Adam Chase Tackles Two Sports in Stride

by Alli Rainey

When he went trick-or-treating at Frank Shorter’s house as a young boy, Adam Chase probably didn’t realize his life would head down a path similar to that of the marathon legend’s (who passed out Marathon candy bars to trick-or-treaters!). But Chase’s would lead him to ultra-running on courses far more arduous and lengthy than the standard 26.2-mile road marathon. In addition to multiple top finishes in regional ultras runs, Chase regularly competes in 10K to 20-mile snowshoe races.
Practically a native (his family moved to Boulder when Chase was 4 months old), the 34-year-old seemed destined to fall in love with running. He fondly recalls boyhood excursions on the Mesa Trail and participating in some early Bolder Boulder races. “Running and Boulder,” Chase muses, “were just such a natural fit.”
Though his family moved from Boulder when he was 16, Chase always planned to return after he finished college. Prior to that he ran several marathons, with a best time of 2:39. But when he tested his skill at ultra-running, Chase discovered his true calling. On his first ultra race - a 50K in New York’s Central Park in 1992 - he finished second. Though he ran a few standard marathons afterward, ultra racing attracted him for several reasons: the slower pace, the fact that races usually take place on trails rather than streets, and the seemingly less-competitive nature of the sport. Plus, Chase apparently had a natural talent for it.
“That feeling of being out-front is addictive,” Chase says. “While marathons are generally six-minute miles, most of the ultras I do are on trails and mountains at altitude, so a lot of times it’s a nine- or ten-minute mile. Pace is the key to being a good ultra-runner - in addition to enjoying it, running smart, knowing how, what and when to eat - those sorts of things. And you can’t fake a double marathon. You have to train.”
Chase’s training includes daily one-hour runs up Mount Sanitas, weekday weight training sessions, and a couple of 15- to 25-mile runs each weekend. On top of that, he prioritizes family time with his wife and two sons each day, and is a full-time tax lawyer and partner at the local law firm of Oreck, Bradley,Crighton, Adams and Chase.
Despite these multiple commitments, Chase manages to compete in a dozen races per year, often finishing at the top. Since last December, he’s won three ultras including the Collegiate Peaks 50 Miler on May 6, one of Colorado’s most competitive and well-known trail races. He also placed third and fourth in other ultras, and finished third in the 20-mile snowshoe race at Turquoise Lake last New Year’s Day. “That’s my favorite snowshoe race,” Chase says, “because the others are too short.”

Blazing New Trails
His passion for ultra-running and snowshoeing recently led Chase to begin promoting those sports. A 12-year member of Boulder Road Runners and current president of the All-American Trail Running Association, he and AATRA executive director Nancy Hobbs are also writing a book on trail running. Chase recently founded Whole Athletes (www.wholeathletes.com), which conducts running clinics that focus on overall wellness including nutrition, alternative medicine and cross-training. And he captains and manages the Atlas Snowshoe Racing Team.
Despite his athletic achievements, Chase strives for equilibrium in life and considers running a mere indulgence he is privileged to enjoy. “It can feel very selfish, but I also just kind of need it to balance things out,” he says.
Chase’s sponsors (Atlas Snowshoe Co., Smartwool, Craft Underwear, Patagonia, GU and Ultima) undoubtedly value not only the strong athlete, but also the person of admirable character whose enthusiasm inspires others.
“I want to promote trail running and snowshoeing, and help them develop. I think trail running will eventually become as important to running as mountain biking has become to the cycling world,” Chase says. And with his energy nurturing the sport, he’s likely to be right.

Photos Courtesy Adam Chase

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