Meet our Athletes
A FourteenerWorld Interview with Bill Geist                                                   April 2007
Introduction by Jason Halladay

William Henry Geist, known to most of us as simply, Bill Geist, not only holds a Ph.D in Nuclear Physics he posses an unsanctioned Ph.D in mad strength!  This is inspirational to me and, undoubtedly, many others.  Before I spent any appreciable time with Bill I had heard about him from mutual friends.  I thought, "The guy's a brainiac. He can't be that athletically-inclined."  But in the seven years that I've been climbing, running, mountaineering and drinking beer with Bill I've learned just how far-off I was with my initial thoughts about him. 
Bill has inspired me to climb higher and harder, run faster and further and to believe that people can be great athletes while holding down full-time employment. Without his influence I'm not sure I would have ever run a marathon and further continued to run ultramarathons. 
Bill posses not only a certain physical prowess but his mental strength is amazing as well.  During times of epic moments, endurance events or just plain lousy conditions, he keeps himself extremely well-composed and is able to convey this sense of confidence to others--a true mountaineer's composure!
Through this interview I'm sure we'll get some insight into how Bill is able to do everything he does with the minimal training he puts in. We'll hear his thoughts on how he got into the activities he partakes in. But as these things go, I'm sure he'll be a bit modest about it all.  That's just his nature and I appreciate it.
Should you ever have an opportunity to run, climb or just hang out with Bill, I'd highly recommend it.  He's one fantastic hombre!
- Jason Halladay

How did you get into endurance sports and when did you first realize that you had an edge?
I am not really sure how I got into endurance sports or more specifically, ultrarunning.  My long distance running started in October of 2004 when I ran my first marathon.  After that I heard about an event called the Hardrock 100 (http://www.run100s.com/HR/), where runners go though the San Juan Mountains for 100 miles.  I have always enjoyed long hikes in the mountains, and this event seemed like the best of two worlds.  Not only could I enjoy a long hike (or run) but they would have aid stations, so I would not have to carry supplies with me.  So in August of 2005 I ran in the Leadville 100 to see if I could do a 100 mile race and also so I could qualify to enter the Hardrock 100.  Looking back I realize that I have been doing endurance sports on my own for many years by means of long hikes.  I guess that my passion for being in the mountains fits very will with trail ultrarunning events. 

As far as having “an edge”, I am not sure that I do have one.  When I first moved out to the “high elevation” West from the “sea level” East coast, I could not walk up a flight of stairs without getting winded.  Over time I began hiking and running while gradually increasing my distance.  Now, I have built up my endurance to be able to go long distances and realize the potential that I have.  I think that there are many people in 14er World who have the capability to do incredible things but have not yet realized their potential.

What percentage of your fitness do you think is training and what percentage do you think is hereditary?

This is a hard question.  Training is extremely important no matter what your natural talent is.  I think that my hereditary portion of my success is probably slightly above average but by no means am I in the top fraction of the population.

Tell us about your training schedule. How many miles per week do you run? 

On average I run between 30 and 40 miles a week.  During a typical week I will go on a 6 to 10 mile run four to five times during the week.  Every couple of weeks I try to go out on a longer run of between 15 to 25 miles and so during those weeks my mileage will be higher.  I also try to get in some sort of speed or hill work out at least once a week.  Overall though, my training schedule is not very defined.  My daily schedule is not dominated by my training runs but rather I fit runs into my schedule. 

How important are rest days to your training schedule and how would you define a Bill Geist rest day?
I think that rest days are very important to maintaining health and a positive attitude.  I do not schedule rest days because I tend to have some scheduling conflict and am not able to run every day during a week.  My rest days come when I am not extremely motivated to go out running combined with a scheduling conflict or bad weather.  On these days I usually just do nothing.  There are also rest days where I am doing some other type of outdoor activity and don’t have time to go for a run.  This could be rock climbing for the day or hiking some peaks in Colorado.   

