Featured Runner “Wyatt Hockmeyer” August 2017

August 3rd, 2017 Tags: amazing, badassery, Being Epic, Featured Runners, motivation, perseverance, ultrarunning, unstoppable, why

Posted in Announcements, Featured Runners, Funny, Inspirational, Motivational, Personal Philosophies, Preferences & Opinions, Tips, Training

Wyatt Hockmeyer is an ultrarunner from Owasso, Oklahoma. Although he devotes a significant amount of time to being healthy and running, this was not always the case. Wyatt once drank and smoked heavily and was a powerlifter before he became an ultrarunner. In his journey to become an ultrarunner, Wyatt lost over 100 lbs and changed his perspective on life. According to Wyatt, “The buckle motivated me to finish my first hundred, but the people kept me coming back.”

THE BASICS

Date of Birth: 1/16/81

Place of Birth: Enid, OK

Currently Residing: Owasso, OK

Marital Status: Married to the amazing Julia Hockmeyer

Job(s): Facility Administrator in a dialysis center/owner of management consulting firm/college and professional development instructor/race director

Children: Step-son and step-daughter (both have crewed the Honey Badger 100 on separate occasions)

Height: 6’1

Weight: 185

Shoe Size: 13

Best Physical Feature: My beard!

Worst Physical Feature: Progressively receding hairline

Religion: I consider myself more spiritual than religious, but I grew up Catholic.

Political Affiliation: Republican, but I evaluate ideas on their merit rather than party lines.

Educational Background: Doctorate of Management in Organizational Leadership, Graduate Certificate in Strategic Management, Master of Science in Accountancy, Master of Education in Adult Education, and Bachelor of Philosophy.

Personal Strength(s): Ability to tackle multiple priorities and persist through adversity.

Personal Weakness(es): Forgoing personal relationships to pursue personal goals.

Make Of Car You Drive: My car is a Cadillac XTS, but my wife drives it since it is nicer, and I drive a Ford Edge.

Make Of Car You Would Like To Drive: I having a convertible Mustang built with a Roush package that I will acquire in September of 2018. It is not the Ferrari that I would like to drive, but I am excited about it.

Pets: American Staffordshire Terrier named Duke and English Bulldog named Maggie

FAVORITES

Favorite Author: Plato

Favorite Book: Crime and Punishment

Favorite Non-running Magazine: I do not read magazines, but I like to read the MILO publications on strength training when I receive them. I also like to look through Black Belt Magazine if I spot one in a store to see if any of my friends are in that edition.

Favorite Movie: The Last Samurai.

Favorite TV Show: The Office.

Favorite Actor/Actress: I don’t have a favorite actor, but my favorite movies have Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt, Anthony Hopkins, or Robert Redford.

Favorite Music: All kinds. I play bluegrass on my dobro, but I enjoy all types of music.

Favorite Musical Performer: Robert Earl Keen.

Favorite Artist: Alfred Bierstadt.

Favorite Spectator Sport: I do not watch sports, but I occasionally enjoy attending a good baseball game.

Favorite Subject in School: Philosophy.

Favorite Game: I typically don’t play games, but I enjoy games like frisbee golf and old school Nintendo games such as Mario Bros./Duck Hunt.

Favorite Vacation Destination: Coronado Island, CA, although we are going to Hawaii this summer so that may change.

Favorite Time Of Day: Evening.

Favorite Item Of Clothing: Shoes.

Favorite Non-Running Leisure Activity: Does walking count!? In the evenings, I play the dobro guitar, study German, and teach online, and I enjoy them all.

Favorite Running Shoe: Hoka for ultras, Brooks for marathon and below, and New Balance for trails.

Favorite Food/Drink Before An Ultra: Pecans, Adkins shake, and Quest bar

Favorite Food/Drink During An Ultra: Pizza!!!

Favorite Food/Drink After An Ultra: Breakfast food (omelet, hash browns, biscuits and gravy, and waffles).

Favorite Crew/Pacer Person(s): My wife Julia Hockmeyer.

Favorite Place To Run: The beach.

Favorite Type Of Running Surface: Road.

