Larry West Trains for Badwater
On Oct 1, 2011, Texas native Larry L. West, known as Laz by his endurance racing family, lined up at the start of Arkansas Traveller 100 mile ultra-marathon. This race, located in Perryville, Arkansas, meant everything.because all of the months of training and preparation was coming down to one thing.finishing the race and moving one step closer to his goal - qualifying for Badwater, recognized globally as the worlds toughest foot race.
The Badwater 135 mile ultramarathon is the Boston Marathon of endurance races. But unlike Boston, where if you are fortunate enough to run a qualifying time in another marathon, you could be lucky enough to only need to race once to get to Boston. For Badwater, you need a track record of having competed at least three ultra-distance races of 100 miles to qualify. This race was Wests first 100 mile test.
West finished in 29 hours and 17 minutes while at the same time beating his prior 50 mile time by over an hour. All in all a successful race.
West, who is a State Trooper for the Texas Highway Patrol in Orange County, is not only new to endurance sports, hes also younger than many ultra athletes when they start their careers. The early 30-something athlete, once a federal law enforcement agent in D.C , had competed in a couple of adventure races in college but when he started working professionally, a long run was only about 6 miles. Wests first official race was the Walt Disney World marathon in 2008 which he finished in 6 hours.
Becoming an Ultraman:
When West returned to Texas, he signed up for the Beaumont, Texas inaugural Gusher marathon and ran off course. Despite running about 28 miles West PRed his marathon time. When he mentioned the course error to the race director and she said, You just ran your first ultra!
The rest, as they say, was history.
West started his ultramarathon career on February 5, 2011 when he lined up at Rocky Raccoon 50 miler in Huntsville, Texas. West says that mile 46 was the worst moment of his entire life; yet, after the race he was determined to run an 100-miler.
Mile 46 was (and remains) the worst moment physically of my entire life but I finished! he said.
Once West finished the Arkansas race, he moved to the Cactus Rose 10o, hoping to finish his second 100 and that hed be one step closer to qualifying for Badwater. Unfortunately, he only finished the 50 miler.
In addition to being a State Trooper I was selected to be a Crisis Negotiator. It happened that an Advanced Negotiator school was the same week of the Cactus Rose and 72 hours before the race I was doing a 24 hour scenairo. That caught up with me about mile 23 and it was a struggle to get to mile 32 where I slept for a couple of hours and then did the last 15 slow to get credit for a 50 miler, he explained.
Wests next race is Rocky Raccoon 100 on February 4, 2012 in Huntsville.
Last year, this race was my first ultra with the 50 miler so I know the course well and I feel confident that I will finish strong and smiling, he said.
On coaching, West considers veteran ultramarathoner Cheryl Zwarkowski his coach. The two met onlinethrough facebook when West first learned about this sport and has been an amazing encouragement and motivator. Additionally, Zwarkowski took a chance on West and allowed him to pace her Badwater.
Work/Life Diversity
Wests personal training varies due to shift work and family obligations but most training is done at night. West tucks his baby in to bed at 8pm. His wife goes to sleep around 9pm and then West runs through the night.
I think this was a great asset [to have trainined at night] when the sun went down around mile 64 [of the Arkansas race] and the race became mental knowing that most of my training was done from 10pm-1am. For my first 50 miler and 100 miler I was learning what worked (and what didnt.), he said.
What Works in Training
West runs in Brooks Cascadia 6s for for his trail shoe. He has taken Endurolytes which much success. Recently, West switched from a Camelbak to a Nathan Hydration vest and found the vest to be much more enjoyable.
I have found that for me personally GUs arent really something I can use at the 50 and 100 distance (I think I had just 1 the entire 100) and prefer real foods and when life gets ugly I found that a few rock salt under the tongue works wonders.
West is supported by the Texas Department of Public Safety Officer’s Association. West is on a mission to bring attention to the importance and correlation of personal health and fitness on personal safety. He hopes to encourage others that they are stronger than they realize and if they continue to keep moving forward they are capable of far greater things than they ever imagined.
Find Laz on Facebook.
Great article! Cant wait to meet Laz at Bandera!
Thank you Fawn. I wont be attending Bandera but will be at Rocky Raccoon 100. Thank you to Endurance Racing for promoting the message of Trooper On The Run. -Laz
Laz is a hero and a rockstar ultrarunner!!! I am so proud of all that he has accomplished this past year!! He has the mental and physical strength to ROCK Badwater.