Mark Hellenthal – Ultra Runner
Date of Birth – 7/7/1972 Age – 41
Residing in Phoenix, Arizona
Contact # - 602-350-1233
Background -
In December
of 2008 I weighed 400lbs. At that time I had Sleep Apnea, High Blood Pressure and
the onset of Type II Diabetes. Literally I got out of breath walking to the
frig to grab a bite to eat. Granted I had not gained all of the weight
overnight, as I had been on disability for 10 years due to a truck driving
accident/severe back injury, but I felt as if it had been my fault for letting
myself go. I was depressed. I was only getting worse. I
was on death’s door and I needed a drastic change.
Many small
life changing steps were taken to get myself headed in the right
direction…going back to school to get my BS in Accounting and an MBA, getting
myself off of disability and getting back to work. But I still needed something
big to kick start things as far as my weight and health were concerned, as I
found that I could not do it on my own. I have always been a go big or go home
– all or nothing kind of a guy, so my answer to finding the new and improved me
was to have bariatric surgery done…a full gastric bypass. So, on December 8,
2008… I was reborn.
Running –
After my
surgery I needed to find something to do to get exercise on a regular basis… I
found running… or I should say… running found me.
Immediately
after my surgery I started walking on my treadmill (formerly known as my
clothes hamper)… but I never really could get into it… it was boring… I never
went anywhere… and it was too close to the couch….
One day a
friend at work asked me if I wanted to walk in the Pat Tillman 4.2 Mile Run… I
said what the hell and signed up… little did I know that this would be the
thing that would unleash the runner inside of me… because when that gun went
off I was started another transformation that would last 58 minutes and 7
seconds and end on the 42 yard line of Sun Devil Stadium. And so, on April 18,
2009…. I was reborn again.
2009 Races –
Including
Pat’s Run, I went on to run in 46 races during the rest of the year, including
my first ultra/timed race which I managed to do 100k before I collapsed in my
car after 17 or 18 hours. Little did I know that this was just the beginning…
Distance
|
# of races
|
race miles
|
3 miles
|
1
|
3
|
3.1 miles (5k)
|
18
|
55.8
|
4 miles
|
1
|
4
|
4.2 miles
|
1
|
4.2
|
4.6 miles
|
1
|
4.6
|
5 miles (8k)
|
2
|
10
|
6.2 miles (10K)
|
5
|
31
|
7 miles
|
2
|
14
|
7.2 miles (12K)
|
1
|
7.2
|
8 miles
|
1
|
8
|
9.3 miles (15k)
|
1
|
9.3
|
10 Miles
|
1
|
10
|
12.4 miles (20K)
|
1
|
12.4
|
13.1 miles (1/2 Marathon)
|
6
|
78.6
|
15.5 miles (25K)
|
1
|
15.5
|
18 miles
|
1
|
18
|
18.6 miles (30K)
|
1
|
18.6
|
24 hour timed race
|
1
|
62
|
Year Totals
|
46
|
366.2
|
2010 Races –
Despite
having completed my first ultra in 2009, I had yet to complete an actual
marathon. This distance was first run in January 2010 at the Arizona PF Chang’s
Marathon. For whatever reason distance running started to come easy to me. I
don’t mean that the races were easy, instead I found that I could go long
distance at a slower pace for what seemed to be an endless amount of time at
once. This need for distance naturally led me to transition into trail running
and by October I was competing in and completing my first 100 mile race, the
Javelina Jundred, and then in December of 2010 I completed my first 48hr run at
Across the Years in Phoenix, Arizona.
Distance
|
# of races
|
race miles
|
3.1 miles (5k)
|
30
|
93
|
3.5 miles
|
1
|
3.5
|
3.7 miles
|
1
|
3.7
|
4 miles
|
3
|
12
|
4.6 miles
|
1
|
4.6
|
5 miles (8k)
|
4
|
20
|
6.2 miles (10K)
|
15
|
93
|
7 miles
|
1
|
7
|
7.5 miles
|
1
|
7.5
|
8 miles
|
1
|
8
|
9.3 miles (15k)
|
1
|
9.3
|
10 Miles
|
1
|
10
|
10.35 miles
|
1
|
10.35
|
13.1 miles (1/2 Marathon)
|
10
|
131
|
15.5 miles (25K)
|
2
|
31
|
17.1 miles
|
1
|
17.1
|
18 miles
|
1
|
18
|
18.6 miles (30K)
|
1
|
18.6
|
26.2 miles (Full
Marathon)
|
7
|
183.4
|
31 miles (50K)
|
4
|
124
|
12 hour timed race
|
1
|
46.5
|
50 miles
|
3
|
150
|
100 miles
|
1
|
100
|
48 hour timed race
|
1
|
108
|
Year Totals
|
93
|
1209.55
|
2011 Races –
2011 saw a
continued transition into trail running as the overall number of my races
completed declined but the average race distance in miles increased
significantly. This year’s highlights include running in 6 more 100 mile races,
a 126.2 miler called the Rouge Orleans, which ran along the banks of the mighty
Mississippi River from Baton Rouge to New Orleans, and my first 72hr timed run
in which I was able to break the 200 mile barrier. This year also brought the
end of my 20 year marriage and my first official shoe sponsor, HOKA. It was a
bittersweet year.