Do you use a HRM and what do you get out of it/how does it benefit you?
I have a GPS watch with a built in HRM.  I use this watch on all my runs, but don’t always use the HRM.  When I am wearing the HRM, I usually don’t pay attention to it during the run and don’t adjust my running speed based on it.  After the run is finished and I download the data, I do look at the HRM history but more out of curiosity than a training tool.  This is something that I should learn to use better as I am sure that it can help with my training.

How do you develop your training program?  Is it race/event specific or do you just 'tweak' your normal routine to fit the needs/requirements of the race/event?"
I guess that I don’t really have any formal training program.  I usually just run to how I am feeling.  I do try to push myself when I got running, but some days, I just don’t feel like I have a hard run in me.  On those days I will just go out for an easy run.  There is a group of ultrarunners in Los Alamos who go out running over lunch during the week.  One day during the week we do hill repeats where we run about ¼ mile up a hill with about 250 feet of elevation gain.  We do 8 laps on the hill.  Since doing these hill repeats, I have found it to be a little easier climbing a hill during my normal training runs. 

Do you cross train?
Last year a purchased a road bike and got out riding once or twice a week.  Since the weather is now getting nice, I am planning to start riding again.  That is the only cross training that I do. 

Does your training include core strength exercises? Stretching/Yoga? Altitude training? Intervals? Speed work? If not, what specific training exercises do you engage in during your training?
I do have a set of free weights, but am really bad about maintaining a regular schedule for using them.  I have done speed training which consists of running ¼ or ½ mile distances followed by a short recovery period.  I usually try to do between 4 to 8 repetitions for this type of speed training.  The other type of interval workout that I do is hill repeats which I discussed in #6 above. 

How do you feel about tapering? What's your taper schedule for an ultra like?
I hate tapering because it makes me feel lazy to not run for several days in a row.  About two weeks before an ultra I will not do any really long runs, greater than 10 miles. About a week before the race, I will cut back on my miles and just run at an easy pace.  And then within a 3 to 4 day before the event I will not run at all.  Perhaps just go on a short hike to keep my legs loose. 

What keeps you motivated? Do you ever face periods of burnout and how do you deal with them?
I do face times where I am just not motivated to get out running.  I think that this is natural and everyone encounters these periods.  I have found that there are several things that can keep me motivated.  One is to have other people who you can train with.  I often feel guilted into exercising if everyone else is out training.  Since the beginning of this year a group of us have been logging our running miles on a shared google document.  Currently I am leading the way with the most miles run.  This sort of friendly competition is good motivation to keep running.  Unfortunately, Jason is close behind me in total mileage and has been slowly closing in on me.  If anyone knows how to slow this animal down, please let me knowJ.  Another way that I stay motivated is to mix up my training routes.  Typically I run on the same couple of routes regularly.  I find that if I choose a new route that it adds some excitement to the workout.  Buying new gear is another excellent way to stay motivated.  Who would not want to take it for a test run? 

Obviously you try hard to be the best that you can be. Do you think you could be as dedicated if you were just “average”?
First off, I don’t think that I am too far off from the “average” person.  I do think that I could be just a dedicated if I were “average” or even “less than average”.  I see all levels of people competing in ultra races.  Most people are doing these event for themselves and not because they are trying to win.   Personally I enjoy the ultra events because I can be outside enjoying nature, they are a great way to stay in physical shape, and I enjoy pushing myself.

Do you generally consider yourself a competitive person?
I am competitive with myself.  I do enjoy a friendly competition and will be a little competitive if someone is ahead or passing me who I think I can beat.  I guess that I have the Jeff Valliere syndrome.  Where if there is a runner in front of you, you want to try to catch up and pass them and you don’t really want a runner to pass you from behind.

