Race Team Member Randy Whorton

Randy Whorton

Age: 49
Occupation: Environmental business owner/operator

My wife (Kris) and I grew up in and around Boulder Colorado. I spent much of my childhood trapsing around in the Rocky Mountains, however I despised running as a kid, but competed in just about every other sport. Running started the summer of my 18th year when my dad and I challenged each other in a local 100 Mile Club. We had all summer to run 100 miles and it took me most of the summer before I experienced even a shred of pleasure, but oh what pleasure it has brought since then. I ran my first marathon that next year and guess that I have run over 40,000 miles since then. My main passion is and has always been long distance trail running. Although I have completed in at least 52 trail ultramarathons, my favorite runs continue to be long runs in the wilderness with my wife and friends. It is a rare occasion to find me running on the roads, but usually once per year Kris and I will pick a city that we really like or have never been to and go run their marathon...42 and counting. I suppose that the most rewarding trail races that I have done have been the seven 100 mile events that Kris and I have run together. Running for up to 30 hours straight leads to such an amazing roller coaster of emotional and physical highs and lows and suffering at that level leads to some wonderful self discovery. I hold a bachelors degree in Electrical Engineering and a Masters degree in Business and have spent most of my career in high tech but am happy to say that I am now an environmentalist. I partially own and help run Earthscapes which specializes in water quality and verdant solutions in and around Chattanooga. I also enjoy climbing, golf, slackline, triathlons (5 Ironmans), mountaineering, cave exploring, scuba diving and if there is a better juggler in the area, I would like to meet him.

What I like most about running:
I have likely run enough miles to take me around the globe several times, and I still cannot clearly define what I like most in running.

"My greatest passion is running on a single track trail. It is only then that I truly feel connected to the world."

The rest of the time I am but a mere participant. There is another key factor that keeps me running; it’s a crazy concept called “being healthy.” I believe that if most people could experience what it feels like to be radically healthy for just one day, they would treat themselves with more respect. Healthy seems to come rather easy for trail runners.

Favorite Run or Race:
This is not a fair question. It’s like asking a parent which is the favorite child. Here is a short list of trails that I can’t get enough of: Pawnee pass to Buchanan pass loop west of Boulder, CO; the Mountain Mist course and race in Huntsville, AL; John Muir trail along the Hiawassee river near Cleveland, TN; the Bluff trail on Lookout Mountain, TN; and it’s hard to beat the Slick Rock trail outside of Moab, UT. My favorite single race event might be Massanutten 100 where my wife (Kris) and I experienced the physical and emotional rollercoaster trip of a lifetime.

Tips for other runners:
Spend as much time as you can running in the wilderness. Run as many different trails as you can and try to get as far away from civilization as possible. Go fast enough to maximize the miles, but slow enough to look around. Do this until you can comfortably run 20 miles, then start running in trail races, then ultras, and run lots of them. After a couple years do a 100 mile race and then your life will change and you will truly understand that anything is possible.

2009 Races and Accomplishments:
Mountain Mist 50K (11th finish, 11th overall)
Black Warrior 50K
Mississippi 50K (7th overall, 3rd Master)
Scenic City Trail Marathon
Sweetwater 50K (5th Master)
Stump Jump 50K (3rd Master)
Chattanooga Fat Ass 50K (Fatt Chatt)

Races or Other Significant Accomplishments:

53 ultras as follows:
     27 - 50K trail races (10 at Mountain Mist - 5 times under 5 hours)
     5 - 50 Mile trail races
     7 - 100 Mile trail races - two in 08, Vermont (22:32 34th out of 266) & Superior (30:12 9th out of 36)
     7 day 219 Mile stage trail race from Geneva to Basil Switzerland (Swiss Jura)
     7 day 184 Mile stage trail (mostly) race in the Czech Republic (Moravian Ultra Marathon)
43 marathons (27 different cities)
One day double dip of the Grand Canyon (rim to rim to rim)

Triathlons:
Semi-professional in 1983
24 Competitive races
5 Ironman's, including the World Championships

Race Calendar for 2010:
Black Warrior 50K
Mississippi 50 Mile
Oak Mountain 50K
Longstreets Charge (50 mile race against horses)
Rock/Creek Trail Series
In October, I hope to run my 100th race marathon distance or longer at the Denver Marathon with my 70 year old dad where it all started and with whom it all started with.