Outrun Todd for a Month in 2020
One challenger each month to compete with me in a head-to-head competition to see who can run more miles. If they run more miles than me, we’ll make a big deal about it AND I’ll treat them to tacos and beer. But if I run more miles than them, we’ll make an even bigger deal about it AND they’ll treat me to tacos and beer.
Eleven of the twelve challengers are losers from my 2019 challenge where I selected competitors after each month, so that I could ensure I always picked runners with less miles than me. Hey, I was working on being more petty, insecure, and negative. These eleven all expressed eagerness for a "fair" rematch. The twelfth slot was accepted by another loser I often run with.
January Challenger
A worthy challenger to start the year. In 2019, Morgan ran 428 runs for a total of 3,033 miles. He conquered Run Lovit 100 in miserable weather conditions and flew through Javelina Jundred in 21 hours! Last March, he was recovering from Lovit, and I was busy winning Pi Day River Rotation Answer to Everything. That gave me the edge to run three more miles than him. When I invited Morgan to kick off the 2020 challenge, he responded, “I’m game!”
MORGAN WINS with an impressive 325 miles!
February Challenger
King of BAR! Wizard at Shoustice! Syllamo Man! Bob and I ran Vermont 100 together, which is why I felt so comfortable making him my first victim last year. Bob is a strong finisher, and he’s planning to run Run Lovit 100 at the end of February, so I will have to build a significant lead early in the month, so he doesn’t finish me in the final stretch.
BOB WINS with a beastly 254 miles!
March Challenger
Golden Hawk finisher with 144.44 miles! Granted that’s only 65% of the Golden Hawk miles available, but he completed the Golden Hawk, and I did not. Peter crushed his second 100 miler by finishing 9th overall at the Heartland 100 with a time of 23:08. He was not a victim to my 2019 pettiness challenge and is the rookie challenger this year. He and I both plan to finish Potawatomi 200 at the beginning of April, so watch closely as we compete in a serious game of taper chicken.
April Challenger
Requested April as his challenge month because he’s planning on ramping up his training for Kettle Moraine 100 in June. Barrett had two 200+ mile months leading up to his strong finish at Ozark Trail 100, so I know he’ll push me to recover quickly from Potawatomi and keep running. Barrett ran 1,420 miles for all of 2019.
May Challenger
Hot off his victory of the most miles in the Holiday Streakers - an impressive 278 miles between Thanksgiving and New Years. Jeremiah has two 100 milers of experience (Hawk Hundred and Leadville) and is a motivated competitor. I scheduled him to May to ensure I had a good month to make him earn his tacos or maybe even to make him eat his words.
June Challenger
Set all kinds of records and milestones in 2019. He won Brew to Brew solo in an amazing 5:29, ran the Boston Marathon in 2:50, and finished his first 100 miler in 15:28 at Heartland 100. Additionally, he squeezed in 12 beer miles, and chugged a 40oz of malt liquor and sprinted 40 yards in 1 minute and 1 sec. Dude is fast, and with 2,256 miles for 2019, he’s proven he also goes the distance. Let’s see if I can go at least 40 yards farther than him in June.
July Challenger
Golden Hawk finisher with 125.84 miles! Steve is the only challenger who has more trips around the sun than me. That gives him more experience and wisdom. Steve’s signed up for the Hawk Hundred in September, and my job is to run him hard in July so that he’s ready to conquer the Hawk. Steve is one tough and persistent trail runner. It will be my honor to crush him.
August Challenger
Has tremendous fortitude and grit! Long after I DNFed Bandera 100k and was sleeping clean and warm, she kept relentlessly moving forward and crossed the finish line in 21:51. She stuck with it at Pistol Ultra Run 100k, and joined the 100 Mile Club in October at Pumpkin Holler Hunnerd. She’s going back to Pistol for 100 miles this year. She joined my victim list last year in August after she trash talked me in July. Let’s see how much trash talking she does this year.
September Challenger
Funny storyteller and a fantastic singer, JD is a delight to run with on the trails, as long as you aren’t counting on him to know where you are going. He runs like a gazelle - light, fast and nimble. Last year, he took on Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc and was attacked by heat and stomach issues. I was recovering from my injury at the Hawk, and thankfully he was running less in his recovery than I was in mine. Hopefully, this year’s competition will catch us both at our best.
October Challenger
Strong, confident and Leadville bound! I teased Ted all of 2019 that he was my trump card meaning I could call him out in any given month. I managed to make it until October before I had to play it. I expect him to be a much more formidable challenger in 2020. I saw how he rocked Never Summer in 2018, and now with Leadville in his eyes, he’ll be prepared to outrun me in October. Or maybe just treat me to tacos and beer.
November Challenger
Unicorn! I first met Leia running the Hawk in 2016. It was my second attempt at a 50 miler and her first 100 miler. I couldn’t imagine going on beyond 2 laps, yet she crushed all 4 loops and finished 8th overall. Then crushed Arkansas Traveller, Jackpot 48, and Heartland. She has a slight advantage in this competition in that she’s my coach. I have a slight advantage in that I love humbling bad asses.
December Challenger
Over 2,000 miles per year since 2017. Scott is consistent and getting stronger every day. I chased him through most of 2019, and finally bested him in December by half a mile. I also ran a tenth of mile farther than Scott in the Holiday Streakers, but don’t remind him of that, it only motivates him to run more. Our friendly mile-for-mile rivalry is what inspired the shift to selecting challengers for each month in advance. To beat Scott, I’ll have to enter December healthy, strong and motivated.
RULES
- All mileage must be tracked on Strava. “If it’s not on Strava, it doesn’t count.”
- The first run of the month must start after 12:01 am on the first day of the month.
- The last run of the month must be completed and uploaded before 11:59 pm on the last day of the month.
- All runs must be uploaded within a reasonable amount of time. Ideally within 3 hours of completion.
- Only runs count. No hikes, walks, bike rides.