What's been your favorite race/event and why? What do you enjoy most about races?
As I have only done a limited number of races I don’t have a large selection to choose from.  I have enjoyed all the races that I have done to date, but I do prefer a trail race over a road race and a single loop course over an out-and-back or multi-loop course. That being said my favorite event to date would be pacing Jason in approximately 60 miles of the Hardrock 100.  Every mile of this course is on new terrain and lots of the course is above tree line giving you great views.  The Leadville 100 is an out-and-back with a road segment and not very much above tree line.  The HURT 100 in Hawaii is a 5 loop course.  Although the scenery was unique, you did repeat the course 5 times and there were way too many slippery roots. 

How do you deal with pre-race jitters?
In high school I ran track and cross country and always had pre-race jitters, but I don’t seem to get them with the ultramarathons.  I guess that the races are just too long to get worked up over.  I think that it also may be that I go into these races with a positive attitude that I can and will finish the race. 

How would you compare the excitement of mountaineering with the excitement of other sports/activities?
For the most part, I think that the excitement of mountaineering and ultrarunning is different although they do have some similarities.  In mountaineering your goal is usually to climb something.  The excitement in mountaineering comes from safely reaching your goal while minimizing the risks of accidents with serious consequences.  This could come from successfully crossing a steep snow field or climbing a technical rock pitch.  The excitement in ultrarunning comes from your progress to the finish line.  Approaching an aid station with your crew cheering you on, getting to the top of a ridge or peak along the course, or knowing that you have already completed many miles in a race are all sources of excitement.  In most ultra races the objective hazards do not compare to those of mountaineering.  Both activities share the excitement of observing nature and being in the outdoors. 

As I photographer I have found that although mountaineering and photography are extremely complimentary, I still find myself making compromises to photography because I’m more into peak-bagging sometimes. Do you ever find similar conflicts and compromises between trail-running and peak bagging?
I don’t think so.  If I am running in a race I am focused on staying on course even if I want to climb the nearby peak.   Most of my training runs don’t go up or around peaks but on occasion I will do a training run that involves climbing a peak.  If anything I have conflicts between photography and running.  On several occasions I have brought a camera with me on a run and taken only a few pictures because I did not want to stop running and deal with taking the pictures.  As usual, I regret this after the run.

What’s your position on performance enhancers, steroids, doping? How much influence do you think these substances have in the amateur world?
I am not in favor of people using banned substances to gain an edge on other people.  Although, I think that I have a naïve outlook on these substances.  I feel that since most amateurs are completing against themselves there is no reason to enhance their performance.  I have never considered using one of these substances.  But then again, there are people buying all sorts of energy drinks, gels, energy vitamins and so on, so why wouldn’t some people use banned substances to enhance their performance even more?

Since you are a trail runner and speed runner, have you ever thought about going for the 14er speed record?
No.  I don’t really have the desire to spend my time trying to climb all the 14ers the fastest and I don’t think I could beat the record.  I am having a hard time just trying the finish the 14ers at my pace.  I have had two 14ers left for over 2 years now!

Describe what "Runners High" is like and give a couple examples of when you've had it.
A runners high is when you are just feeling good and the run is going effortlessly even though you may have run many miles at moderate or fast pace.  I have often started out on a run feeling tired and slow only to finish running strong and with the feeling that I could continue to run for hours.   Although not a runner high, I often feel good and more mentally alert after a hard workout where I may be a little physically tired.

Do you think trail running is an addiction?
I think that exercise is addictive.  Through running I feel like I can get a really good workout in a short period of time.  If I don’t do any exercise for several days in a row, I feel like a “slug”.  For me I think that the way regular exercise makes me feel on a daily basis is addictive.

Generally speaking how would you describe your diet?
My diet could be a lot better.  I always tell my self that I am going to try to eat healthier with more fruits and salads, but it is so easy to eat the food that tastes really good.  Also, being single, I don’t always want to take the time to make a really healthy meal, it is sometime just easier to eat the less healthy but easy and quick to prepare meal. 

Do you have to watch what eat, either in terms of quantity or types of foods you eat? Or are you able to eat as much as you want of anything you want?
I guess that I don’t really need to watch too carefully what I eat, but I do try not to eat everything that I want to. 

