Alex Proctor

Tiger Claw 50 Kilometer 🐅⛰️ 2nd Place and under previous Course Record (4:51:48- 9:29/mi) 🥈 With the training I’ve been doing this spring and winter, I wasn’t necessarily geared for the vertical gain I would encounter yesterday. The thing I tried to keep in perspective was that it would be hard for anyone out there to climb ~9,000 feet without being at least slightly daunted. My intrigue for this race came from the “choose your own adventure” style course. Three different routes up to the West Tiger #2 summit could be taken in any order. With the advice from my coach @hawks_hayden and my crew chief @natalieproctor_ , I elected to run the routes from most steep and short to less steep and long. Having “fresh” legs for both the first two steeper loops proved to work well given my current strengths lie more so on runnable terrain. Interestingly, this loop order strategy was taken by the fewest people in the race. Ascent one (white loop) was shared with my @runinrabbit teammate @trail_lightning and felt very much like a team effort. The second ascent (pink loop) I did solo and was able to run every step. By the third ascent (yellow loop), muscle fatigue was prominent and as I began, both my legs’ adductors/abductors seized in full cramp constriction. I was pushing my body to the brink and prayed to Jesus for mercy in this moment, begging to be freed from this painful circumstance. As I continued to pray, my legs began to loosen and my stride normalized again. My hope with these efforts and sharing my gifts is to glorify the Lord and expand His kingdom. This doesn’t come second nature to me and something that I’m conscientiously working on. I’m stoked to continue building on this vert heavy effort into the summer so that I’m better prepared for Speedgoat, UTMB, and The Bear. This wouldn’t have been possible without my relentlessly supportive wife @natalieproctor_ Thank you to @ethannewberry and the whole @runtigerclaw crew for an amazing event. If you’re like me and think these photos are epic, @somerrunner gets the credit for being absolutely goated with the lens and color grading 👌

Antelope Island Buffalo Run 50 Miler 🦬🏝️ Win and Course Record (6:09:45- 7:24/mi)🥇 The previous best time was set back in 2011 by the great @dylanbo before super shoes, the high carb revolution, full GPS adoption, and Strava usage with a time of 6:15:36 😮‍💨 (give him all those resources back then and he’s probably smoking us all). Nonetheless, yesterday I led from the gun and controlled the race’s pace until mile 15.5 when Sam Collins blew by me with a surge. In talking with my coach @hawks_hayden a few days prior about race strategy, I was prepared to match moves given certain circumstances and this one by Sam I matched enough to keep a 1-2 min gap behind him for the next 15 miles. I picked up my pacer and good friend @trailswithzach at around mile 28 and began the first significant climb trying to gain ground on Sam. We eventually caught them at about mile 31 on the one tree hill climb to the Elephant Head aid and proceeded to run the 2.8 mile out and back. When we turned around, I was a bit stunned to see Sam/Spencer and now Finn/Mike so close to us- maybe 20-30 seconds back. Zach and I continued to run smoothly trying not to trip on the way back to the aid then sent it flying down on the Split Rock loop before the next big climb. The cramps had set in my legs a while ago but now it was awful on every uphill grade. Each step felt like I was locking up more by the minute. I thought I was done for. The pain progressively increased in my body, tightening/sharpening from mile 32 and onward and there was nothing I could do about it. Salt wasn’t working. Water wasn’t working. I prayed hard. I focused my gaze on God and trusted in the line I was riding. This was uncharted territory for both my mind and body. Riddled with fatigue and pain, my foot was forced to remain on the throttle. The competition wasn’t backing down anytime soon it seemed and that’s how I wanted it. Finn and Sam fought so hard and our collective effort out on that course was one I knew we were capable of. Thank you to everyone that made this possible both near and far 🫶 This result only took everything I had. 📸: @shitinthewoods #rabbitelitetrail

Grindstone 100 🥉 UTMB 2025 Ticket Punched ⛰️🎟️ All Glory To God ✝️ What an absolute blessing of a day. I truly couldn’t have hoped for a better experience for my first 100 mile race and third ultra (100k, 50k) 🥹 Shoutout to my wife and best friends for crewing/pacing 🤝 this outcome wouldn’t have been possible without their service and sacrifices. Going into the race, I didn’t really know what to truly expect for this level of an undertaking🧐 I’d watched all the documentaries, listened to all the podcasts, seen all the instagram posts, read all the blogs and books but nothing can truly prepare you for the pain, hysteria, paranoia, and fatigue that will be inevitably experienced deep in an ultra marathon 😅 My goals going into this race were: a: win b: podium (qualify for UTMB) c: sub 24 hours d: top 10 How did I come up with these goals without experiencing something like this before? Honestly hard to say but simply put I 100% believed I could pull it off. Going into it, I had no clue who I was going up against nor the level of competition I’d face. What I did know was I was prepared to face any challenge that came my way and prevail with the help of my team🙂 I’ve come to learn ultras are a lot about how quick you can solve problems on the fly while being in a state of mind that isn’t conducive to problem solving🧮 Although seemingly challenging, I’ve come to find I’m in my element when the pain becomes excruciating and my emotions are on the verge of overflowing. I become one with the suffering and almost at peace when I establish it as the new reality🧘🏻‍♂️ With everything in me, I’m so excited for the opportunity to race around Mont Blanc next August from France to Italy to Switzerland and back to France 🏔️ From reigniting my love for running in June of 2022 after college following a lackluster 2 years of playing JV D3 baseball to qualifying for the most competitive 100 mile race on Earth in September of 2024, I feel like I’m totally dreaming but I know God has a plan in store for me and I believe in his Word over all ✝️ I’m so grateful for all the amazing people in my life that have been a part of this journey 🥰 We’ve only just begun

