Featured Runner “Zach Adams” February 2017

February 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, Random, Tips

Zach Adams pretends to be a white-collar corporate zombie Monday thru Friday in order to afford race entries, but is much happier writing columns for Ultrarunning Magazine, or blogging at MidPackZach.com, and proudly cut his “ultrarunning-writing-chops” back in 2013, blogging and writing for our newsletter, right here at EpicUltras.com. Writing and playing Dungeons and Dragons are his hobbies, but running ultras is his passion. Zach loves sarcasm, dislikes whining, and occasionally likes to write what lots of people are only thinking about, but don’t dare say in public. His wife, Candi, is his favorite running partner and together enjoy a fast-paced life with their five kids, two pugs, and one of those cat-things.

THE BASICS

Date of Birth: June 10, 1977 – Big FOUR-ZERO is just around the corner!

Place of Birth: Columbus, Kansas

Currently Residing:  Girard, Kansas

Marital Status: Married to the best woman in the world, Candi.

Job(s): Telecommunications Marketing Manager and Freelance Writer (about endurance running of course)

Children:  Max-18, Molly-15, Durbie-14, Mitch-14, Ranie-11

Height: 180.975 centimeters

Weight: 79-88 kilograms approx. (Depends on the season.  I get fat in the winter.)

Shoe Size: 12.5

Best Physical Feature:  I have some luscious bushy eyebrows.

Worst Physical Feature: My bottom row of teeth are terribly crooked.

Religion: Making people do crazy shit since nearly the beginning of time.

Political Affiliation: Ha.. I hide every political post I see on Facebook. So naw.  I feel you are way better off to society practicing activism in your own community.  Join a community board, serve a meal, mentor a kid.

Educational Background: I gots me a bachelors degree Information Systems and a Masters of Biz Administration as a first generation college grad in my family – pretty proud of that.  And I would hope it has inspired my kids to do the same.  So far I am 1 for 1 as Max is a Jayhawk. ROCK CHALK!

Personal Strength(s):  (In life)I can get along with almost anyone.  (In ultras) I can eat absolutely anything and everything and not get sick.  I am the Mr. Fusion of the ultra world.

Personal Weakness(es): I have a tendency to interrupt people – but I am working on it.

Make Of Car You Drive: Ford Truck (Sans the Stars and Bars plate)

Make Of Car You Would Like To Drive:  Lamborghini Diablo or a big ass rockstar tour bus.

Pets: Ermah and Oskar – coolest set of Pugs you will ever meet.  Oh, and cat.

FAVORITES

Favorite Author: Brandon Sanderson

Favorite Book: Ususally the last one I read… unless it sucked.

Favorite Non-running Magazine: The Rotarian

Favorite Movie: Geez… pretty much all the martial arts and shoot em up 80’s action movies.  Love me some Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.

Favorite TV Show: Loved Breaking Bad.  Currently enjoying the shit out of “The 100”

Favorite Actor/Actress: Eh… the story is more important to me

Favorite Music:  I am a 100% classic rock Joe Dirt kind of guy.

Favorite Musical Performer:  Depends on the day.

Favorite Artist: I like the drawings my kids made in school.

Favorite Spectator Sport: NFL – Go Chiefs!

Favorite Subject in School: I really like drama and forensics.

Favorite Game: Grand Theft Auto V

Favorite Vacation Destination: Gulf Shores Alabama / Cozumel

Favorite Time Of Day: I am definitely a morning person.

Favorite Item Of Clothing: I got a Pittsburg State University split-faced gorilla hat in 1999 when I started college and it is probably the only piece of clothing I have any attachment to.

Favorite Non-Running Leisure Activity: Reading, fishing, & kayaking.

Favorite Running Shoe: I love my $34.99 Saucony Cohesions… my feet are about as picky as my stomach.

Favorite Food/Drink Before An Ultra:  Whatever is available in large quantities.

