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8 questions for an ultrarunner
Alex Armato lives in Austin, and is currently training for his 15th ultramarathon, the Rocky Raccoon in Huntsville. He works full-time at National Instruments, and is recovering from a broken foot. What is it like to run an Ultra? How do ultrarunners push themselves further despite injury and bad weather? Alex was kind enough to answer a few of my questions.
Alexandria: How did you get started with long-distance runs?
Alex: I was a cross-country runner in high school. After a long layoff from running I started to get involved in the Austin running and racing scene and just progressed my distances from there.
Why are you participating in the Rocky Raccoon?
I have run this race twice before, I am not looking to run this [race] fast, more of a motivational goal and to run with old friends I never get to see. After coming off an injury in July, I hope to run a good portion of this just to have fun and see old friends.
Is the Rocky Raccoon your first ultra?
No, I have run about 14 ultras to this point. My first was the Kettle Moraine in Central Wisconsin in 2001.
What has been your experience in previous ultras?
The sheer distances of these and dealing with varied terrains and unpredictable weather can always be challenging.
Where do you train and what is a typical schedule like?
I train on city streets and sometimes the Town Lake trail. I really have no strict regimen of training, I really have a laidback approach towards training and races now that I have gotten older. I do try to get my longer runs in on the weekends so I have at least a good base for the event I am planning to run at in the near future.
Has your training been affected by a sports injury?
Yes. I had fractured a fifth metatarsal in my foot back in July, which left me in a cast and crutches for a month and no running whatsoever for two and a half months. I felt like I was starting all over again when I resumed my running.
What other preparations have you made?
I try not to overtrain; my body does not handle the workload as it did even five years ago.
What plans do you have for after this race?
I plan on running my first road marathon in six years in May. My hometown in Illinois is having its first marathon in about two decades. I would like to be a part of that if the foot continues to heal well and all goes well.
What is most impressive to me is that running 50 miles with a broken foot is Alex’s definition of taking it easy. I will get to wish Alex and the other 400 or so entrants luck in the Rocky Raccoon when I head to Huntsville to be an ultra spectator Feb. 2.
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By Matthew Fleming
January 16, 2008 5:40 AM | Link to this
I’ll see you at Rocky, then; I’m running my first 50 miler this year.