Live Chat with "Antarctic Mike" Pierce - December 11, 2007

What are you up to these days racing wise?

After Dec, I took off running for about 2 months. On a whim, I ran the Catalina Marathon in March and ran 3:50.  In April, I did my first full distance Ironman, although I called it the Iceman Triathlon because it was a 5k swim, 200k bike and 50k run all inside a freezer at -10F.  I imported a pool from endless pools and got a dry suit for the swim, spin bike for the ride and ran laps like I have been used to for the 50k. whole tri took about 15 hrs.  In July, at the start of the Tour De France, I broke the world record on a spin bike riding 120 hours.

What type of energy gels, drinks, etc.. do you recommend?

I personally like Hammer Perpetum and Clif Shot Bloks. I also eat almonds, pretzels and chocolate. that is what my body is used to. I take salt caps if I sweat a lot. I prefer either Cytomax or Clif for drink.

How did you hydrate, fuel, etc. for the world record?

For the 5 days on the spin bike, after about 48 hrs, I had to eat regular meals because I had bad stomach and head ache problems. I eat mostly chicken, veggies and bread. That is my staple.

What type of running gear do you prefer for the extreme temps?

For gear in very cold, I like Smart Wool, Arcteryx and Marmot. I wore Arcteryx in Antarctica and for my run in Feb on Mt Wash, I have a marmot 8000m suit.

During the 17.5 hrs in Antarctica all I thought about was the old Antarctic explorers that were there 100 years ago. Nothing else. Like being in a time capsule.

Yeah, we have all this high tec gear now but back then those guys were nuts.

I understand most people think they are nuts and Antarctica is very very lonely and desolate. That brings me to a point that is very relevant for any athlete today.  One thing that is imperative for any runner or distance athlete is you have to really find your niche. The more specific the better.  For example, I can do a street marathon or an ironman, but it is not my true passion, therefore I don't do any of those events.  My niche and real passion is the cold cold weather because I am a huge polar history fan. the running in cold weather is my connection to my greatest heroes in life.

What would you say is the toughest workout you've ever done?

Hard to say about hardest workout. Physically the 100k in Antarctica was tough. Mentally it was a snap. hardest workout mentally was 26.2 miles in a lap pool because I had to count every lap. Could not let my mind deviate for one second.  Again, most important value I see in all this is how it builds my sense of self confidence, discipline and character. To me this is far far more important than winning a medal or beating someone else to the finish line.  When I see my sense of self confidence building by setting tough goals for myself, it spills into every single area of life. So in reality, athletics is the means to the end. It just happens to be the means that I really enjoy doing.

What do you like doing the best other than running?

Swimming is for sure the most demanding physically for me because of the high heart rate and swallowing tons of water.  We have so many people in our group it is like swimming in a shipping channel with wakes and waves all the time.  All I think about is what is doing for me on a future run or another event. I did much much swimming for marathon training.

Mike, do you have any kids, wife?

No kids and I have been married to Angela for almost 18 years. She is disabled due to a rock climbing fall in Colorado and can not have kids.

I was wondering what your upcoming adventures/races are?

Nick, next event I am planning is a marathon on the rooftop of the observatory building at the summit of Mt Washington in NH. It will be in February.  This will be harder than Antarctica . Temps will be -20F and winds 80 to 100mph or greater.  I will be tethered and will use the line for my site due to likely impaired vision on my goggles due to what is called Rime Ice.  This marathon with huge winds could take me 12 hrs or more. To me it does not matter. I will run until the GPS says 26.2.

Rooftop? explain...

Rooftop of the building is about 300 feet long. It is a huge building on the summit of the mountain where they collect weather data 24/7. The winds and weather on top of this mountain are about as extreme as any place in the world.

On a treadmill?

No treadmill. It will break down.  I will run either the length or width of the roof depending upon wind speed and direction. With a GPS, I can run around in circles and it does not matter.  Mt Wash is at the intersection of 3 major weather systems and together they produce the perfect storm. I have learned a lot about this place over the past 2 months. There is no place like it any place in the world.

Dont get blown off!

Hopefully the tether will keep me from being a kite without a string.

I am also planning a marathon on what they call a 14er. It will be on top of one of the 54 peaks in the state of Colorado that is at least 14,000 feet altitude. This is more involved logistically with guides, equip and avalanche prevention.

You could do pikes peak!

I thought about Pikes Peak . This is one of the 14er's that is easily accessible. Problem is the winter could be a challenge. I am not doing the 14er unless it is frigid and a blizzard.

Would you stay above a certain elevation for the whole marathon?

Yes, the entire run for 26.2 would be at 14,000 or greater. That is the whole point.

Are you doing altitude training for that or just the usual training?

The rule of thumb for those not living at altitude is train at sea level and sleep high using a hypoxico.  I am probably moving to Colorado next year, so I can train altitude and sleep there also. That is why I will put off CO for a bit. No sense in hurrying.  Angela is not real keen on me destroying our living room with an altitude tent for 2 months and me sleeping alone there without her.

I am also planning on possibly doing a big event in New Zealand. It would be a crossing of both the North and south islands and paddle boarding the cook strait waterway between the 2 islands. I have a PR firm looking into this right now.  NZ is a long shot due to logistics and cost.  Ultimate plan is to get back to Antarctica to attempt a multi sport crossing of the entire continent mostly via mountain bike. I am working on this right now. Will take years to set up and I will have to train in CO.  Much of Antarctica is at high altitude. This would be up on what is called the polar plateau in the middle where the 2 south poles are.

Who are you sponsored by?

I have a number of sponsors.  The sponsorship goes from one event to the next. I am working on a few major insurance companies for Antarctica since I have connections to them.  Nature Bee, a new zealand company sponsors many of my local events and ones that are not too expensive. I do a lot of radio interviews for them in return.

What's the best advice you can give us average joe runners?

Here is some advice for runners: Avoid the pavement!!!!  I run exclusively on trails and bridle paths now. Much more forgiving on the body.  Run on soft dirt, snow and other cushioning. Streets and concrete are evil!  Take care of your body. Even if you are not hurting you may be doing damage. Be careful and be wise.

Have you thought about doing any regular ultras, etc.? Or do you plan on sticking to extremes?

There are a few regular ultras I may do. The rock and Ice in Canada . There is a big ultra in the Yukon and the arrowhead 135 that starts in Canada and goes into MN.  I thought about Barkley's marathon in TN but I think I would get lost.  The only events I will do will be extreme, very difficult and off the wall.  Honestly, I get more satisfaction out of creating an event that I really want to do that has never been done than in doing one that others have already done and established.

You should make a guest appearance at YUT-C, our club's sponsored 50k race in Youngstown !

That could be a possibility. 50k is not to bad. As long as you guys are not expecting a speed demon.  My motto is finishing trumps winning.  If I finish in one piece, do little damage and have a great time, I am a gold medal winner!

Where would you like to go that you haven't been?

Good question.  I think I would like to do the North Pole and I really want to get back and attempt the crossing of the Antarctic.  I also may swim race around the island of Manhattan . they do it every July 5.  

How many do they get to compete in that?  How long is the race?

Field is limited to 25 swimmers. Cost is about $1500. 28 mile swim with a current the entire way. I have talked to guys who did it. It is not a bad swim. I may try the Catalina crossing next summer since I live here. it is 22 miles but open ocean.