I caught up with ultrarunner and star of Discovery Channel's new reality survival show The Wheel.
He's an accomplished ultrarunner who is currently competing on The Wheel. The show "dares six participants to survive in six distinctly grueling landscapes across South America. With every turn of the wheel, each survivalist is dropped into a new isolated location, exposed to the world's deadliest terrains including freezing tundra, rugged mountains, and treacherous rainforest."
Edward White: What were the first steps that got you started on the path to becoming an ultrarunner?
Adam Kimble: My path from casual runner into ultrarunner was pretty abrupt. After running my first marathon (Chicago) in 2012, I initially thought I was done running for awhile. Then I thought, "I know I can beat that time. I'm going to sign up for another marathon." After that, I wanted to qualify for Boston, so I signed up for a third. Each new goal spurred me on to see what my body was capable of, and two years after that first marathon, I had already completed three ultras.
Do you remember the moment when you decided you were going to run your first ultramarathon?
I do! I voiced to my friend Josh that I had been thinking about making the leap to ultras, and he told me about a local 50k he had done the year before. I signed up almost immediately. Within two months of that, I ran my first 50-miler, and two months after that, my first 100!
What is your spiritual practice?
I'm a Christian, and my faith drives me in all aspects of life. Going to church and prayer are both very important to me. I often blend my love for ultrarunning with my faith, using the hours spent training and running races to pray and spend time alone with God!
What are your dietary practices for training (if any)?
I'm a pescatarian and try to eat a primarily whole-food, plant-based diet. I stopped eating meat a year and a half ago, and I liked the way I felt, so I kept it up. I believe that eating a plant-based diet has had a very positive effect on my career as an ultrarunner.
What are you really not very good at?
Video games. I haven't played video games in years because I'm not good, and I would rather be outside. To give you an idea of how dated my gaming is, my best game by far is Mario Kart for Nintendo 64.
What would you do in the event of a zombie apocalypse?
I'm always training for my next ultra, which helps me be prepared for success in racing...or a zombie apocalypse. I'm hopeful that zombies aren't built for endurance and I can wear them down!
Tell me about your most memorable adventure?
My wife and I traveled abroad for a year in 2015. For the first three months, we took our chocolate lab, Sofi, with us. Some of the most insane and unforgettable stories happened because of her. I wouldn't ever recommend traveling internationally with a pet (especially a 75 lb. one), but I am so grateful for the friends we met because of it, and the horror stories we can now laugh about.
What is your spirit animal and why?
Chocolate labrador. I'm a very happy person, I love people, and I'm happiest when I'm off leash and exploring the trails!
Thanks for reading! Adam Kimble is Javazen's first sponsored athlete, and we're proud and excited to see his performance on The Wheel.
1 comment
EJ,
Nice job on Adam’s interview! You chose well, when you chose to sponsor him. He is a man of strong conviction and faith. In today’s tenuous world, those are rare and valued qualities, indeed. As his sponsor, I am sure you will grow to appreciate that he is someone you can count on to perform at a high level, and who always honors his word. I had the privilege of sharing some miles with him, during his transcontinental run last year. I did not know him, prior to that. Yet, within minutes of our meeting (on a country road in Jurupa Valley, California, he immediately made me feel as though I was a part of his family… and it’s been that way ever since. I’m sure you know what I mean. For those that don’t know Adam, but would like to learn a bit more than what you have shared in this interview, I’m attaching a link below. It will give you a glimpse into last year’s cross-country trek, as well as some of his other pursuits. Not only is Adam a talented athlete, but he has an infectious spirit, and a fantastic sense of humor! I hope that some of your readers will make the effort to get to know this generous man. I promise – he will impact your life – if you are open, and ready for change! (And no, I am not his agent. Just a guy who knows the real deal, when he experiences it.)
https://adamkimble.com/gwrinformation/runacrossamerica/
P.S. Keep rockin’ The Wheel, Adam! Great premiere last Friday night. I’ll be tuning in every week to follow your progress.