Distance
|
# of races
|
race miles
|
3.1 miles (5k)
|
14
|
43.4
|
4 miles
|
2
|
8
|
4.6 miles
|
1
|
4.6
|
5 miles (8k)
|
3
|
15
|
6.2 miles (10K)
|
1
|
6.2
|
7.4 miles
|
1
|
7.4
|
10 Miles
|
1
|
10
|
13.1 miles (1/2 Marathon)
|
5
|
65.5
|
15 miles
|
1
|
15
|
17.1 miles
|
1
|
17.1
|
26.2 miles (Full
Marathon)
|
15
|
393
|
31 miles (50K)
|
3
|
93
|
50 miles
|
4
|
200
|
double marathon
|
1
|
52.4
|
100 miles
|
6
|
600
|
126.2 miler
|
1
|
126.2
|
72 hour timed race
|
1
|
202.6
|
Year Totals
|
61
|
1859.4
|
2012 Races –
2012 was an
epic year for me as I was lucky enough to complete the Grand Slam of Ultrarunning
(Western States 100, Vermont 100, Leadville 100, and Wasatch Front 100), and
the Peaks (McNaughton) 500 miler… yes, 500 miles of running around a 10 mile
loop in the mountains of Vermont in a period of 9 day, 6 hours and a few
minutes. Weather, mud, wild animals, floods, and extreme barn funk could not
deter me. As a matter of fact, this race was so epic that I ended up being only
the second person ever to be able to complete it, as Willy “Nature Boy” Syndram
became the first ever about 20 hours prior to me. Out of this, a brother was
gained, my body was trashed, and life started to turn around again. I found my
true self… an ultra-runner that needed to keep pushing the boundaries, no
matter what. I became a believer in living life in the now and running like
there would be no tomorrow. Out of this all I established my goals to want to
run at least 1 100 mile race in every state and to run in at least 100 100 mile
or more races. I also found myself wanting to travel more and do exotic races
and crazy distances and elevation laced runs. I was addicted to running. It
consumed me. It was my new “comfort food”. In August of 2012, I met an angel
and fell in love again. In September of 2012, I met a monster (Mogollon
Monster) and fell off of a cliff and tore my mcl and had my first official DNF.
It was one hell of a year.
Distance
|
# of races
|
race miles
|
3.1 miles (5k)
|
1
|
3.1
|
4.6 miles
|
1
|
4.6
|
6.2 miles (10K)
|
6
|
37.2
|
7 miles
|
1
|
7
|
9.3 miles (15k)
|
1
|
9.3
|
13.1 miles (1/2 Marathon)
|
1
|
13.1
|
22 miles
|
1
|
22
|
26.2 miles (Full
Marathon)
|
3
|
78.6
|
31 miles (50K)
|
2
|
62
|
ragnar
|
1
|
38.9
|
50 miles
|
2
|
100
|
jj100 drop down
|
1
|
92.4
|
mm106 drop down (65miles)
|
1
|
65
|
24 hour timed race
|
1
|
71
|
100 miles
|
7
|
700
|
126.2 miler
|
1
|
126.2
|
72 hour timed race
|
1
|
135
|
500 miler (vermont 500)
|
1
|
500
|
Year Totals
|
33
|
2065.4
|
2013 Races –
So far 2013
has been a year of change… first off, wedding bells sounded on May 19th
as the “HokaMan” and his bride ran down the aisle in Vegas at a grand affair.
