IAU World 100k

The annual IAU World 100k Championship takes place tomorrow in Torhout, Belgium, and Howard Nippert will toe the line representing the United States for the 11th year in a row. Considering the wear and tear ultra running puts on your body, that is a phenomenal accomplishment in and of itself, but during the past ten years, Howard has also had seven top-15 finishes, four top-10 finishes including 5th place in 2006, and was the top US finisher in the event for 6 consecutive years (2002-2007). To me, Howard is an inspiration, and a great example of what hard work, focus, and determination can get you.

Things didn't go well for Howard last year as he had to drop out of the race due to injury, and when Howard drops out of a race you know it's serious. This is a guy who once finished the World 100k by having a chiropractor pop his hip back into socket several times throughout the race, and I think he finished 12th that year. He also had a top-ten finish while running with a cracked rib. If you look up tough in the dictionary, I'm pretty sure Howard's picture is by the definition.

Since the last World 100k this past November, Howard has had some difficulties getting back to full strength, but he told me before he left that "things have been good and I've gotten all the work in that I wanted. It will be up to me to lay it out there now on race night and get it done. Guess that's how its supposed to be." That's typical of the way Howard thinks and is hard to argue with.

Anyway, Howard and I go way back and I'm lucky to have him as a coach and glad to call him my friend. Here's hoping for a great night for both him and Team USA. I'd like nothing better than to see both of them bring home some hardware. If you want to follow the race, it starts at 2:00PM EST, and there will be live updates here. Go get 'em HO!