Interview with Dick Canterbury 1) Fresh off of another 100 mile finish at Woodstock. How many 100 mile finishes does this make for you in total? Finishing the Hallucination 100, in September, was my 28th 100 miler. 2) As usual, you’ve had a full slate of ultras this year. Evaluate how it’s gone so far and what do you have left on your 2014 schedule? I signed up for the Midwest Grand Slam and wanted to try and finish six 100 milers this year since I turned 66. My confidence level after doing Rocky Raccoon and the IT100 was high and, barring an injury, I thought the goal I had set for myself was attainable. Kettle Moraine 100, in June, was a DNF. After running 100K and with plenty of time remaining, I just did not want to go back out and finish. At the Mohican 100, two weeks later, it was even worse. After about 50 miles, I was ready to call it a day. Physically, I was prepared for another go at the Grand Slam, but mentally I was not. Some may think that I might be disappointed or discouraged about not finishing but I’m not. Last year was mentally and physically exhausting. During the months of October and November, its time for the fall marathons to start for me: three marathons in a row in October, and then on to another favorite, the Veteran’s Marathon, in November. In December, Norm Williams and I are headed down to Tennessee for the Lookout Mountain 50 Miler. If all goes well, Hope for the best, plan for the worst, I will have completed a total of 18 marathons or ultra-events this year. 3) You’ve seen a lot of things in your time out on the trails. Name something that’s better now and something that’s worse now than when you started running ultras. The number of years that I have been running ultras cannot begin to compare with so many others. Some of the changes I have witnessed since I first began running ultras are in the areas of aid stations and course markings. Aid stations are much better stocked with a wider variety of liquids and nutrition, catering to everyone as much as possible. Some courses are now better marked, mile markers are more common and there are more spectators there to show their support. 4) Talk a little about your local group of runners. Do you train with any of them? Has the interest level in ultra running grown in the Region over the past 5-10 years? This summer I ran with Norm Stormin Norman Williams, as usual, and some others that are trying to qualify for Boston. In NWI, it seems to me that after someone has completed several marathons they want to give the ultras a try. Misery loves company but I really like to see runners leave their comfort zone and try something different. 5) What’s left on your to-do list when it comes to ultras? Is there a race out there that you’ve never done that you would like to try? I have never been one to be afraid of failure and I also know my limitations. My bucket list for ultras is pretty well empty, except for the Barkley 100. Needless to say, the hope of finishing even one loop is not very probable. The Barkley Marathon in September might be a better option. 6) You seem like you always have your nutrition and hydration dialed in. What’s your secret? I’ve been fortunate to never have problems with nutrition or hydration during an ultra. I usually just stick with whatever the aid stations provide. Some ultras I have consumed mostly Gatorade, while other ultras I have consumed mainly coke or other soft drinks. Oftentimes, after I have run an ultra, I weigh more than I did before it started. I use a lot of electrolyte capsules, usually taking two every hour. 7) Do you prefer training in the dunes (or anywhere else) in really warm weather or really cold weather? What’s your favorite temperature to run in? During the months of July and August the deer flies and mosquitoes can be quite unbearable around here. Even with the cold winter or hot summer days, the dunes are still the best place to train around here. Early spring and fall are my favorite times of the year. Temperatures in the mid-fifties and sixties are the most enjoyable for me. 8) You’re one of 17 runners that have an opportunity to be the first three-time finishers of the Indiana Trail 100. Besides that, what brings you back? The Indiana Trail 100 is becoming my favorite. Being a three time finisher would be nice and I hope to be able to continue to run it for many years. I appreciate the tremendous amount of work and dedication that the Race Directors have put into the IT 100 to make it so successful. 9) I know you like to have your age as your bib number. Do you have any other rituals or superstitions during an ultra? When I entered the Grand Slam last year, I thought it might be nice to wear the #65 in all of the events. Bryce Carlson posted on Facebook what his lucky number was last year after the slam. After reading his post, I had to check and find out mine as well. I had placed 26,71,49,62 and 93. The sum of my placements in the five events was 301. After dividing the sum by 5 and adding 5 for the number of events in the slam, guess what I got? Last year was a great year to be 65. Now, the only reason I like to have my age as my bib number in the IT100 is because I hope it might be an encouragement for others to try an ultra or to not give up. 10) I hope you know how respected you are in the ultra community. I also know a lot of people come to you for advice. For someone attempting their first 50 or 100 miler, what advice would you give them? I have no advice to give that would be much different than the advice any others might give. I would say to walk the hills, worry about nutrition and hydration more than their time, but try to not spend too much time in an aid station. Extra seconds or minutes spent too long in an aid station can add up quickly.
Posted on: Mon, 27 Oct 2014 11:14:14 +0000
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