Episode 134 – Mike Wardian – USA Ultra-Runner

[audio:https://runrunlive.com/PodcastEpisodes/epi134.mp3|titles=Episode 134 – Mike Wardian USA Ultra-Runner]

Show intro by:

Kassy who is our vacation guest host.

Runholic.wordpress.com

Intro:

Hello and welcome to the second week of the RunRunLive vacation edition. This is Chris not your host again. Today we have some great new voices for you. Thank you Kassy for the intro and the cool peppy interview intro. And thank you to Elma who is a friendly voice with an intriguing outro.

I’ll be back in the saddle next week with a special Wilderness 101 race report show that I think you are going to really love. I had the time to wrap my head around it and write it up so I think it will hang together.

So I’ve re-designed my website, I’ve built and framed a 1,000 piece jigsaw puzzle (took me 16 hours), had some lobsters and steamers, spent some time with family, read a novel “The White Tiger” by Aravind Ardiga while lying in the hammock, I’ve run every day on beaches and in parks and I’m ready to get back to the real world. I miss the battle. Oh and the final item on my todo list was to get a nice sunburn which I accomplished today.

Audio clips in this episode:

Skits, commercials and parodies in this episode:

“Ask a Runner” Skit – Written by Chris, Performed by Collin…

Story time:

Listener Comments:

Featured Interview:

Mike Wardian

http://mikewardian.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Wardian

Michael Wardian (born April 12, 1974) is known primarily as an American marathoner andultra-marathoner. He won the 2008, 2009 and 2010 US 50 km championships.^[1] In 2008, he won the U.S. National 100 km championship.^[2] Wardian also is the 2007 JFK 50 Mile winner, and won the National Marathon in Washington D.C. three consecutive years (2006-2008), and in 2010.^[3]^[4]^[5]

Wardian is known for the vast number of marathons he participates in. During a 45 day span in 2006, Wardian won four out of five marathons he raced.^[6] In 2007, he ran 13 marathons (not including ultra-marathons), and seven marathons in a span of nine weeks (winning three).^[7]March 2008 saw Wardian win the National Marathon in Washington D.C. on a Saturday, and then finish third at a marathon in Knoxville, Tennessee the very next day.^[8] In 2008, Wardian ran a total of 53 races.^[9] In addition to the national and global races he participates in, Wardian can frequently be seen running in local races around the Washington D.C. area.^[10]

Wardian held the world record for fastest marathon while pushing a jogging stroller from May 2007 to November 2009.^[3]^[11] He set the record at the 2007 Frederick Marathon with a time of 2:42:21. The record was broken at a duel at the 2009 Route 66 marathon by Zac Freudenburg, whose 2:32:10 time beat Wardian’s 2:34:37 time.^[11]

Wardian also was a former record holder of the fastest Marathon on a treadmill.^[3] He qualified and participated in the 2004 and 2008 Men’s Olympic Marathon trials.^[6] Some of the notable ultra-marathons Wardian has completed include the Marathon des Sables, the Western States Endurance Run, the Himalayan 100 Mile Stage Race and the Vermont 100 Mile Endurance Run.^[9]^[12]^[13] The United States Track and Field Association named Wardian the 2008 and 2009 Ultra Runner of the year.^[9]^[14]

In November 2009, Wardian finished third in the IAU World 50K championships held on the island of Gibraltar.^[15] In 2010, Wardian finished third at the Marathon des Sables in 23 hours 1 minute 3 seconds, which was the best time ever by an American.^[16] On July 1 2010, Wardian set the record for fastest indoor 200-meter track marathon record, with a time of 2:27:21.^[17]

When asked in April 2009 why he competes in so many races, Wardian said:

A lot of people say, “Oh, you could be a 2:12 guy or a 2:14 guy if you just focused on one race a year, or two races a year and really built up.” And I think the counter argument is that you could get hurt and you wouldn’t have any races a year. There are so many opportunities out there and, I love to toe the line. I love to see what I can do and just push the limits and try and experiment with myself. I like that people can look at me, and say, “Wow, if that guy can do 13 marathons a year and do pretty well maybe I can do one.” I think a lot of people can relate to that. Like, that guy works a real job. He’s not a professional runner.^[18]

He is a graduate of Oakton High School and Michigan State University, where he played for the lacrosse team.^[10] Wardian did not run competitively until after college.^[19] He lives in Arlington, Virginia, is a vegeterian^[16], and works as an International Shipbroker. Wardian charted the cargo that was on the Maersk Alabama when it was hijacked in April 2009.^[18]

Quick Tip:

Well – I’ve got a vacation tip for you. Running on the beach. It’s a great work out. If you’ve been curious how to experience barefoot running – running on the beach may be your best bet. The soft sand is low impact and forces you up onto your forefoot.

I find the best place to run is the wet, firm sand just in the surf line where the water laps, but not in the water itself. You will occasionally come across a patch of soft sand or chased by the surf into a softer bit of beach and your feet sink in. You just have to work harder. Try not to fight it. Try to land on your forefoot, run tall and flick your feet up behind your, keep your back straight and run upright – don’t slouch.

Take it easy, you’re going to go slow. Don worry about the time or the pace just smile and enjoy.

Outro:

Hey so I’ll be back in the saddle next week with the Wilderness Race report. Music tonight is an opportunity for you to pick up the pace a little and leg out some tempo. Ready? 2 and half minutes. Push your Heart Rate into high zone 4. Ready. Let’s punk it out to made_in_china by figment. Go!