Bob Hearn and the Science of Pacing

Bob Hearn set out at Desert Solstice to run 154.5 miles and came within a few hundred yards of doing so. That’s pretty incredible planning and precision, and it’s nothing to new to the guy known as the Prince of Pacing.

Bob’s unique background includes an insatiably curious mind and a PhD in Artificial Intelligence and Computer Science, then he takes that knowledge and performs experiments until he’s figured out that particular aspect of running. Is it pacing? Bob’s building a computer model that will work to predict outcomes of races. Is it diet? You’ll hear him talk about mixing his own powders in his kitchen for a week until he got the right combination. Is it sleep? He compares Coke to No-Doze to caffeine. To Bob Hearn, racing ultramarathons is one giant experiment in optimization.

But Bob’s not just a science geek. He’s also got the record for the naked 50k at Burning Man and is heavily into yurt design and construction. We talk about how his varied interests all follow one overriding theme: Figuring out the puzzle of how something works.

Bob Hearn Episode Sponsor: Strava

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Bob Hearn Episode Notes

Here’s Bob’s blog with his mort recent report on Desert Solstice. Block off some time for these. They’re worth your full attention.

Here’s the interview with Burning Man 50 RD/Founder Cherie Yanek.

New word/term I learned: Ab initio.

Here’s more on Maurten hydration/energy drink.

Intro/Outro music by David Rosales. Our interviw with David is right here.

Gear in Review with URP Gear Editor Ben Zuehlsdorf

Shoes

Review: HOKA One One Torrent
TOPO Athletics Ultraventure Video | Review | Purchasing

Tech/Wearables

Garmin 935 Review | Purchasing
Suunto 9 Purchasing

Apparel

Patagonia Strider Pro Shorts Purchasing
The North Face Better Than Naked Shorts Purchasing
Ice Breaker Cool Lite Merino Wool Shirt Purchase
Ultimate Direction Moonlight Jacket Review | Purchase
Gore Shake Dry Purchase
BUFF Info and Purchase

Packs

Naked Running Band Review | Purchase
Nathan Vapor Zach Video Review | Purchase

Lighting

Petzl Bindi Purchase
Kogalla RA Info and Purchase

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9 Responses to "Bob Hearn and the Science of Pacing"

John Maroushek says:

December 20, 2018 at 5:51 am

Great episode. I’ll be attempting my six day run next week at Across The Years. Some good info from Mr. Metronome!

Reply
1. MJ says:
  
  December 20, 2018 at 7:43 am
  
  Good luck John!
  
  Reply
MJ says:

December 20, 2018 at 7:42 am

Thanks for interviewing Bob, huge fan!

For Ben….

re 935, have you tried to get the advertised 50 hours from the 935 (in its reduced GPS, no HR mode)? I have a 235 – at 42mm, smaller face than 935, wish they’d kept that size for 935 – but it’s pretty old and beat up, and I am investigating replacements. I’ve always been Garmin and would like something that can go through at least a 48 hour race (loops, so GPS not as big a deal) Tempted by Suunto 9’s battery life but prefer Garmin interface, options, etc. Have tried on the uber-Fenix – way too big and heavy for me. (and the Fenix 5S shorts me on battery life, or I would have gotten it) I know the 935 is sort of a plastic Fenix 5, but haven’t seen anyone really push on battery life and report on that and what it does to accuracy on distance.

re Coros – for the PACE, not the APEX, they have a 3 month “trial” – which reads sort of like a return policy ($300 deposit required, must return undamaged)…. https://coros.com/freetrial.php

Eric – going to do a segment with your female gear reviewer(s)? 🙂 I know you’ve got Sarah’s list, but you’ve also been good about having some female gear reviews on the site. Maybe any standouts from those reviews?

Reply
Bob Hearn says:

December 28, 2018 at 8:02 pm

Thank you Eric! I do have one correction, that I should have made during the interview. I don’t have the record or FKT for the naked 50K at Burning Man. Lots of people run it naked; for the past three years there has been an award for the first naked finisher. I’ve won it the past two years. But in 2016 the first naked finisher was Elliot Drake, who finished a full 40 minutes ahead of me. I never saw him, and was convinced I was the first naked guy until I finished. Later he pointed out that not only was I not the first naked finisher; I wasn’t even the first naked finisher from MIT! Oh the shame.

The Burning Man 50K has somehow or other become an extremely competitive event. Given that it’s limited to Burning Man attendees – you have to pay for and get into the entire event; you can’t just show up for the race – that’s rather surprising. This year’s winner ran 3:06:30!

Reply
Trail Running Daily News | Monday, March 18 | Ultrarunnerpodcast.com says:

March 18, 2019 at 5:55 am

[…] Dude’s a stud and has potential to really shake up the MUT scene.-It’s rare to see Bob Hearn fall short at a 24 hour. Sounds like he and Jon went out too fast?-I’m not familiar with Anna […]

Reply
Ultramarathon Daily News | Wed, Aug 28 | Ultrarunnerpodcast.com says:

August 28, 2019 at 6:21 am

[…] Fejes just hit 300, Bob Hearn‘s a 275, and women’s leader Connie Gardner is at 230 miles at Six Days in the Dome. […]

Reply
Francesca Muccini - Overall Champion at Vol State says:

August 27, 2020 at 2:37 pm

[…] sure to read this report from her closest competitor Bob Hearn. Bob was also on URP and his interview on pacing theory is a must […]

Reply
Ultramarathon Daily News | Tue, July 13 | Ultrarunnerpodcast.com says:

July 13, 2021 at 7:01 am

[…] Vol State. Incredible performance. Meanwhile, Bev Abbs takes the women’s screwed record. Here’s our interview with the fascinating Bob […]

Reply
Ultramarathon Daily News | Mon, Nov 28 - Ultrarunnerpodcast.com says:

November 28, 2022 at 6:16 am

[…] is into trail running and nudism and wants to combine the two. (Flap, flap, ouch.) And of course Bob Hearn gets a […]

Reply

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