Above: Hayden Hawks at the Western States 100 Endurance Run. Photo by: Peter Maksimow.
The injury sideline deserves as much attention as the podium spotlight. Media typically favors the most recent race winners and tends to forget about winners from previous years or talented athletes who would be in the spotlight if it weren’t for injuries or other circumstances that pull them away from racing. The 2023 Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc (UTMB) was no exception.
The 2023 UTMB, or the unofficial trail running “Super Bowl,” was one of the most exciting years for American trail runners, with wins by Courtney Dauwalter (who not only won her third UTMB but secured the never-before achieved “Triple Crown” by winning the Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run, Hardrock 100 and UTMB in one summer season), as well as the first UTMB win by an American male, Jim Walmsley, and a first podium for Zach Miller who finished second. These great athletes deserve the spotlight, but so too do the many incredible athletes on the sidelines of this year’s UTMB. These athletes are setting large dreams and rebuilding stronger to be ready for years to come.
One such sidelined athlete is Hayden Hawks (@hawks_hayden), one of three Americans to have won UTMB-CCC, the prestigious 100-kilometer race in the UTMB weeklong series of races. Zach Miller in 2015 and Clare Gallagher in 2017 were the other two champions. Hawks’ running goals were derailed this summer after knee surgery in mid-July to remove a bone spur that was aggravating tendons in his knee. His doctor describes the operation to Hawks, “It was like taking a thorn/nail out of your shoe that you had been running on for years.” In the following Q & A style interview, I chat with Hawks about his experience on the sideline of this year’s UTMB, his injury, the recovery process, tips for other injured runners, and what it feels like to be restoring his health and running injury-free.
Hayden Hawks at the Western States 100 Endurance Run. Photo by: Peter Maksimow.
[TAYTE POLLMANN] Could you describe your experience at UTMB this year, not as a racer, but from the sideline?
[HAYDEN HAWKS] I actually did some work with HOKA and crewed for my good friend and training partner Daniel Jones from New Zealand. I was excited to take part in the event in a different way this year and learned a lot from crewing Dan that I hope I can take into my own UTMB race someday. I did a lot of cheering for my HOKA teammates!
[TAYTE] Music is a great healer. Do you have a particular song on repeat right now? Something that speaks to this post-surgery/recovery moment?
[HAYDEN] I have always been a country music fan and listener. I grew up on country music and have been listening to a lot of it recently. Luke Combs, Chris Stapleton, Larry Fleet, and Zach Bryan are at the top of my playlist. I also like some good ’90s country music. Luke Combs’ “Doin’ This” or “Where the Wild Things Are” has been on repeat.
[TAYTE] You raced the Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run earlier this summer. Could you take us through that experience and what role your injury had at this event?
[HAYDEN] The Western States 100 was a mix of emotions this year. I came into the race with so much fitness, and confidence, and felt really prepared to have one of those days. I was so excited for where I was, and I came in with experience, all-time high fitness, and excitement. Then two weeks before the race my knee flared up again, but it was different this time, worse than it has been before. It has been bad going into a lot of races over the past few years. I did everything I could to treat it and take care of it, took some time off, and felt like I managed it well. Race day came and I felt some confidence come back, but still wasn’t sure it would hold up. I was right. About ten miles in I fell into a snow hole and really flared it up badly. I fought through it for many miles but it just wasn’t happening and I knew I needed to get to the root of the problem and find a solution. I had really high highs before the race and really low lows after the race. I would be lying if I said it wasn’t difficult, but I tried to stay positive through the whole experience and learned so much. It ended up being a blessing in disguise and I am excited for my future at Western States!
Hayden Hawks at the Western States 100 Endurance Run. Photo by: Peter Maksimow.
[TAYTE] Any advice to young ultrarunners to prevent or overcome serious running-related injuries?
[HAYDEN] The advice I would give to young ultrarunners is to put down your pride and don’t just try and run through things. Find out what’s going on and don’t be afraid to find answers. We are all tough and I pride myself on being tough, but I also know how important it is to take care of your body and do what needs to be done so you can have a long career. We see athletes in other sports taking care of their bodies, getting surgeries when needed, and being on top of body maintenance and strength training way more than we do. We need to do the same in our sport if we want to get the best out of ourselves. Get on a strength routine now at an early age and stick to it. It will help you as you get older and make you a better all around athlete and prevent lots of injuries.
