Despite my best attempts at keeping things right side up, Aliza Lapierre was determined to interview me, iRunFar’s Bryon Powell, before the 2012 Run Rabbit Run 100. Why? I can’t say, but in the following interview, you can find out about my (race coverage) season, why I’ll be stepping back onto an ultra course next month, which ultra team uniform I prefer, and whether I think I could rock white spandex tights… among other things.
[Click here if you can’t see the video above.]
Bryon Powell Pre-2012 Run Rabbit Run 100 Interview Transcript
Aliza Lapierre: Aliza Lapierre of Williston, Vermont, here with Bryon Powell of iRunFar. How are you doing, Bryon?
Bryon Powell: I’m doing great. How are you, Aliza?
Lapierre: I’m doing well. Here we are in Steamboat, the site of Run Rabbit Run. How are you feeling?
Powell: I’m good, but I’m just here to cover the race. You’re here to run the race. So how are you?
Lapierre: Uh, don’t defer and change the conversation here, Bryon. You’ve had a pretty long season in the spectrum of things. You just did UTMB; you did Leadville… Western States; you were down on the volcano. How are you feeling?
Powell: It’s been a long season. Truthfully, I was a little bit worn out going into Leadville. I almost didn’t make it to the starting line.
Lapierre: How did you push through?
Powell: It’s all about the people.
Lapierre: It’s all about the people. Well, that’s good to know. I certainly appreciate your coverage, and I know the people at home do as well. So my understanding is that you used to be a lawyer.
Powell: Guilty as charged.
Lapierre: And then you left that and pursued iRunFar as a full-time career.
Powell: That is true.
Lapierre: And has it gone the direction you would have predicted?
Powell: I, fortunately, went into it with an attitude of, “I don’t know what is going to happen.” There was a whole laundry list of things my life and iRunFar might have turned into. Many of them are still on the board, and many things that weren’t on that have happened. You kind of have to take it as it comes.
Lapierre: I think you’ve definitely grown—your website and your “corporation.” You now have other writers like Geoff Roes, Andy [Jones-Wilkins], and coaches writing for you as well. Any more ideas for the future?
Powell: Well, the first idea is making my life a little more livable. That’s the goal for 2013 is to make sure iRunFar is a sustainable endeavor. I’ve got to get myself out on that trail and enjoying the mountains I moved out West for. Other than that, I think, I hope there will be additional coverage of more events—the likes of Vermont, Wasatch, Superior, etc. This year and last year iRunFar has really been focused on in-depth coverage of a few of the most competitive races around the world. I’m there; Meghan is there on occasion; some other contributors are there. That’s worked really well, and we’ve had a blast doing that. As iRunFar grows, there will be room for getting, maybe not such in-depth coverage of all these races, but people reporting from on-site and really giving some insight into those events.
Lapierre: Do you think races like this that have large money at stake are going to draw more coverage or not necessarily?
Powell: I don’t think necessarily for iRunFar [that] it’s all about where the money or prize purses are. We were at Leadville and Western States and UTMB; it’s not about the money. If the money is going to bring top competitors here, like Run Rabbit Run this weekend, yeah, we’re going to be there. But if the races that don’t want to have prize money continue to find ways to draw the top competitors, we’re going to be there—Hardrock. We love Hardrock—the atmosphere, the environment around there. I can’t see there being prize money there for quite some time. You’ll see it at Western States and UTMB before you do at a race like that.
Lapierre: So you’re loving the mountains. Do you think you’re going to get back to competitive racing in the near future or racing in general?
Powell: Competitive racing, yes. I sort of just decided… well not just decided… I have a spot in next year’s Western States. A good friend and his wife won the raffle for next year’s race. They’ve never run a 50 miler and, unfortunately, don’t have the work schedule to allow them to train for and run one. So, in the next two months, I need to get a Western States qualifier. I did not plan on running an ultra all year; I really wasn’t planning to run a race all year. But I’m going to go run Le Grizz 50 miler up in Montana to see if I can use 20 years of running experience and a little bit of knowledge to get me through that.
Lapierre: Well, you’ve done it before; we know you can do it again. Don’t roll your eyes.
Powell: Yeah, I did 75 miles per month in July and August, excuse me.
Lapierre: You need a coach.
Powell: I do need a coach. Are you free?
Lapierre: Alright, last thing. Quick questions. No bias. Don’t think of sponsors, just truthful answers. Supportive shoes or minimal shoes?
Powell: I am… I lean most of the time towards supportive shoes. I use minimalist shoes as a training tool.
Lapierre: Best cup of coffee you’ve ever had?
Powell: Probably some Jamaican Blue Mountain french pressed at home.
Lapierre: Which team has the best running wardrobe?
Powell: Right now? Pearl Izumi.
Lapierre: Could you rock white spandex like Kilian?
Powell: Could I rock white spandex like Kilian? No. Could I rock white spandex? Probably.
Lapierre: High-5 or a hug?
Powell: Hug?
Lapierre: Alright, thank you, Bryon. Yay, we’re done! See, that wasn’t so bad!