Favorite Famous Quote: “The cowards never started and the weak died along the way. That leaves us, ladies and gentlemen. Us.” ― Phil Knight, Shoe Dog

ULTRA STUFF

Number of Years Running Ultras: 2.5

Number of Ultras Finished: 12

Best Ultra Performance(s): 150 miles in a 48-hour race. It rained during the entire event, and severe storms moved in for 10 hours of the race, which flooded the course and resulted in the course being changed to become more difficult. Although 150 miles in 48 hours is not notable in itself, I had to work both physically and mentally to make it happen.

Most Memorable Ultra: Spartathlon.

Typical Training Week(s) Before A Major Race: I alternate heavy and light weeks during my training. I ensure that I have a light week the week before a race. The week of a race, I typically do my lifting routine with warmup weights and limit my running pace to within a minute of my race pace. I complete a 30 minute walk on Wednesday and then take Thursday and Friday off so I am rested for Saturday.

Injuries: I fractured my back when I was young so I am careful not to reinjure my back. When I over train, I typically deal with shin splints or stress fractures so I prefer to train on the lighter side of the line, although I often overdo it and end up with pain in one or both legs.

Ultrarunning Idol: Dean Karnazes is my favorite famous runner, Yiannis Kouros is my favorite legend, and Ed Ettinghausen has provided me the most hands on support and advice as a runner.

Why Do You Run Ultras: I run ultras for the people.

Advice For Other Ultrarunners: Relax and have fun! Life is short, and there is always someone better and someone who can run farther. Ultras offer amazing views and provide you the opportunity to get to know fascinating people. If all you do is focus on yourself and trying to surpass inconsequential milestones, you will miss the beauty of the sport and it will become burdensome. Take time to take in the scenery and know the people on the road, track, or trail with you.

ACHIEVEMENTS / GOALS / MEMORIES

Personal Hero: My grandfather, papa Joe. He sat on a tractor all day every summer in the Oklahoma heat, and he did it without a radio for over 50 years. He did it to provide for his family, and if he could do that, I can definitely run for a day or two.

Personal Philosophy: Shoot for the moon, and if you miss you will be among the stars.

Short-Term Goal: Complete a continuous 200 mile run in 2017.

Long-Term Goal: I have two significant long-term goals: run across Oklahoma on Memorial Day weekend of 2018 and return to run in Spartathlon in 2018 or 2019.

Most Prized Possession: After being laid off, I was forced to sell my most prized possessions, including a gold Rolex, an Escalade, and a custom Dobro guitar. I learned that I can get by just fine without those things. Although I continue to make extravagant purchases, especially if it is something for my wife, I do not own anything that I consider prized.

Most Proud Achievement: Celebrating 9 years of marriage with my wife in September. My other accomplishments would not have been possible without her support. She gives me the space I need to dream and explore and the backing to push through the hard times.

Happiest Memory: Getting my first pair of speed skates.

Secret Ambition/Fantasy: Live on the beach or in the mountains.

Greatest Adventure: Life. I have tried a lot of things in my life. Some of them worked, and others did not. In some instances, I stopped doing the things that worked, and in other situations, I wanted the things that didn’t work so badly that I pushed through and made them work. I hope to continue dreaming and exploring and creating new adventure. I hope to one day look back on my entire life as one great adventure.

DISLIKES / FEARS

Least Liked Subject: Chemistry, but I got an A anyway.

Least Liked Household Chore: I dislike all household chores equally.

Pet Peeve(s): People who rush to judgement or lie about their accomplishments. I also hate it when someone moves my seat in my car!

Greatest Fear: Fear. Ironically, my greatest fear is fear itself. I fear that fear of the unknown will cause me to not try something new or give up on something important too soon.

SPARE TIME

Book Currently Reading: I do not read books for entertainment. If I need to learn something, I seek out a book or an article. My version of reading for pleasure is listening to a book on tape during an ultra, which I do in most races.

Hobbies: Outside of running, I enjoy lifting weights, practicing the dobro guitar, and studying German. One of my favorite hobbies was karate, and I hope to one day return to the dojo.

Collections: My wife and I collect Starbucks coffee mugs from cities we visit.

What’s next: I am running in a 12-hour treadmill race to raise money for United Way on August 6, I am running 200 miles at the Lhotse 200 over Labor Day weekend, and I am running 100 miles at the Kansas Fall Ultra Extravaganza.