Leelanau Native Gains National Spotlight As Ultra Marathoner

At times, even Geoff Burns has to force himself to run in the snow and cold. That’s strange for a kid who grew up in Leelanau County and went on to become an ultramarathon champion. But since Burns lived for a year in Southern California, winter running in Michigan has become significantly tougher. 

“I will say I love it, and I hate it,” Burns says. “One of the reasons I hated Los Angeles was because there were no seasons. And I come back here, and I’m the guy, when I’m out training with my friends, I’m the one cursing the footing and the snow. Why are we running through this? This is awful! The weather is so bad! But at my core, I really, really love it, and it kind of connects me to my childhood.”

Burns, a Traverse City West grad, found his stride after undergrad at University of Michigan, when he discovered his passion — and his strength — was running extremely long distances. Today, Burns is pursuing a PhD in running biomechanics at Michigan, and he’s on a winning streak: He’s won the 50k and 100k national championship races in recent years, and he won the Chicago 50-mile ultramarathon race last September.

In this week's Northern Express - sister publication of The Ticker - writer Patrick Sullivan sits down with Burns to talk about the runner's northern Michigan childhood and successful career as an adult ultra marathoner. Picking up his love of running from his father, who helped organize the Bayshore Marathon, Burns says he almost accidentally fell into long-distance running after college, quickly accruing wins and race records across the country.

"I definitely want to set the American record," Burns says of his next goal. "I’d love to get on the podium at the world championships this year. The world championships happen every other year, and they didn’t have them last year, which is good, because I spent most of last year injured. They’re [happening] this year in September. I’d love to set the American record and get on the podium there."

Read the complete interview with Burns in this week's Northern Express story, "Dr. Ultra Marathoner." The Northern Express is available online, or pick up a copy at one of nearly 700 spots in 14 counties across northern Michigan.