An athlete of average ability, I began my running career in high school in the late-1960's running cross-country in the Fall and the mile and two mile on the track in the Spring. During those high school years, I never ran much faster than 5 minutes in the mile and 10 minutes in the two mile - I typically finished off the back, but I loved the sport. In the summer before my senior year, at the age of 16, I ran my first official marathon - the 1969 Paavo Nurmi Marathon in Hurley, Wisconsin - I've long forgotten the exact time, but believe it was 3:21. In 1970, I entered Kent State University and ran on the cross-country and track teams. In 1972, I transferred to the University of Southwestern Louisiana and ran on its cross-country and track teams. During those college years, I improved a little, but never came close to excelling by anyone's standards - I was able to run close to 15 minutes flat for 3 miles, but never broke into the 14s; in the six mile, my best was just under 33 minutes on the track. As always, I loved the running and saw myself as a runner however far back my placing in races. During those college years, I also ran marathons, and to continue the above theme, ran close to, but never broke 3 hours - but, as always, loved running those miles.

After graduation from college in 1975, I primarily raced bicycles until the mid-1980's when, after an arm-busting accident in a criterium in Grand Junction, Colorado, I decided to take up a new sport - ultramarathon running. I jumped in with two feet and ran my first trail 50 miler in 1986 at a race starting near Crater Lake, Oregon - I finished terribly sore, practically in last place, but filled with pride, taking 12 hours to complete the distance. A month later, I attempted my first Leadville Trail 100. 'Attempted' is the operative word for Leadville '86 ... I got my ass kicked and got sent home with a DNF at 70 miles. It would take a couple more tries to earn that coveted Leadville 100 Finisher's Buckle. In 1987, I ran my first 100 miler - I went 102 miles on a 440 yard cinder track at Reb's Ultra Run in the shadow of Pike's Peak at Woodland Park, Colorado. In 1988, I finished the Leadville Trail 100. In July 1994, I finished my first of 13 Badwater 135 Mile Ultramarathons. In August 1994, I returned to Badwater to complete the first Triple Crossing of the Badwater to Mt. Whitney Summit Course with all but the final 50 miles done solo self-supported.

Sinc