How important is your body weight to your performance?
I think that body weight is very important.  When running, you have to haul all your weight around where ever you go, and if you have a lot of extra weight, it will make it that much harder.  Over the past year, I have lost several pounds and it does make a difference. 

What supplements to do take and how often?  What vitamins, etc., Daily? Do you use protein supplements at all? If so what type?  Soy, Whey, other?
The only supplement that I take is some vitamins, but I don’t take those daily because I often forget to take them. 

What do you eat and drink during races? What is the longest race you have done and do you eat/drink differently for short little races like PPA vs. any longer races you've done?
I definitely think that there are different eating strategies for short races (marathon and less length) compared to long ones (100 miles).  For a shorter race, I will just eat a couple of gels through out the race.  But for longer ones, I will have a gel or two and some energy drink between the aid stations.  At the aid stations I will often have a little bit of solid food, for example, half a sandwich, a piece of pizza, or some pretzels and chips.  I have been using a drink called “perpetrum” in two of the last long races that I have run.  This drink provides energy through complex sugars and the manufacture suggests not mixing it with simple sugars.  The last race that I ran, I was very careful not to eat any simple sugars (coke or candy) and I felt much better during that race.  I had always had some sort of gastrointestinal issues during the longer races, but during the last one my stomach felt great.  Unfortunately, the only way to learn what is best, is to experiment during the races and there are only so many races one can do each year, so I am still learning what works best for myself. 

How did you get started in the sport of trail running? What do you like most about it?
I got started in trail running for several reasons.  The main one was to be in the outdoors and enjoying the scenery and nature.  The second reason was to push my limits.  I wanted to see how far my body could take me.  Trail running also gives you an opportunity to get away from things and clear your mind. 

Do you ever get injured, if so, what kind of injuries and how have you dealt with them?
I have never had any serious injuries.  After all the 100 mile races something was bothering me, but after a week or two of rest, it heals itself.  The worst injury that I had was after my first marathon.  I got a big blister on my arch during the race and so I adjusted the way that I was running and this resulted in my knee getting very sore.  It took a couple of months before I was fully recovered from that. 

What kind of shoes do you use for different types of runs/events? What are your favorites?
I have always been a big fan of Asics running shoes until last year.  Something was changed with the shoes and I started to get blisters on my feet.  So ever since then I have been struggling to find shoes that I really like.  I have recently been running in New Balance 696 (street shoes).  I have gone through about half a dozen trail shoes trying to find one that really works well for me.  Right now I am having good success with the New Balance 987 trail running shoe.  Although, I have only been wearing the shoe for a couple of weeks now. 

What kind of gear do you bring along for different types of events/races?
The type of gear that is needed during a race depends on the course terrain, the weather forecast, and the aid station locations.  For a short race generally I will just bring along a water bottle and some energy gels.  For all the 100 mile races that I have run, I have had a crew to support me.  The crew will bring all the stuff that I may need to the aid stations and depending on the expected conditions between the crew-accessible aid stations will dictate what I will carry.  Sometimes this will just be a water bottle and other times it may mean a small pack with lots of water and extra clothing. 

Do you prefer to run with others or solo? Why? Who are your running partners?
I don’t have a preference and enjoy having it both ways.  They both have their pros and cons.  Running with a group means you may have to adjust your pace for the other runners.  Sometimes when I am running behind other people I feel like I am working harder to keep up with them even if I would run the same pace on my own.  The company and conversation can often make a run go by faster and often running partners will encourage you to run a better workout.  Other times it is nice to just be out on your own running your own pace.  My main running partner is Jason Halladay.  There are several other ultrarunning who I often run with over lunch and occasionally on the weekend. 

How does your training routine differ for long distance races versus shorter distance races?
My main interest is in the long races, so that is the main focus of my training.  If I run a shorter race, I often just treat it as part of my training routine and don’t specifically train for it.  I don’t really have a defined training plan.  I try to get several longer runs in each week.  I have been trying to do some speed work and hill training once a week.  The speed work consists of doing a track workout where I will run many repeats of either ¼ or ½ mile followed by a short recovery period.  For hill workours, I have been doing 8 repeats of about a ¼ mile at fast pace up a steep hill with running back down the hill as the recovery. 

