181 Tim Deer - Breaking Down Badwater 135

He's back and better than ever at Badwater 135.

Two years ago, Purple Patch athlete, Timothy Deer, completed his first Badwater 135 Ultra in just over 36 hours. This year, at age 56 and in some of the hottest historical race conditions, Deer finished again...faster, stronger, and healthier than ever. In fact, he was 11th overall, the first athlete 50+, and four hours faster than in 2019.

The Badwater 135 is billed as the most demanding and extreme running race offered anywhere on the planet because it takes athletes from Badwater Basin, Death Valley, which marks the lowest elevation in North America at 280’ below sea level, all the way to the Whitney Portal at 8,300’, the highest point in the contiguous United States.

Tim chats with his coach, Matt Dixon, about his goals for this year, his purpose, and his non-traditional race preparation for this arduous event. This episode is a masterclass on how to approach training with purpose in a time-starved life. Tim:

• Outlines a typical training week and, trust us, the schedule will surprise you

• Describes strategies and tactics he uses to avoid injury and burnout

• Stresses the importance of habit formation and organizational skills

• Emphasizes how strength training became his secret weapon and when it paid dividends during the course of the race

• Breaks down his race mile-by-mile including his pacing, nutrition, and shoe change strategy from start to finish

• Shares advice for older athletes and those who are afraid to set big, hairy, audacious goals

Ultimately, says Tim, "Get a schedule every day of your life that you can have fun, do things at work that make you proud, get your workouts in, and still get some rest. When you do, it becomes a habit."

Next up for Tim? The Leadville Trail 100 Run in August, IRONMAN World Championships in October, and the NY Marathon in November!

Dare we say that he's just getting started? Cheers to living with purpose and passion!

Episode Resources

August 2019 Purple Patch Podcast with Tim Deer

Badwater 135 Website and Results

Learn more about Purple Patch Strength Programming

Learn more about Purple Patch Fully Customized 1:1 Coaching

Learn more about Purple Patch Squad High-Performance Training Program

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