite Dave Mackey. Dave was the defending champion and curent cores record holder having run a 8:16:48 the previous year. As the race wore on into the late miles the heat started to take a toll on the runners and Timothy was able to out last Mackey’s  late charge crossing the finish line ten minutes in front of the defending champion with a time of 8:28:38. Below are a few Q&A’s catching up with the Wisconsin native and National Champion Timothy Olson 

Timothy Olson run's on the Pearl Izumi ultra team

 

How did you discover ultra marathon trail running? 

When I moved to Ashland Oregon I jumped in at the Running store’s Wednesday night group run. They kept inviting me to longer and longer runs on the weekends which I thought they were trying to kill me. I didn’t realize i was running with Hal Koerner, Ian Torrence, Kyle Skaggs and Erik Skaggs, I thought they were just normal fun loven runners. I eventually realized they are Ultra legends and I really dug their vibe and the fun they had with running for a really long ways. The more I ran in the mountains the more I connected with myself and nature, I fell in love with the trails and plan on running on them for years to come.


What was your journey like from mid pack D3 high school cross-country runner to 100k National Champion? 

It was a long journey. After high school I didn’t run much. After a few years of being a bum, I decide I wanted to get back in shape and started running more. I eventually started coaching High School and Middle school cross-country and track at Amherst High school. I really enjoyed helping the kids enjoy running and have a good time while working hard. Helping them helped me find the joy and peace that running brings. After I moved to Oregon I was in Massage therapy school where running was an excellent way to learn and memorize the muscles in my body and how they function. While going through school I just started running every morning which would increase with mileage and intensity over the last couple of years. When I wake up in the morning all I want to do is go outside, connect with nature and run free. That has been my training model for the last couple years. It’s worked pretty well so far.


You made the move to Ashland Oregon which is known for its running scene and beautiful trails. How has that move benefitted your training and involvement in the sport? 

Moving to Ashland was the best decision ever. I have actually mountains to run with plenty of winding trails. From my front door, i am on a trail in 10 steps and actually could hit less than a mile of pavement from my front door to Mexico, via the PCT. The trail i have in Ashland make running so much more fun. I don’t have much desire to run around suburbs and skyscrapers in cities and such. I want to be away from the noise and ciaos of life. I run to be free from society and all the things this world tells you, you “need”. I really appreciate going for a peaceful run in the morning to start the day and ground my self to go and be a light in this world. I feel like running gives me this stillness inside that allows me to take that from the woods and put that happiness into the world as I interact with people throughout the day.
I love Wisconsin and love to visit, but running in the mountains has definitely changed the time I like to spend out running in them and I’m very happy with the move to the west coast.


You have finished near the top in a lot of recent major ultra’s but haven’t gotten a win until today. How were you able to get over that hump? Did you change your training at all? Did you have a different race strategy going into it? 

I normally try to go out ‘smart’ and let people blow up. I start catching people towards the end, but come up short on races because i started to conservatively. This race I decided to go all out from the beginning. I was hurting towards the end, but had enough in the tank to fend off the other runners. I guess I’m getting the hang of racing again. i still do it for the pure joy of running, but it is fun to up with the top people at races. The competition pushes me to places i could not do on my own. It’s fun to test your body and see what is possible.


You have really proven you belong in the top group of U.S ultra runners over the past couple of years and have started 2012 off with the big win. What are your goals moving forward in the season?

My goal is to inspire as many people as i can to get out in nature and explore. We are blessed to have the opportunity to go play in this beautiful creation. I want others to see the joy it can bring and try it more for themselves. Running can be a really healthy lifestyle for your mind and body.
For the 2012 season, I plan on running many big races. 2 I’m really looking forward too are the Ice Age trail back home in Wisconsin in May and Western States 100 in June. I really like the 100 mile distance and hope I can have some success in pushing my self in the 3 100′s I have planed for this year.  I don’t have a goal, but I do hope to keep improving and testing my self through out this season.
cheers,
Timothy

Olson cruising at mile 42 on his way to his first National Championship title. Olson runs for Pearl Izumi ultra running team.