After a busy 2023, Nike professional ultrarunner Tyler Greene started building this season slowly and deliberately. But despite a shortened training block before the Hong Kong 100, he still managed to reach the podium and prepare for the journey ahead – a grueling six months featuring some of the most competitive ultra athletes on the planet. I was able to make good preparations for the race.
Back home in Portland, Oregon, Green balances training, coaching, and spending time with his 18-year-old son, Lou. In late April, he raced the Madeira Ultra Trail, a 115-kilometer course across the Portuguese island. He is currently preparing for the Western States 100 Mile and the Ultra-Trail du Mont Blanc (UTMB) in Chamonix, France. Even the most experienced ultrarunners would describe this schedule as grueling. That's why Green plans to take a break after that.
“After UTMB, all my competitive aspirations will go into coaching and I can rest my body,” Green says. “I don't have a strict schedule; I run when I want to.” Green, head coach of the cross country team at Oregon Episcopal School, an independent high school in suburban Portland, called the state meet “the next UTMB to fill the competitive void that we strive for all season.” express.
We sat down with Green to learn more about his racing and coaching background, and how he balances work with the rest of his life.
InsideHook: Tell us about your running career and how you discovered trail running.
Tyler Green: I participated in my first cross country race when I was in second grade, and continued running until high school. I was fast, but not the best. After studying at a community college for a year, I moved to Nepal for two years for service work, hiking in the mountains almost every day. I had given up on sports until I discovered trail running. My friend Ben Turman paid for my first race of 2014, his 50K race in Oregon. That's how it all started. Until then, I didn't know much about trail running, even though I was an avid hiker and mountaineer. The idea of being able to go out and run in the mountains never really appealed to me. He helped introduce me to this world.
That was over 10 years ago, what has been your proudest moment since then?
Twice as much as last year [Western] I'm really proud of the state and UTMB. My goal when I started this sport was to finish in the top 10 in both of these races, and I was surprised to be able to do that in the same year. But I'm most proud of the process. Every year I chip away at it a little bit and figure it out. Find small ways to improve. I'm almost 40 years old and have no plans to slow down.
What goals do you have for this year's big race?
To be honest, I'm not talking about trying to win, because winning this kind of race is a monumental task. The goal for all three of us is to get on the podium, but I will fight for every position to get into the top 10 as much as possible. Another goal is to grow as a runner with each race. Madeira was a new race for me and allowed me to challenge myself in a new way. There is still room for growth for the state and his UTMB as we look to build on our previous efforts.
Please tell us about how you train, what you are currently focused on, or any new methods you are working on this year.
My current coach, Matt Lee, exudes a quiet confidence. Before I finished second for the first time at Western States (Green finished second in 2021 and 2023), he gave me the mantra, “Why not me?” And he made me believe that I could do so much more than I thought. We're not really doing anything special this season, we're just trying to refine some small details. Before each state, we do a big three-day effort like 30-20-20, simulating the race as best we can, with the goal of quality in all three sessions.
How would you describe your racing and training mentality?
I think of ultrarunning as a process. long process. When I was first trying to qualify for Western States, I placed third in two Golden Ticket races, narrowly missed qualifying, and ultimately qualified. When I think about my goals or talk to athletes, I always start with my five-year goals. What matters is further down the pipeline and creating a map to get there. When you start a race, just do the reps and practice towards that big goal.
Tell us about the high school team you coach and how you got involved.
This is my 9th year at this school as a physical education teacher, including 5 years as an assistant coach. We had time to observe what was working and what needed to be changed. When I took over the program, we had some great assistant coaches who were very helpful. We developed the right culture and slowly achieved milestones towards our goal. Last year we won the prefectural tournament.
Can you tell me more about the culture?
We wanted our team to be friends outside of running. It's great to practice together, but we wanted to build a community. For example, in the summer, eating pancakes followed by a long run can help build genuine connections. My parents host and we make pancakes and then we all go for a run. Or sometimes we just sit and chat at the end of each practice. It's an important part of being on a team and helps build camaraderie, and I think it's sorely missing.
What do you take from your own training and implement with your team?
Some cross over well, some don't. We tried some mindfulness exercises with our team. This was very important to me as an athlete, but it didn't work for my kids. But perhaps they will understand its value in the future.
We also focus on consistency and how it has a huge impact in the long run. Additionally, strength training and core training are important factors for high school students. Coming from a diverse sports background, I understand the need to help kids become athletes, not just runners. That means lots of drills, agility games, and letting the kids practice their movements. As a professional, I've learned that when I feel like a strong runner and athlete, I feel strongest when I'm on the starting line. There is a difference.
Tell us about time management and how you juggle being a father and being a pro runner.
I say no to a lot of things to avoid being busy all the time. Time with my son is precious, and when I'm really feeling well, I'm intentional about spending time with him while on the phone in another room. That's a big focus for me right now because I don't want to say no to things just to spend more time doomscrolling.
I often have to work through things with my son. When he naps, I take advantage of that and focus on things that require my full attention, and my training gets trickier too. That means the occasional mile or workout with the kids I coach, and a lot of running from my front door instead of driving to the trailhead.
Are there any creative ways you've learned to juggle family life, training, and coaching?
I'm trying to be a little more Rocky-like and less Drago-like. If you are raising a child and it is difficult to break in, take Roo in a stroller or in an Osprey pack and walk him up a steep hill. I often run with my dog, and he's always pulling me, so it's like I'm running downhill to slow him down. While these may seem like an inconvenience and a hindrance to a “perfect” training plan, they can also help me in ways I don't always realize.
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