Endurance Planet Audio Interview

If you are interested, Kevin Patrick from Endurance Planet (www.enduranceplanet.com) interviewed me a few weeks ago after the McNaughton Park 150 miler. The podcast was posted today and is titled Ordinary and Extraordinary: www.enduranceplanet.com/public/292.cfm

From the Endurance Planet website:

"For the vast majority of the population the thought of running 150 miles is unfathomable. A person who, for example, has a goal of running a 5k may find it difficult to relate to a person who runs an ultramarathon. But, believe it or not, both of those individuals have a lot in common. Listen to the stories of extraordinary endurance athletes and you will find that they're ordinary people. Case in point: 32-year-old Ryan Dexter...the winner of the 150-mile McNaughton Park Races. He is both ordinary yet undeniably extraordinary."

To download this audio file and take it with you, simply right-click on the link below and "save target as" to your computer: www.enduranceplanet.com/Ordinary_and_Extraordinary_5-21-2009.mp3

New Self Renewal Center - My Wife is a TV Star

A local television station (Madison's CW) interviewed my wife Christina earlier this week about New Self Renewal Center (http://www.newselfrenewal.com/) in Madison where she is the Fitness Director.

The video can be seen online at: www.madisonscw.com/SubPage.aspx?page=2651

New Self Renewal Center provides a small community that offers both fitness and rest, focusing on health and wellness for the whole person. If you are ever in Madison, WI stop in.

Letter From My Mom

Last Saturday, I received a letter from my Mom (Barbara Dexter) who lives in Pennsylvania regarding the 150 mile race I ran a couple weeks earlier. I was recently interviewed by Kevin Patrick from Endurance Planet (www.enduranceplanet.com) and referenced this letter, so thought I would include the entire note. Although this is written to me, I think it emodies all of us and the unlimited potential we all have.

Dear Ryan:

When I saw the picture of you at Mile 140, I was overcome with emotion. I could see that it was your mind that was in control – no question. You displayed strong-will, determination, focus- great concentration, and I knew nothing could have stopped you then!

When we cheer that spirit of a true athlete, what we are applauding is the demonstration of courage, tenacity, commitment, alignment with principle and purpose, a demonstration of excellence, honor, respect, and humility. You displayed all of that in that single moment captured on film. But, as all good coaches, CEOs, military commanders, and YOU know, it takes a team effort with a great deal of team spirit to determine the difference between victory and defeat. You had a great team with you. I could tell from your blog that they forced you to go beyond the very real human level of SELFISHNESS to SELFLESSNES! You moved from personal pride to an esteem that is an expression of unconditional love – one that also honors one’s opponents for their dedication to the same lofty principles. Top performers like you, are imbued with the belief that your excellence isn’t a personal accomplishment, but a gift from God, belonging to all mankind as a demonstration of man’s potential. That’s why you were strong and remained so through the event. That gift needs to be respected and defended at all costs. I’m very proud of you, Ryan.

Just as you said, athletes do express gratitude, inner awe, and awareness that their performance wasn’t merely the result of an individual effort – that maximum personal effort brought them to the breakthrough point from which they were than transported by a power greater than that of the himself. Always keep that higher motivation toward excellence because it will give you access to the realm of grace and power.

True athletic power is characterized by grace, sensitivity, inner quite, and paradoxically, gentleness in the noncompetitive lives of even fierce competitors. We celebrate the champion because we recognize that he has overcome personal ambition through sacrifice and dedication to higher principles. A great athlete becomes legendary when he teaches by example. Always set that example for others to follow. It isn’t what you have, or what you do, but what you become that inspires all of mankind, and that’s what we honor in you.

An athlete must hold in his mind the honor of his God, his country, or his sport; the dedication of his performance to someone he loves; or even the sheer joy of maximum effort for the sake of excellence; if he is to be powerfully strong and excel. You did this, and did it well.

You, as an athlete of the highest caliber, have a powerful influence on all of mankind, literally the power to lift the world on your shoulders. The nurturing of excellence and recognition of its value is the responsibility of all men, because the quest for excellence in any area of human endeavor inspires us all toward the actualization of every form of man’s yet unrealized greatness!

Thanks for being you!

With love and respect,
Mom

2009 McNaughton Park 150 Mile Race Videos

The above photo is from Mile 140.