[TAYTE] Cheese makes us strong. You wrote after surgery that you’re craving cheese. What’s your go to cheese? Do you have any favorite cheeses you’ve discovered from your race travels overseas?
[HAYDEN] I love cheese. I like any type of cheese. Europe tends to have the best cheeses and I crave them all the time, especially that French cheese. I do love a good extra sharp cheddar though.
[TAYTE] Injuries are great opportunities to learn more about your training. What lessons do you feel you’ve drawn from this injury experience?
[HAYDEN] I have learned the importance of putting my pride down and figuring out what’s going on and then taking care of it. I ran through this injury just trying to maintain it for too long instead of getting to the root of the problem. I was afraid of stopping, not training, and not racing. I love doing it so much, even though I knew there was a problem I pushed it off. I accomplished a lot, but probably could have done more and with a lot less pain. I don’t regret it, but have learned from it and am excited for what’s to come with a new healthy knee. Putting my pride down has helped me in this situation and should help me in many more, including race situations where humility, patience, and health is so important.
[TAYTE] Where do you go/what do you do when you face big obstacles in your career like injuries? Do you have a support crew to lean on or a happy place?
[HAYDEN] I have amazing family, friends, and community that support me in all phases of my career and life. I live close to my family and closest friends in Southern Utah for that reason. They give me balance and that balance makes me a better athlete. I have spent a lot more time with my family and friends doing different outdoor activities that are just as fun. My love for cross-training and sharing these experiences with others has grown so much through this injury. I am grateful for those times and am excited to continue building my love for all types of movement in the mountains and outdoors going forward. This injury has only fired me up even more and I have already set some big goals going forward. I am being patient and letting the knee heal, but I’m excited to get back into things and chase big dreams with my support system around me.
Hayden Hawks at the Western States 100 Endurance Run. Photo by: Peter Maksimow.
[TAYTE] You are an accomplished running coach. How have you helped your athletes manage injuries and has this changed the way you’re dealing with your injury now?
[HAYDEN] I love coaching and learn a lot from my own experiences that I can bring into coaching my athletes. I try to get all my athletes on some type of strength program to help them prevent injury. I also treat each athlete individually to help them achieve their own personal goals. Every athlete is different and some can handle more than others and have other responsibilities in life than others. It’s important to know your athletes and help them find that balance. No plan is the same and I try to do what is best for my athletes to keep them healthy and achieve their best. I am constantly changing things in my coaching according to what I learn in my own running, research, and the feedback I get from my athletes.
[TAYTE] What’s next in the recovery process for you?
[HAYDEN] I just started running again and the knee is coming around nicely. There is no more pain, and just a little tightness from scar tissue. I will continue to build more running and movement into my program. I plan on using this time as an offseason and making sure I am fully recovered and build back slowly and properly. I am having lots of fun on the bike, strength training more, hiking, and spending time with my family. I am finding new ways to train and progress forward towards my goals, getting stronger, healthier, and having lots of fun!
[TAYTE] Has this injury impacted relationships with your sponsors? What was this process like for you as someone who makes a living off of running?
[HAYDEN] I would like to thank HOKA and all my other sponsors (Precision Hydration, COROS, CurraNZ, Drymax, Sungod, and Squirrels Nut Butter) for helping and supporting me through his injury. I never felt pressured to do anything or rush back into things. My sponsors actually encouraged me to get this surgery and take care of my injury for good. They care for me and want me to be the best athlete and person I can be. I feel so fortunate to have their support and I think it’s important that brands do this for their athletes. It helps so much in the recovery process and it’s so nice to be treated like a person and not just an athlete.
[TAYTE] How do you feel about the future of your running career after this injury?
[HAYDEN] I am excited to get back to full health for some races and projects the end of 2023 and going into 2024. I am going to be a stronger athlete and can’t wait to see what I can do. Thank you to all that have supported me through this process.
