What’s the deal with Mike Shattuck - currently running 275 mpw

How quickly must he go through shoes?!

Looks like the Strava of a single man.

What is the point?

Is he training for something or is this a "Look at me" type runner? Very, very, very few runners love running that much to do this with no goal in mind.

googler wrote:

Does he have any history racing ultra that I’m not aware of?

I did see he has a few (not many) results on Ultrasignup. Couple of 100 mile finishes in decent (not great) times.

HHH Runner wrote:

Looks like the Strava of a single man.

Lol I had the same thought!

Should we be commending this guy or concerned about his mental health?

I think what's he doing is pretty amazing. I don't understand the purpose or the story behind it (maybe he'll write a book or make a documentary some day), but for the time being, how about just some awe and support for what is remarkable. He's breaking new barriers in what we thought the human body is capable of. I really hope people in Madison are offering support, running with him, etc. If I still lived in Madison, I'd definitely want to pace him some miles. While I never could fathom even running half the distance he runs, putting aside societal norms and expectations for the conventional lives we are "supposed" to live, I am pretty inspired by his performance.

Must've read about me.

googler wrote:

but all of t is really slow. Like, 12-16 minutes/mile.

A total waste of time, I walk faster.

Probably he's mentally ill.

This dude needs to go attack things like the Appalachian Trail and see what he can do. What's the record for circumnavigating each continent on foot?

Shoebacca wrote:

This dude needs to go attack things like the Appalachian Trail and see what he can do. What's the record for circumnavigating each continent on foot?

Someone recently broke the FTK record, averaging (I think) 52 miles a day on much tougher terrain.

IDK, I would get absolutely sick of running that much. It just doesn’t sound like fun, or healthy for that matter. This guy is going to have a serious identity crisis when he gets injured and can’t run.

cmvortex wrote:

I think what's he doing is pretty amazing. I don't understand the purpose or the story behind it (maybe he'll write a book or make a documentary some day), but for the time being, how about just some awe and support for what is remarkable. He's breaking new barriers in what we thought the human body is capable of. I really hope people in Madison are offering support, running with him, etc. If I still lived in Madison, I'd definitely want to pace him some miles. While I never could fathom even running half the distance he runs, putting aside societal norms and expectations for the conventional lives we are "supposed" to live, I am pretty inspired by his performance.

I guess the ability to do it is sort of impressive, but at the end of the day it’s so meaningless.

Nothing is produced or repaired or learned. Nobody is helped. Just a huge amount of time and effort that leaves no value.

I wish humans were the type that were amazed by people who give up their Saturdays year after year to mentor struggling kids or do carpentry work for poor seniors.

How do you "run" so much and be so slow? I am actually shocked he can run so much at that pace and not get injured.

...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgnJ8GpsBG8

Average person can walk fast at 12 mph. At 16 mph my pregnant 86 year old grandma could outpace him.

This guy deserves no ink.

I mean, sure, there are many more noble causes than running.

But you could make the same argument for people running 100 mile or 200 mile races. What good does it do for society?

The negative reactions throughout this entire topic kind of seem weird to me. Must not be a lot of ultra runners on this particular forum, lol.

Also not impressed wrote:

Average person can walk fast at 12 mph. At 16 mph my pregnant 86 year old grandma could outpace him.

This guy deserves no ink.

I assume you were going for laughs with the pregnant 86 year old running 16 mph, but nobody of any age walks 12 mph. And if you meant to say walk 12 minute miles, almost no one can walk that fast, and most people can't run that fast.

So, he's running for nine hours every day? Well, ok.

How much is he eating? Recent race results?

Also not impressed wrote:

Average person can walk fast at 12 mph. At 16 mph my pregnant 86 year old grandma could outpace him.

This guy deserves no ink.

Nonsense. 12 mph is 5 minute miles. NO ONE can walk that fast.

What about Dean Karzas