Alum Ultramarathoner Outruns Expectations

One hundred thirty-five miles, 14,000 feet of elevation gain and temperatures hitting 120 degrees, all in 45 hours. Those are the elements of the Badwater 135 Ultramarathon, widely recognized as the world’s toughest footrace, and finishing it is bragging fodder for a lifetime. But Bob Becker ’70 added one more impressive stat: 80 years old.

Becker, who became the Death Valley race’s oldest finisher last July, has been running such dizzying distances for two decades. Now, the alum—who also gave up a 30-year career as a mortgage banker to become a full-time race director—is preparing to defy expectations again at the 32-hour, 120-kilometer Anta Guanjun TengChong Gaoligong Ultra in Southwest China starting March 21.

“I absolutely fell in love with the sport and everything about it: the camaraderie, the very special support that people give each other while at the same time being competitive, and the exotic places I otherwise would never have been,” he said. 

Before studying government and politics at the University of Maryland, he ran the mile at nearby Northwestern High School. He jogged a little to stay in shape as his career eventually took him to Minneapolis and then Fort Lauderdale, Fla. So when a friend called in 2002 about a marathon back in Duluth, Minn., it seemed like a “good excuse to see my friends and party,” Becker said.

That first foray into marathoning at age 57 was going to be a one-and-done experience, but Becker turned out to be a natural and qualified for the esteemed Boston race. Then to celebrate his 60^th birthday, he dipped his Altra running shoe-clad toes into ultramarathons—with a 155-mile trek across the Sahara Desert, no less—and was hooked.

“I have the disease,” he joked.

Especially as an octogenarian, the antidote requires regimented training, though with less actual running than one might think. Elite ultramarathoner Lisa Smith-Batchen, Becker’s coach for more than 20 years, has helped him avoid injury through StairMaster workouts, intervals on a nearby bridge, trail powerwalking and a functional fitness class combining cardio, strength, balance, stability and mobility.

“The aging athlete needs more rest. I go with the philosophy ‘less is more’: less training with quality vs. hours and hours of training,” Smith-Batchen said. “Bob is such a beautiful example of longevity. He works very hard for his race results.”

Becker, who has run more than 50 ultramarathons, sprinkles shorter events between a few goal races each year—he’s running the Denali135 ultramarathon in Alaska in June. He breaks each course into chunks by looking for major landmarks, and he pays close attention to his body’s signals, like when he needs a slurp of a gel packet or a swig of Ensure from his crew of friends and supporters to replenish his calories. He can also stop to sleep, “but the clock is running,” he said, so he usually limits rests to 20-minute naps in an air-conditioned race vehicle. 

“Unlike some people, I’m not out there creating next great American novel in my head. I’m very much in the moment,” he said. “For the most part, things like aching muscles and blisters heal. You do your best to mentally stay on top of those things and keep your eyes on the finish line, which is the real prize.”

Becker helps introduce others—no matter their age—to that ultramarathon magic as race director at Ultra Sports LLC. Since 2008, “my love became my work,” he said, as he’s helped the company create and host events like the KEYS100 in the Florida Keys and the Daytona 100 along Florida’s east coast, where he lives.

And he has no plans to slow down: Whether directing or racing, he hopes to send a message to others in his generation that they, too, can get off the couch and start moving.

“As long as I remain a catalyst for healthier behaviors in others,” he said, “that is motivation enough to keep going as long as I'm able.”