Lieutenant conquers 135-mile run

FORT SILL, Okla. (Aug. 7, 2014) -- The two-mile run in the Army Physical Fitness Test is not 2nd Lt. Brand Purdeu's biggest concern.

Recently graduated from Cameron University, Purdeu ran 135-miles in July -- in one race. He ran the Badwater Ultramarathon in California July 21 and placed 21st out of 97 runners.

"It was the most challenging thing I've ever had to do," said Purdeu.

An ultramarathon is any race over 26.2 miles, but typically the distance is 50K or more. Before Badwater, Purdeu competed in three 100-mile races, a 75-mile race, a couple 50-mile races, a 35-mile race and several 31-mile races.

"This was the farthest one so far. I didn't think 135 miles was going to be that much different than 100 miles, and it is a lot different. It was very hard."

It took him 33 hours and 7 minutes to finish. During that time he took two, less than one-hour, naps and besides fruit and nutrition bars, he ate half a hamburger at mile 75 and half of an egg and bacon bagel at mile 122.

"I ran 75 (miles) and then I was just tired. I needed to lay down so I laid down for about 45 minutes then popped up and went out for another 55 miles."

Badwater has earned its reputation for being the toughest ultramarathon not only because of its proximity to Badwater National Park where trees are nonexistent and the sun berates its company, but because there are three big climbs totaling 17,000 feet of ascent.

Purdeu ran in New Mexico prior to Badwater to test his reaction to elevation, but said it really wasn't a factor.

His pace in the first 50 miles was between 9-minutes, 30-seconds going uphill and 7:30 going downhill. As for how he kept going throughout the tough course,

Purdeu said he just kept one foot moving in front of the other.

"I never really had to tell myself anything to keep going. You've got everyone there with you and I know I have so many people back home cheering me on ... quitting and giving up is a pretty terrible idea."

As if the distance alone isn't enough to break a person's spirit, at mile 122 Badwater ends on a 13-mile climb up Whitney Portal. Purdeu said he could see the "astronomical mountain looming in the distance."

"That's a little depressing because you know you're a half marathon away. For me a half marathon should take under an hour and a half, by all intents and purposes, and you know it's going to take you three and a half hours to hike to the top of the mountain because you're going to move at three miles an hour. All you can do is hike toward it, but that's what makes it challenging and fun."

During typical ultramarathons, runners are greeted with water and food at regular intervals throughout the course. At Badwater each runner must bring their own friends and family to provide those things.

"Two people who were on the Army 10-miler team with me last year, my wife and then a local friend here came out and crewed with me so they were there every step of the way."

Several of Purdeu's crew ran portions of the race with him as well. He said the only downside to their constant company was they not only saw his highs, but his lows.

"Usually in a race you can kind of hide if you're going through a spell like a low spot and there was no hiding it. Two miles later they're like 'How you feelin? Not good.'"

As if finishing with his legs intact wasn't enough, he was not satisfied with his race time.

"It's hard to say I had a bad race ... it's the longest I've done so far, so it was a learning experience. And, I think it speaks a lot to the talent that comes out to Badwater."

True to his competitve nature he only looks to do better next time.

TRAINING

To compete, Purdeu had to run three 100-mile races, fill out an application, write an essay about why he wanted to run Badwater and who his Badwater hero was.

"You can't really go onto Google and look up 'Badwater Training Plan' and you're not even going to find one for 100 miles."

He said there's so little research on how to train for ultra marathons that experimenting is how he achieved his mileage.

Before Badwater he was running 80-100 miles a week with back-to-back long runs on the weekends.

Purdeu also focuses on nutrition.

"Running and being an athlete you have to spend a decent amount of in the kitchen. My wife and I both just try to stay as natural as possible."

He averages 13-20 hours a week training which doesn't include the driving time it takes to get to local trails, time spent working on his core, or time spent stretching and foam-rolling out his muscles.

INJURIES

In June, Purdeu upped his distance and ran 350 miles injury-free.

"I do a lot of hill work and I think that helps build a lot of strength so I don't have as many issues," he said.

"I listen a lot. I don't get blinded by the mileage. If something hurts then you take a day off, or you take it easy. If you skip speed work, then you skip speed work. This training cycle though I didn't have anything come up so it was pretty easy."

He buys a new pair of shoes every month and keeps three or four in rotation including flats, trail shoes, and two pairs of road shoes: one with more cushion for when he is sore, or for downhill running and one with less cushion for normal runs.

Althouth Purdeu runs like a professional he didn't start tacking on the miles until four years ago.

"When I was deployed in '06, '07 I just started doing 5Ks and 10Ks and eventually it just kind of turned into a marathon."

Prior enlisted, Purdeu has been doing prescribed Army running for nine years now before training to be an officer.

"I didn't start seriously training and running my first marathon until four and a half years ago. When I was stationed at Fort Riley, Kansas, I had two friends who talked me into running a 50-miler. So I ran that in October of 2011 and then once I did that I had to do the 100-miler, and then once I ran the 100 I had to do Badwater because it was the toughest one, I guess."

Already having earned the Airborne, Air Assault, Pathfinder, and Combat Infantry badges, Purdeu is headed to Infantry Basic Officer Leaders Course. When asked about his future goals for the Army he said he looks forward to being an officer and his next big race.

"I think at one point I needed Ranger School to prove to myself that I was good enough, or to test myself and I think through ultramarathon running I've kind of proven to myself that there's no challenge you can lay in front of me that I can't overcome."

"It's fun to see what the body is capable of. Everyone has got a niche."