You've probably heard the phrase uttered, "That was a lucky shot." Perhaps you've heard a boxing commentator say, "He got caught with a lucky punch." But you've probably never heard of a lucky Ironman victory or a lucky ultra marathon. Luck simply isn't a word that's used much in such events. While it is true that unlikely champions are occasionally crowned in endurance sports it's not by virtue of luck.

Visit www.EndurancePlanet.com for more great stories and podcasts.

Canadian Ferg Hawke knew this when he entered the 2004 Badwater Ultramarathon.

Badwater is the ultimate in endurance sports. Participants run 135-miles across Death Valley before finishing atop the highest point in the contiguous United States, Mount Whitney. The race tests the physical, mental, and spiritual mettle of the most determined runners in the world. To depend on luck is to insure disaster.

But 46-year-old Hawke knew that he couldn't win on sheer talent either.

"I felt that the guys I was competing with were probably a lot better runners than me…better natural athletes for sure."

So Hawke used his not-so-secret weapon: preparation. "I just felt if I could prepare myself for the heat properly I might compete fairly well with them and that was my strategy going in. "

He even built a solarium on his back deck. "It's quite an ugly looking structure and I had my treadmill in there. I can get it up to anywhere from 120 to 135 degrees depending on how hot it is outside and I would run in there up to three hours almost every day for the last two months leading up to Badwater."

Hawke estimates that he was logging 100 to 150 miles a week. "I had to get pretty creative with my training and my time management because I have a family, I have a full-time job. I also have my own business. It all keeps me hopping."

But it worked. Against veteran competitors and runners who may have been more skilled, Hawke persevered across the desert. In the final miles only he and acclaimed ultra-distance star Dean Karnazes were in contention for the title. Karnazes, in his fifth attempt on the course, edged out Hawke by just seven and a half minutes…the closest margin of victory on record.

When word spread that Karnazes had claimed the title it was no big shock. But many people were surprised to hear that a rookie entrant from White Rock, British Columbia, placed 2nd. Yes, people were surprised but no one said Hawke was lucky.

Luck had nothing to do with it.

"It's all about preparation," says Hawke. "You can't change what you've been given, your genetic makeup. But you can take what you've got." The following year a documentary film crew followed Hawke to Badwater as he tried to improve upon his previous time and win the race. The most competitive field of runners ever had assembled for the challenge. Seven-time Western States 100 winner Scott Jurek was among them.

The documentary of the 2005 race has just been released. We won't spoil the film's ending. Let's just say that Hawke did not disappoint.

The title of the DVD is "The Distance of Truth." For Hawke, the truth of running distance is that preparation is everything.

"The one thing I can control is that I can prepare myself as well, if not better, than anybody else in the race."

Asked to describe what the movie is all about, Navy Seal and ultra running superstar David Goggins says, "Someone who's trying awful hard with the abilities that God gave him."

Related Articles

·  Dec. 2, 2008: RENOWNED ENDURANCE SPORTS COACH TROY JACOBSON JOINS LIFE TIME FITNESS AS DIRECTOR OF ENDURANCE SPORTS TRAINING ·  Timing is Everything! ·  NOW SHIPPING!! - Madison Wisconsin Training Ride Video! ·  2008 Lake Placid Training Camp