Loop, Run, Repeat: Surviving and Thriving in an 8-Hour Ultra

Pushing Past the Wall - Again and Again

Yesterday, I ran an 8-hour endurance race in Indianapolis that pushed me in all the right ways, even if it didn’t feel like it at the time.

The event started at Hinkle Fieldhouse on Butler University’s campus, looping around a mix of paved, gravel, and dirt paths that tested every runner’s patience, grit, and strategy.

This wasn’t a traditional race with a set distance. Instead, we had two loop options—a 1.9-mile “short” loop and a 3.1-mile “long” loop—both of which shared the same opening and closing miles. You run as far as you can in 8 hours. The clock doesn’t stop, and if you’re caught mid-loop when time expires, those miles don’t count.

My goal going in was 42–45 miles, which felt ambitious but doable. I wanted to push myself deep into the discomfort zone and see what I was made of.

Finding Rhythm

I started the day running with my friend Luther. We eased into the long loop at a comfortable 9:20/mile pace—slightly faster than planned, but we felt strong, and the excitement of race day made it hard to hold back. My plan was to run only long loops for most of the race, stopping at my tent every two loops to refill fluids and grab fuel.

But that went out the window by mile 9.

The sun was burning down, and the air was thick. I’d hoped for a cloud-covered day, but the sun came out in full force. With a storm looming later in the forecast, the humidity skyrocketed. It was draining.

I started stopping at the tent after every loop just to get my body temperature down and make sure I was hydrating properly. My pace definitely started taking a hit, but I kept grinding away.

Luther and I got separated around miles 9-10. During a race like this, it’s nice to have someone alongside you to talk with and share the suffering. Losing that rhythm made the next hour or two a lot harder.

The Storm

At around 4.5 hours in, thunder and lightning lit up the sky and race officials called for a weather delay. Runners were pulled from the course. We sheltered in tents while the sky fell out from above us. It honestly felt incredible… but the break was bittersweet. The clock didn’t stop. The race kept ticking. We lost about an hour and a half, which meant all of us had less than two hours to finish whatever we had left.

At that point, I was sitting at 26 miles. The 40–45 mile goal was clearly out the window. But I wasn’t ready to check out just yet.

Reset and Reframe

Post-storm, I reset my goal: could I squeeze in another 8–10 miles before the clock ran out?

Honestly, I felt amazing during that final stretch. The rain had broken the humidity, and the short pause gave my body time to regroup, even if the course was an absolute disaster from the rain. I ran three short loops and then sat in the tent, trying to decide whether I had enough time to push through one last long loop. If I timed it wrong, I’d risk running nearly 3 miles that wouldn’t count. But if I timed it right…

I was trying to do the math with my wife, but if you’ve ever tried to do mental math after a day like this then it’s pretty tough, and she’s pregnant so she gets a break too. She just smiled and said, “You got it. Pick it up.”

That’s all I needed. As I left the tent and hit the course again, I said myself out loud, “Let’s see what you’re about.”

I locked in, ran hard, and clicked off the final long loop with 4 minutes to spare—hitting 9-minute miles on that last stretch. I gave it every thing I had left.

The Finish

• Final mileage: 36.03

• Elevation gain: 1,300’

• Place: 28th overall out of 265

• Age group: 7th overall

I was proud. The weather changed the shape of the race, but not the effort I gave. I kept pushing, kept adapting, and finished strong. Best of all, my wife and daughter were there all day, helping me between every loop, keeping me grounded and motivated. My sister-in-law and brother-in-law showed up too, with their boys, and stuck it out through the storm until the final countdown. That meant a lot.

Reflection

Two things:

1. Surround yourself with friends who push you and share similar ambitions and goals in life.

2. I didn’t hit my original mileage goal, but I walked away with something better: Knowing I don’t quit, even when plans fall apart and things get hard.

That’s the real test in ultras.

Not whether you hit every goal.

But whether you keep going when things go sideways.

And they will go sideways.

What worked

• HYK electrolytes kept me hydrated all day in the heat

• Carbs ‘Salted’ gels every 40 minutes gave me consistent energy without gut issues

Bonus highlight

Cam Balser, the guy who ran the entire perimeter of the U.S., set up his tent right next to ours. Getting to chat with him before and during the race was super cool. He is such a kind, humble, and genuine human being. Just the type of energy you want around on a day like that.

Loop. Run. Repeat.

Races like this are special. The loop format levels the playing field and turns the day into an experiment in consistency, mindset, and strategy. It gives everyone—no matter their pace—a shot to test their limits.I’m proud of how it all went. I got the miles in. I made memories. I proved something to myself, and I stayed in it.

One loop at a time.