North Vancouver

Interview with Gary Robbins

I just want to start this interview off by congratulating you on not only winning the H.U.R.T 100 miler but also for setting the course record, set by Geoff Roes (ultra runner of the year 2009) last year. Way to go Gary!

Thanks Gilder!

The H.U.R.T 100 miler is one of the hardest 100 miler’s in North America. What made you decide to register for a race that is so appropriately named?

Honestly I only registered for this race because it was in Hawaii and I’d never been yet always dreamed of going!

H.U.R.T 100 consists of 5 x 20 mile loops. Did you do anything specific in your training to prepare for this?

Nothing specific to the looping aspect of the course. It’s a highly technical route with 25,000 feet of climbing and descent though, so I made sure to taylor my workouts around this knowledge.

Did you have a time goal for this event? Had you estimated all your splits ahead of time in preparation to accomplish that time goal?

I had only told a select group of people that I was shooting for the CR in Hawaii. I knew terrain favored my skill set, but no one has ever beaten a Geoff Roes CR so I didn’t want to sound crazy. I had his CR splits from 09 taped to my drop bags and I referenced them every time I grabbed a drop bag for the entire race. I always knew exactly where I was in comparison to the CR and made sure to continually stay just ahead of it.

What did you training consist of leading up to this event?

Lots and lots of running! Thankfully we had a very mild December. In my final 10 day build for Hawaii I managed to log 300km including a run to and from the CFA NYD 50k for a total of 70km on that specific day. I also made sure to include as much Baden Powell terrain as possible. I added as much technical running, climbing, and descending as my body could handle.

The race takes place in Hawaii. Were you worries about the heat at all?

Yes and no. It’s not known to get super hot down there in Jan, so I figured I should be fine. In the end it topped out at about 28 degrees and I felt like if it had gotten any hotter it may have shut me down. I was fortunate that the course and climate conditions were perfect this year!

This race is known for its rugged terrain as well as its nasty weather conditions. Can you describe what they were like this year?

The nasty conditions will always be there in the form of the highly technical climbs and descents. You basically do the equivalent of 10 Grouse Grinds in this race. On a normal year however the course can be wet and slick. In 09 they said it was the best the course had ever been, this year it was even dryer again. I shudder at the thought of what this race would run like in the heavy rains like they have seen during past editions!

Do you think the conditions played a factor in the outcome of the event?

I know that the course could not get any dryer than it was this year. If this year was 100% good conditions, than last year was 95% good conditions. Undoubtedly the faster times over the last two editions are reflective of the agreeable weather

I believe you lead the race from start to finish. Did having someone was on your tail have you running scared?

I didn’t lead till about half way through the second lap. Nathan Yanko out of San Fran was who I considered the pre-race favorite and he was within 30min of me for 90% of the race. This sounds like a lot but in a 100 mile / 20hr race that basically boils down to ‘running scared’

What were you thinking about during the race?

Everything and nothing all at once! I often focus on friends, family, and music when the going gets tough. I spent quite a bit of time in this one thinking about my GF Tamsin who is still recovering from a staph infection and could not join me for the trip. I’d like to see both of us racing it next year!

Did you have anyone there to crew you?

I had a friend join me for the trip, but she was not there to crew me. I saw her once during the race…then she went back to the beachJ I spent hours the day before the race coming up with a solid race plan and organizing all my drop bags. Because the race loops, and has three aid stations, you see your drop bags 15 times, which was perfect!

Was the race well organized?

ABSOLUTELY TOP NOTCH! I can’t say enough good about the people behind this one. The best part is that they keep it very low key and fun at all times. After my experience at Western States in June I’d say this race is its polar opposite in every definition of that word! This is not to make one race sound bad, it’s just that WS is laced in history and has a ton of stress surrouding it, whereas HURT is 10 years old and still very much a small personal race.

What did you do in the couple days leading up to the event and how did you celebrate your victory afterwards?

I made sure to stay out of the sun and get lots of sleep, though I did start each day with a swim in the ocean. I also managed to actually slept 7hr the night before the race!!

I celebrated afterwards with beaches, sun, a few dips in the ocean, and lots of beers and big disgusting nachos!

Who would you recommend this race for? And, will you be back?

I would say that anyone in our region who was willing to put in the time to train for a 100 miler should seriously look at this race. There are no shorter options and they’re trying to discourage people from intending to just do the 100k version, though they still rank you as the course is brutal and even with perfect conditions this year the finisher rate was still below 50%.

I’m giving serious consideration to doing it again in 2011…it’s in Hawaii after all!!

To conclude, what advice would you give to someone training for their first ultramarathon?

Training for their first ultra? Keep it fun. If you’re not enjoying what you’re doing it’s not really worth it. That and to figure out all fueling and gear issue well in advance of your event. Trying new stuff on race day usually ends up being the biggest mistake most people make!

Interview by: Nicola Gildersleeve

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