Favorite Food/Drink During An Ultra: I like clear water throughout and a little pop later – coke or ginger ale.  Food – Once at Prairie Spirit there were bacon cheese quesadillas and they were so good I continued eating one inside the porta-potty.

Favorite Food/Drink After An Ultra:  Beer and Burger King

Favorite Crew/Pacer Person(s): My wife, Ryan Schwatken, Dave Box, Dave Meeth, Eric Steele and Shay Caffey —  That’s my Van Clan!

Favorite Place To Run:  Colorado high country

Favorite Type Of Running Surface: Smooth dirt/small rock single track covered in pine needles.

Favorite Famous Quote:  “Do or do not.  There is no try.”  – Master Yoda    

ULTRA STUFF

Number of Years Running Ultras: First ultra was July 2010 – Midnight Madness 50 Miler – so almost 7.

Number of Ultras Finished: 30-40ish?

Best Ultra Performance(s): 2^nd Place at Pumpkin Holler 100.  EVERYTHING went right.

Typical Training Week(s) Before A Major Race: I usually go for some runs.  It seems like in peak race season I am simultaneously recovering from one race while tapering for the next one.

Injuries: None unless you are a total wuss and count lost toenails and blisters.

Ultrarunning Idol:  Paul Schoenlaub is amazing.  Ran his first ultra at around age 40 and has done almost every significant ultra in the country (and some across the world), great finish times, and the most modest and friendly ultrarunner I have ever met.  He sets the standard in my book.

Why Do You Run Ultras:  I am not really sure.  There are plenty of times, usually during really shitty low points of races, that I ask myself that exact question.

Advice For Other Ultrarunners: Don’t ever make the decision to quit during the depths of a low spot.  Eat, drink, rest…. If you have the time (not too late behind cutoffs) take it, you will almost always feel better after some food, drink and a short rest – but once you quit – you can not undo that.

ACHIEVEMENTS / GOALS / MEMORIES

Personal Hero:  I admire many people for many different reasons.   

Personal Philosophy:  Do shit that scares the hell out of you.  The path of least resistance is generally not the most fulfilling.

Short-Term Goal: Finish remodeling my farmhouse and get my family moved in.

Long-Term Goal: Retire from my 9-5 job, buy a badass RV and become a full-time travelling ultrarunning freelance writer and travel the country with my wife Candi.

Most Prized Possession: I don’t really get emotionally attached to items, but I do value the struggle that my Leadville 100 belt buckle represents.

Most Proud Achievement:  Watching my kids grow into fine young adults.

Happiest Memory: Getting married on the beach at sunset with our kids, family, and closest friends sharing our moment.

Secret Ambition/Fantasy: I would love to spend a year or two living in a shack on a mountain with only the barest essentials – nearly completely disconnected from the world.

Greatest Adventure:  As a young private in the Army, got lost with another enlisted soldier a Humvee in the desert of Kuwait for about 10 hours before almost crossing the Iraqi border (this was 1996) before stumbling on a small convey we followed back to the small base nearby.  We were eventually reunited with our unit and earned a week of shit-burning detail for our lack of land navigation skills.  Honestly, it was pretty damn unnerving at the time.

DISLIKES / FEARS

Least Liked Subject: Accounting classes made me contemplate jabbing my brain with a pen.

Least Liked Household Chore: Laundry.  More specifically sorting and putting it away.

Pet Peeve(s): Complainers, whiner, wimps and people who blame everyone and everything else for everything negative that happens to them.

Greatest Fear:  Losing those I love.

SPARE TIME

Book Currently Reading: Just finished, “Out There: A Story of Ultra Recovery” by David Clark.  A life book with running involved.  Highly recommend.

Hobbies:  Playing Dungeons and Dragons with a group of nerdy grown ups who like to act like they are still in middle school.

Collections:  Memories and relationships generated through being a part of the culture of ultrarunning.

What’s next: I let tomorrow make that decision.

Zach and crew triumphantly celebrating his first LT100 finish!