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The Bean Sprouts are the collective group of athletes that I coach. They are ultra junkies, first time marathoners, road runners, multi-day effort adventurers and FKT setters.

I’d like to dedicate this post to Bean Sprout Rob Martin who passed away suddenly while recovering from a heart attack in 2024. The last email I got from him read, “It looks like I will be getting out of the hospital this week.  The next step is PT/OT in a rehab facility for a week or two.  Cardiac rehab is likely to be in there outpatient as well.  Once cleared by my cardiologist after cardio rehab, my tentative plan is to work with you and my prior PT on a return to running/backpacking plan.” Rob had a deep love for endurance even though he came to the sport later in life. Rob had a great sense of humor, a loving parent, and a staple of the Arizona Running community. Rest in peace, Rob!

I first started compiling results last year in 2021. I’ve done it for 2022, 2023 and 2024. I started coaching in 2017. When COVID hit, I transitioned to become a full-time coach. It’s a wacky and fun profession. I work with all types of athletes with all types of goals. Some are professional runners or are local crushers and some are newer in their running journey. As a coach, you generally work with individuals who want to do similar things to what you’ve done.

Each year, I see the Bean Sprouts have harvested the fruits of their labor. All those sprouts have sprouted and will continue sprouting for years to come.

What did 2024 bring? Trail running has continued to gain popularity. Perhaps the craziest coaching experience for me was coaching four other individuals to race Cocodona 250 while also racing it myself. Crazy is the right word! Many multi-day athletes have moved from FKTs to focus more on 200 mile races. I also coached six athletes at Javelina 100, so I’m very heavy with Aravaipa races this year! There were a few impressive 50k-50m ultra performances by Bean Sprouts this year, including Andrew at Tiger Claw, Barrett and Blake at Tillamook Burn. In the sub-ultra scene, a major highlight for me was North Bend Trail Fest 30k. In a loaded field, all five Bean Sprouts came in the top five including a win by Isabelle. I finished worst with a 5th place mark. Damn. On roads, there were a lot of PRs and zooming fast times! Isi in Switzerland ran an amazing Bern 10mi race with a big PR, and Kirill smashed the 3 hour barrier at the CIM marathon.

Also, I feel very established in the Seattle trail running scene organizing Wednesday morning werkout runs with Cowgill Trail Collective. Along with Scott Sowle and Trisha Steidl, I launched the PNW Youth Trail Project to make trail running more accessible for youth, and am in year 3 of the All In Trail Collective. One of my favorite things about being a coach and athletes means it allows me to be a vocal and dedicated advocate of trail running!

I’ve left off a few individuals who prefer to keep a low online profile and removed last names and time performances to protect the privacy of the individuals I coach. I’m proud of the Bean Sprouts!

100+ milers

Danny G: ATY 6 day, 404 mi, 1st
Carol N: ATY 6 day, 276 mi, 1st
Joe M: Cocodona 250 mi
Troy A: Cocodona 250 mi
Kyle C: Cocodona 250 mi
Carol N: Cocodona 250 mi
Joe C: Cocodona 250 mi
Wes S: ATY Last Person Standing, 153.8 mi, 1st
Joe M: ATY 24h, 131 mi, 2nd
Ismael R: Crossing Switzerland 240m
Michael K: Moab 240 mi
Chris B: Moab 240 mi
Carol N: Divide 200 mi
Andrea S: Tahoe 200 mi
Maureen G: Grand to Grand Ultra 170m 55:42:58 A
Alan C: Arrowhead Run 135 mi, 1st
Ismael R: Backyard Ultra 109 mi, 1st
Andrea S: BLU 48h, 126 mi
Danny G: Sedona 125 mi
Antonio A: 3 Days at the Fair 48 hours, 101 mi
Samir S: Bighorn 100 mi
Blake S: WSER 100 mi
Matt G: Pine to Palm 100 mi
Ryan N: Teanaway 100 mi
Alan C: Hennepin Hundred 100 mi
Sean M: Javelina 100 mi
Kaleb S: Javelina 100 mi
Blake S: Javelina 100 mi
Cody J: Javelina 100 mi
Luke M: Javelina 100 mi
Wes S: Javelina 100 mi
Danforth S: Vermont 100 mi
Dylan G: Cascade Crest 100 mi
Eric M: Crazy Mtn 100 mi
Randolph S: Devil Dog 100 mi, 2nd
Barrett G: Run Rabbit Run 100 mi, 3rd

 

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Sub-100m Ultras

Troy A: Academy of Pain 12hr, 69 mi
Sean M: Black Canyon 100k
Joe C: Istria 100k
Chris W: Siskiyou 100k, 3rd
Ryan N: Olympic Mountains 100k
Andrea S: Black Canyon 100k
Kyle C: Black Canyon 100k
Ryan N: Gorge Waterfalls 100k
Nathan T: Sean O’Brien 100k
Ismael R: Swiss Canyon Trail 100k
Randolph S: Grindstone by UTMB 100k
Ismael R: Vassaloppet 90k (ski)
Shane S: TransVulcania 90k
Lee B: Merril Mile 12h, 55 mi
Danny G: Oracle Rumble 50 mi
Danforth S: Chesterfield Ultra 50 mi, 1st
Troy A: San Juan Solstice 50 mi
Dylan G: Hellz Bellz 50 mi
Samir S: Zane Grey 50 mi
Wes S: Zane Grey 50 mi
Timberlin H: Pikes Peak Ultra 50 mi
Randolph S: Bull Run 50 mi
Blake S: Ultrafest 50 mi, 1st, CR
Blake S: Tillamook Burn 50 mi, 2nd
Barrett G: Spray Park Figure 8 FKT, 45 mi
Carol N: R2R2R 42 mi
Shane S: R2R2R 42 mi
Randolph S: Iron Mountain 40 mi, 2nd
Michael K: Grand Traverse Skimo 40 mi (ski)
Rob M: Coldwater Rumble 60k
Timberlin H: Red Hot 55k
Mark B: Samson’s Revenge 55k
Troy A: La Jornada de las Quebradadas 52k
Andrea S: Avalon 50k
Joe C: Elephant 50k, 1st
Kirill D: Headlands Solo Effort 50k
Rob M: Crown King Scramble 50k
Annie T: Gorge Waterfalls 50k
Antonio A: Lake Waramaug 50k
Rob M: Silverton Alpine 50k
Isabelle B: Run the Rocks 50k, 1st
Timberlin H: Dead Horse 50k
Blake S: Chuckanut 50k
Isabelle B: Chuckanut 50k
Matt G: Chuckanut 50k
Chris W: Chuckanut 50k
Danny G: Crown King Scramble 50k
Samir S: McDonald 50k 50k
Sean M: Ultrafest 50k, 1st
Sean M: Baker Lake 50k, 3rd
Cody J: Baker Lake 50k, 2nd
Timberlin H: Arches 50k
Dylan G: Gorge Waterfalls 50k
Jacob K: Marys Peak 50k
Jake O: Behind the Rocks 50k
Chris B: OT 50k
Chris W: Tiger Claw 50k
Andrew B: Tiger Claw 50k, 1st
Randolph S: Marine Corps 50k
Danny G: Cave Creek Thriller 50k, 2nd
Andrea S: John Wayne Grit Series 50k
Ed M: Deception Pass 50k
Barrett G: Tillamook Burn 50k, 1st
Jason K: TARC Winter Classic 32 mi
Kirill D: Broken Arrow 46k
Barrett G: Broken Arrow 46k

Joe McConaughy