By Kimberly Yamaguchi
[email protected]
Members of the Hawaii Ultra Run Team (HURT) took off on the Tantalus Triple Trek on Sep 3. Senior Skyler Doppelmayer was one of the participants, there at 5:30 a.m. to compete in the grueling 30-mile race. Not only did he complete the race, but he was also the youngest participant by far.
“He was the youngest participant to ever run this race. (Last year) he finished, I think it was just over seven hours. And this year he finished about a half hour earlier,” said Skyler Doppelmayer’s mother, Jacki Doppelmayer. The average age for people who compete in these types of ultra races is thirty.
Skyler Doppelmayer enjoyed running around the brutal 10-mile Tantalus loop trail three times, most of it being uphill. “(I like) where your mind goes when you run. You can just zone,” he explained. The challenging terrain, along with his hard work ethic and self motivation drove Skyler Doppelmayer to finish the race. “It was all a mental game for him,” his mom explained.
Skyler Doppelmayer has been running since the third grade. He ran cross country for two years at the beginning of high school. “But it just wasn’t the kind of running he was enjoying. He loves to get out on the trails,” Jacki Doppelmayer, explained. Skyler Doppelmayer agreed saying, “I didn’t like to run that short amount of distances. It was just too short. I’m not a short distance runner so I can’t keep up with the other guys.”
Throughout his training, his mom was right there with him. “We run together. We talk about the mental challenges… We basically go over nutrition. I mean, I’m kind of right there with him,” Jacki Doppelmayer explained.
Though Skyler Doppelmayer successfully tackled this race, he doesn’t let it go to his head. “He does things like this just because he has personal goals. He’s not out for recognition,” Jacki Doppelmayer explained.
In the future Skyler Doppelmayer aims to complete the HURT 100, another harsh terrain race. Only this time instead of 30 miles it will be 100 miles. “Because he’s still growing the longer distances are just too hard on the body,” said Jacki Doppelmayer.
Skyler Doppelmayer plans to run for as long as he can. “I want to still be running when I’m 60,” he said.
Skyler Doppelmayer is a self-motivated athlete. He gave up fame and recognition so that he could just enjoy the sport. Skyler Doppelmayer loves to run and thrives off of the challenge of ultra running.