Next, Solemates’ Ultra Running Events, LLC was born as the newlyweds started a
business and took over as Race Directors of the Silverton 1000 Multi-day runs
(6 day, 3 day, 2 day and 24Hr events) in Silverton, Colorado. Running slowed a
bit as these events took their necessary priority in the grand scheme of life,
however the focus continued on moving closer to my goals. As of October 9,
2013, the list below shows my races that have been completed so far (of note, I
tangled with the monster again and suffered my 2nd DNF, at least I
didn’t tear my MCL this time):
Distance
|
# of races
|
race miles
|
3.1 miles (5k)
|
1
|
3.1
|
3.5 miles
|
1
|
3.5
|
22 miles
|
1
|
22
|
26.2 miles (Full
Marathon)
|
4
|
104.8
|
31 miles (50K)
|
2
|
62
|
31.6 miles (51K)
|
1
|
31.6
|
33.6 miles (54K)
|
1
|
33.6
|
12 hour timed race
|
1
|
31
|
50 miles
|
2
|
100
|
mm106 drop down (72 miles)
|
1
|
72
|
24 hour timed race
|
1
|
45
|
100 miles
|
5
|
500
|
144 hr timed race
|
1
|
100
|
Year totals
|
22
|
1108.6
|
For the rest
of the year, government shutdown permitting, as one race trip has already had
to be called off (meaning if I can’t work and get paid, I can’t afford to live
and go run), the following races are scheduled to be run:
10/26/2013
|
Javelina 100
|
100 miles
|
11/16/2013
|
Chimera 100 miler - CA
|
100 miles
|
11/23/2013
|
Run D'Amore 100 (san martin, ca)
|
100 miles
|
11/28/2013
|
Mesa Turkey Trot
|
10k
|
12/7/2013
|
McDowell Mt Frenzy
|
50 miles
|
12/14/2013
|
Bartram 100 - Milledgeville, GA
|
100 miles
|
12/28/2013
|
Across The Years - 6 day run
|
350 miles
|
Race Recap –
The
Following is a recap of all of the races that I have run since April of 2009 to
the present, followed by a listing of all of the 100 mile or greater races that
I have completed:
Distance
|
# of races
|
race miles
|
3 miles
|
1
|
3
|
3.1 miles (5k)
|
64
|
195.3
|
3.5 miles
|
2
|
3.5
|
3.7 miles
|
1
|
3.7
|
4 miles
|
6
|
24
|
4.2 miles
|
1
|
4.2
|
4.6 miles (jerome)
|
4
|
18.4
|
5 miles (8k)
|
9
|
45
|
6.2 miles (10K)
|
27
|
167.4
|
7 miles
|
4
|
28
|
7.2 miles (12K)
|
1
|
7.2
|
7.4 miles
|
1
|
7.4
|
7.5 miles
|
1
|
7.5
|
8 miles
|
2
|
16
|
9.3 miles (15k)
|
3
|
27.9
|
10 Miles
|
3
|
30
|
10.35 miles
|
1
|
10.35
|
12.4 miles (20K)
|
1
|
12.4
|
13.1 miles (1/2 Marathon)
|
22
|
288.2
|
15 miles
|
1
|
15
|
15.5 miles (25K)
|
3
|
46.5
|
17.1 miles (Imogene)
|
2
|
34.2
|
18 miles
|
2
|
36
|
18.6 miles (30K)
|
2
|
37.2
|
22 miles (Castle hot
springs)
|
2
|
42
|
26.2 miles (Ful Marathon)
|
29
|
655
|
31 miles (50K)
|
11
|
341
|
31.6 miles (51k)
ET/Mike's race
|
1
|
31.6
|
33.6 miles (54k) sinister
run
|
1
|
33.6
|
12 hour timed race
|
2
|
77.5
|
ragnar
|
1
|
38.9
|
50 miles
|
11
|
450
|
double marathon
|
1
|
52.4
|
jj100 drop down to 110k
|
1
|
92.4
|
mm106 drop downs
|
2
|
137
|
24 hour timed race
|
3
|
178
|
100 miles
|
19
|
1400
|
48 hour timed race
|
1
|
108
|
126.2 miler
|
2
|
252.4
|
72 hour timed race
|
2
|
337.6
|
144 hour timed race
|
1
|
100
|
500 miler (vermont 500)
|
1
|
500
|
Overall totals
|
255
|
5895.75
|
89
|
marathons or more distance races
| |
26
|
100 miles or more
|
Date
|
Race
Name
|
Miles
|
100
miler #
|
Sub
24?
