Mike Wardian’s 100K weekend

The past weekend saw some of the best weather we’ve had all spring, and runners across the country got outside to enjoy the warmth and the sun. It’s unlikely that too many people matched Mike Wardian‘s weekend mileage, though, because on Friday evening in Arlignton, Va., he embarked on a huge two-day running challenge. He started with a 5K, followed by a 10K, then a half-marathon and a 64K run to finish things off. In total, he ran 100K in under 30 hours, and all at pretty fast paces. The ultrarunner did all this less than a month after running 422K in 63 hours to win the Quarantine Backyard Ultra virtual race.

How was your weekend? @mikewardian was busy, running a 5K (16:43), 10K (35:23), half marathon (1:24:47), and a 64K (5:33:20), the last of which also saw him setting the Double Arlington Loop Fastest Known Time (FKT) in 4:19:17! https://t.co/xu4CCdVdoV pic.twitter.com/FqNuOzbjw9

— HOKA (@hoka) May 4, 2020

At 6 p.m. on Friday, Wardian ran his 5K, posting a 16:43. A quick time (3:19 per kilometre), but nothing extraordinary, especially for a runner of his caliber. Two hours later, he ran a 10K in 35:23. Again, quick—this time averaging 3:32 per kilometre—but a full five minutes slower than his PB of 30:23.

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Four hours after that, at 12 a.m. on Saturday, he averaged just over four minutes per kilometre throughout a half-marathon to finish in 1:24:47. If all that wasn’t enough (36K of hard efforts in a span of just over seven hours), he kicked off his 64K run 24 hours after he started his 5K. He averaged 5:12 per kilometre for a final time of 5:33:20, completing a massive 100K in two days of running. Afterward, he posted on Twitter, saying that his “legs were flat” during the 64K. After already running close to a marathon, we don’t blame him for struggling a bit in the last five-dozen kilometres.

I just finished the @hokaoneoneaustralia #isorunfest 64k and man did I feel it. Legs were flat the entire day BUT it was ?…because I got to be part of the global running community & share the last few days with incredible friends. I miss you guys. Huge ?, to everyone pic.twitter.com/GWYvPUjzVK

— michael wardian (@mikewardian) May 3, 2020

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This is nothing new for Wardian, who has competed in dozens of ultramarathons and set multiple world records at ultra distances and challenges. The biggest question when it comes to him isn’t, “How does he do it?” (although that’s a valid question, too), but rather, “What’s next?” We’re confident that he’ll be back at it with another mind-boggling run or challenge soon enough.