This video is from Mile 130 and at the Finish Line 34 hours 42 minutes and 16 seconds after we started. A 13:52.9 min/mile pace.

Click here to see the video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAaEbrhFvAk

Below were the top three times.

1. Ryan Dexter, age 32, 34:42:16.0, 13:52.9 min/mile, Verona, WI
2. Mark Tanaka, age 42, 40:56:43.0, 16:22.7 min/mile, Castro Valley, CA
3. Paul Stofko, age 33, 41:49:27.0, 16:43.8 min/mile, Loveland, CO

Dexter Wins Ultramarathon - Verona Press Follow-up

http://veronapress.com/main.asp?SectionID=4&SubSectionID=4&ArticleID=1424

Dexter wins ultramarathon

Ryan Dexter, a Verona resident and "ultra-marathoner," last weekend won a 150-mile foot race in Illinois by more than six hours.

Dexter started the McNaughton Park Trail Run at noon Friday and finished 34 hours and 42 minutes later. Rainy conditions early in the race forced him to scale back his original goal - a 30-hour finish - but he still barely missed the course record by an hour or so.

On Monday, the father of three was back at work - swollen feet and all - at Qualtim, Inc. in Madison, where he's a civil engineer."

I am very much fatigued and am hobbling around," he said in an e-mail. "No injuries, just sore."

As we reported last week, Dexter had run the 150-miler in each of the last two years, finishing in 40 hours and 36 hours.

Leading up to this year's competition, he ran up to a marathon a day, including running seven miles to and from work each day.

Dexter lives on Ridgeview Trail with his wife, Christina, and three sons, Chase, 6, Cruz, 4, and Dash, 2.

McNaughton Park 150 Mile - Ryan Dexter Race Photos

We just finished Mile 140 in this photo above. You can see my crew member/friend Randy Steiner as well. You can see it in the eyes - only 10 more miles!

Finished! 34 hours 42 minutes and 18 seconds = 150 miles. We won by over 6 hours and would have won the 100 mile race by nearly 2 hours.

This is part of my amazing crew at the finish line. Pictured L to R: Mike Larson, Jay Edgar, Christina Dexter (my wife), Jerry Davison, myself, Demah Nuertey, Greg Almond, Jason Sloat, Mike Younglove, and Randy Steiner. Not pictured: Burt Dehaven, Tom Rodenkirch, Dan Prevenas, and Steve Cabler.

My friend Jay Edgar came down on Saturday morning to run a little with me at McNaughton as well take some additional photos. So, these photos are probably around the last 40 or 50 miles of the race. If you are interested, take a look.: http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir?uname=jayedgar&target=ALBUM&id=5324353027684643345&authkey=Gv1sRgCNriwfDwmMDfGg&authkey=Gv1sRgCNriwfDwmMDfGg&feat=email

McNaughton Park 150 Mile Victory

Before the race started in the pouring cold rain Good Friday afternoon at noon, my crew and I prayed the following prayer which was taken from a great book that my wife Christina has been reading (The Christian Athlete by Dwayne Smith):

"I am a warrior for Christ. My number one goal is to glorify Him, for He made me and He gave me my talents. So I will work hard, play hard, and fight to be the best. When I am at my best, people will notice, and in me they will notice Christ."

I hope people noticed that I am not that strong. It was the strength of Jesus Christ at work through me.

Final results are available online at: www.timetorun.net/Results/McNaughton%20Park%202009/overall.htm

We won the 150 mile race by over 6 hours and would have won the 100 mile race by nearly 2 hours.

The rest of last week's Verona Press newspaper article with extended Q&A can be viewed online now at: www.veronapress.com/main.asp?SectionID=4&SubSectionID=4&ArticleID=1396

A couple excerpts:
Obvious question - why do this?
I'm not sure. The challenge? It's the challenge... Also, it opens door for talking about my religion and my faith and what gives me strength... I couldn't do it if I didn't know there was a higher power out there.

What have ultramarathons taught you?
Probably the biggest lesson is that if you set a goal and put the time in to make that happen... there might be variables that might change the outcome that you plan, but your overall goal will be achievable... For me right now, that goal is a 150-mile race. That's what gets me out the door. I can't just go out and run. I need a goal... Mentally, I need this.