What is the most important factor you focus on as you prepare for each race: mental, physical?
I think that the physical part is the most important to focus on in the weeks (and months) leading up to the race.  Getting in good workouts so that you feel physically ready is important when you are dealing with the mental aspect immediately before and during the race.  Immediately before the race, the mental aspect is most important.  Feelings that you are physically prepared and having a positive attitude that you can finish the race is probably more important then how physically prepared you actually are.  I have gone into all my races with the mental toughness to know that I can finish the race and when times get though during the race I try to focus on the fact that have physically and mentally prepared for the race and that if I just push through the tough section things will get better.  So far they have….. 

What do you think about when you are running for 100 miles?
Mostly 14er World.  Seriously, many things, that range from the race itself and how I am feeling, to work issues, personal things that I need to do, and a ton of other random thoughts.  I often think about the scenery and things that I see while I am running. 

Do you envision running ultras for many years to come or is this a short-term activity?
Right now, I think that I would run ultras for many years to come, but it really depends on if I am having fun.  I would really like to run in the Hardrock 100, so once I do that, I will reevaluate if I want to continue and decide what my next goals will be. 

I understand that you don't ever run listening to music. Why not?
Good question.  I guess that I am not a big music person and I don’t own any convenient music player to bring on my runs.  I know that other people really like listening to music because it makes the run go by faster.  So perhaps I should give it a try some time.

Do you think your active lifestyle keeps you from other social activities, like dating? Do you care?
My active lifestyle keeps me from doing lots of things.  Usually I am out doing things after work and by the time I get home and have dinner it is time to go to sleep.  Right now dating is not on the top of my priority list, so it does not bother me.  I figure that some day I will meet someone and if I meet her doing the things that I enjoy, hopefully she will enjoy them also. 

I heard that you are very high on the wait list for Hardrock 100 this year. How do you feel about that?
I would rather just be on the acceptance list.  But since that is not the case, I am happy that I may have a chance to run in the race.  The downside is that I most likely will not know if I will move up into the accepted list until a couple of days before the race.  Sometime I think that it would be better just to be deep into the wait list, then you would know for sure that you are not going to run the race and can plan for other things.  But since I really want to run in this race, I am happy with the uncertainly of being high on the wait list. 

Have you ever experienced chaffing of body parts during an ultra?  Expand please. How do you rectify that?
Yes, but do you really want me to expand on this subject?  On runs longer than 20 miles, I start to get chaffing on my thighs between my legs. I have found that if I wear some compression boxers (like bike shorts minus the padding) that this effectively solves the issue.  I have gotten some minor chaffing on other places on my body during long runs.  Usually I will apply some lubricant to the effected areas to keeps things from getting out of control.  If you are going to run 100 miles, to some degree you are going to get some chaffing somewhere. 

What are some of your most notable achievements/proudest moments in any sport?
I am just glad to have been able to stay healthy and complete all of the ultra races that I started.  So many things can go wrong in these races that I feel lucky to have completed all of them. 

What are your future goals? 2 years? 10 years?
Running and finishing at the Hardrock is one goal.  I would also like to break 25 hours at Leadville, but I know that would be tough.  Other than that, my future goals are to stay healthy and have fun.  Looking out 10 years is just too far away to have goals. 

This year I have several races planned.  Starting next week with the Zane Gray 50 miler in Arizona.  In May there is the Jemez Mountain Trail races in Los Alamos.  I am running in the 50 mile race and am excited for this, since it is in my back yard.  In June is the San Juan Solstice 50 miles race in Lake City.  If I get into Hardrock this year, I will run that in July.  I am also going to run in the 25^th anniversary of the Leadville 100 in August.

Thanks for the opportunity to share some of my thoughts on ultra running with you.  If anyone has any questions, feel free to drop me a note.
 

The End
 

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