|
10/23/2010
|
Javelina
100
|
100
|
1
| |
12/29/2010
|
Across
the Years 48 HR
|
108
|
2
| |
3/4/2011
|
Rouge
Orleans
|
126.2
|
3
| |
6/16/2011
|
Bighorn
100
|
100
|
4
| |
8/27/2011
|
Lean
Horse 100
|
100
|
5
|
yes
(1)
|
9/23/2011
|
The
Bear 100
|
100
|
6
| |
10/8/2011
|
Slick
Rock 100
|
100
|
7
| |
10/15/2011
|
Pumpkin
Holler
|
100
|
8
| |
11/12/2011
|
Javelina
100
|
100
|
9
| |
12/29/2011
|
Across
the Years 72 HR
|
202
|
10
| |
2/10/2012
|
Rouge
Orleans
|
126.2
|
11
| |
3/24/2012
|
Moab
100
|
100
|
12
| |
4/21/2012
|
Labor
of Love
|
100
|
13
|
yes
(2)
|
5/2/2012
|
McNaughton
"Vermont500"
|
500
|
14
| |
6/23/2012
|
Western
States
|
100
|
15
| |
7/21/2012
|
Vermont
100
|
100
|
16
|
yes
(3)
|
8/18/2012
|
Leadville
|
100
|
17
| |
9/7/2012
|
Wasatch
Front
|
100
|
18
| |
10/20/2012
|
Pony
Express
|
100
|
19
| |
12/29/2012
|
Across
the Years 72 HR
|
135
|
20
| |
2/23/2013
|
Rhoring
Around the Clock
|
100
|
21
|
yes
(4)
|
3/16/2013
|
Beyond
Limits Ultra
|
100
|
22
| |
3/22/2013
|
Antelope
Island Buffalo Run
|
100
|
23
| |
4/20/2013
|
Labor
of Love
|
100
|
24
|
yes
(5)
|
7/20/2013
|
Rhoring
Redux
|
100
|
25
| |
9/2/2013
|
Silverton
1000
|
100
|
26
|
The Future –
The
following is a look at my tentative 2014 Race Schedule (body, money, race
lottery results and other factors will dictate any necessary changes as the
year progresses). Of note, I will be doing the Badwater 135 (146 miles
including the hike to the top of Mt. Whitney) this year one way or another
(Race entry or solo crossing).
Date
|
Event
Name
|
Mark
Distance
|
1/4/2014
|
Castle Hot Springs run
|
22
miles
|
1/11/2014
|
San Tan Scramble
|
50K
|
1/19/2014
|
PF Changs marathon pacer -
|
26.2
miles
|
1/25/2014
|
Coldwater Rumble - 100
|
100
miles
|
2/1/2014
|
Desert Classic Marathon
|
26.2
miles
|
2/7/2014
|
12 Hours of Camelback (Sunshine
Acres Chiildrens Home fundraiser run)
|
40
miles
|
2/15/2014
|
black canyon 100K
|
62.4
miles
|
2/16/2014
|
IMS marathon pacer - 4:45 time
group
|
26.2
miles
|
2/22/2014
|
Elephant Mountain
|
50K
|
3/8/2014
|
graveyard 100 - corolla, NC
|
100
miles
|
3/21/2014
|
Antelope Island Buffalo Run 100
(Friday start) SLC
|
100
miles
|
3/29/2014
|
BLU relentless
|
100
miles
|
4/5/2014
|
Crown King Scramble
|
50K
|
4/26/2014
|
Fort Clinch 100 (florida)
|
100
miles
|
5/16/2014
|
Cruel Jewel 100 (Friday 2pm start)
willy's race in Georgia.
|
100
miles
|
5/30/2014
|
DRTE 100 (santa barbara, ca)
Friday start
|
100
miles
|
7/14/2014
|
Badwater 135
|
135
miles
|
8/2/2014
|
san fransisco 100
|
100
miles
|
8/16/2014
|
Leadville 100 (do even if no slam)
|
100
miles
|
8/26/2014
|
Silverton 1000 - 6 day
|
100
miles
|
9/13/2014
|
headlands 100 - ca
|
100
miles
|
9/27/2014
|
Mogollon Monster 106
|
106
miles
|
10/4/2014
|
Man Against Horse
|
50
miles
|
10/18/2014
|
100EC or Flagstaff Stagecoach 100
|
100
miles
|
10/25/2014
|
Javelina 100
|
100
miles
|
11/15/2014
|
chimera 100
|
100
miles
|
11/22/2014
|
Run D'Amore 100 (san martin, ca)
|
100
miles
|
11/27/2014
|
Mesa Turkey Trot
|
10k
|
12/6/2014
|
McDowell Mt Frenzy 50 miler
|
50
miles
|
12/14/2014
|
Desert Classic 30k
|
30k
|
12/27/2014
|
ATY 6 day
|
350
miles
|
Possible Lottery races and slam
dependant races
| ||
4/19/2014
|
Leona Divide - california (if I
get in via lottery)
|
50
miles
|
6/7/2014
|
San Diego 100 (if I get in via
lottery)
|
100
miles
|
6/28/2014
|
Western States
|
100
miles
|
7/11/2014
|
HARDROCK!!!!!
|
100
miles
|
7/19/2014
|
Vermont 100 (only if I get into
the slam)
|
100
miles
|
9/5/2014
|
Wasatch Front 100 (Friday start)
|
100
miles
|