@samuellohse follow cam into Stinson Beach aid at the Big Alta 100k Rolled in with @robmolke and that’s where he started his hunt on the rest of the field 👌

I just want to be training for Big Alta again 🤩 This song was playing in my head all day and I was singing it for most of the last 50k to keep spirits high 🎶✝️ it’s also one of Natalie’s favorite songs too so I couldn’t help but think of her while singing it. Here’s a quick little gear breakdown for all my ultra running nerds out there: Shoes: Adidas Terrex Agravic Speed Ultra 2 Socks: East Peak Poppy Sock Half Tights: Janji 8” Trail Half Tight Underwear: CXP Endurance-XP Belt: Naked High Capacity Running Band Watch: Coros Vertix 2S Shirt: On Performance-T Vests: Salomon GRVL Concept Skin 2 and Salomon Adv Skin 5 Ice Bandanas: East Peak Regular and XL Hat: Fractel @precisionfandh Trail Hat Sunglasses: Oakley Kato Each crewable aid station, Natalie would swap my ice bandana and vest while dousing me with water and giving me fluids so that we could stay as efficient as possible out there. I’d grab a full bottle and stuff it in the back of my belt and head out on the trail again- always having 3 bottles on me. Thanks to @michelino_sunseri for the mini assist at the last aid station with extra ice in my vest and a big swig of coke 🤝 As important as gear is, I’m learning more and more that fitness is truly the most crucial factor for success in these races and that it requires plenty of patience to build it. Stoked to use this experience and the fitness from this block to start training again for the Scout Mountain 50 miler in June up in Pocatello, Idaho a few hours from Salt Lake. With a midnight start and my mom helping to crew one of my races for the first time alongside Natalie, we’re gonna be in for some awesome future dad lore. 📸: @jamesholk 😮‍💨

Big Alta 100k 🐓 8th Place and BEST DAY EVER 🥹 I had so much freakin fun! From the course, to the competition, to the aid stations with my loving wife Natalie, to the volunteers, officials, photographers/videographers, to meeting new friends along the way and seeing others out there supporting, I couldn’t have asked for a better experience! Yeah an 8th place result isn’t the sexiest but I’ve never been more ecstatic about a race and happy with how resilient I was out there. I love this journey. @daybreakracing and @runfreetrail know how to put on an absolute show and had everything dialed for the most magical day. Thank you to @dylanbo for welcoming me out for the inaugural TransMarin and being the best hype man there this! There’s something in the air here and you guys need to check it out next year. From the Golden Gate Bridge to stunning coastal jungle type trails, beside iconic beaches, up to the top of Mt. Tam, along Lake Lagunitas, and through hills full of poppies, I couldn’t wipe the silly smile off my face no matter how hard it got ❤️ Thank you Jesus for the ability to endure and experience your beautiful creation 🙏 📸: @tonywithasony (you’re the man) ⛽️: @precisionfandh (PF90 gels, 30g caffeinated gels, and 60g drink mix bottles)

The Bear My favorite race yet. Not because I placed particularly well but because of the time I enjoyed sharing the experience with God, my wife, best friends, and the trail running community. I made this year of running extra hard on myself. It wasn’t my best idea to stack 7 ultras in 8 months. By the time The Bear came around, I already had 326 miles and 70k ft of vertical gain racing in my legs from the season. I wasn’t as intentional about my racing schedule as I should’ve been but I take full responsibility for choosing these races. I definitely gained the ultra trail racing experience I was looking for. The Bear course was exceptional from start to finish and blew my expectations out of the water. It was a dream come true to compete against training partners and to soak in the moments together. I wish I was able to go faster out there and to not have GI issues so bad from mile 60 on but some of that stuff you just have to roll with and adapt. In the weeks leading up to The Bear, I felt pretty terrible and couldn’t shake an upper respiratory cold but I committed to giving it a go and I’m just glad the Lord woke me up race day morning feeling spry. Looking back, it was the right decision to start but I’m still left feeling pretty unsatisfied with the second half of my season. I don’t really know why I have this desire to win so badly but each time I don’t, it really stings. I think in large part it’s due to the expectations I’ve put on myself to make this a career and source from which I provide for my family. The passion I have runs deep and it’s a double edged sword. I wouldn’t want it any other way but I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t a struggle to sacrifice so much and to have this faith that it will work out when it’s gets so gritty and dark. I share these thoughts with the hope that someone else in my situation, chasing their dreams like crazy, hears these words and doesn’t give up because it gets uncomfortable. We’re going through it together. Give yourself some grace. No matter how bad it gets, you will always bounce back. That’s what we do. Thank God for all the folks that made this endeavor possible. The Bear 2026?

UTMB was epic. It didn’t go epically well but it brought me epically close to the core of my existence. I didn’t hit my A,B, or C goals for the race but I closed the loop and was often reminded it was made possible by Jesus. The race started in the evening with rain in Chamonix, France and eventually progressed to sideways hail and snow on the climbs at night with the addition of very slippery mud on the descents. I was forced to take refuge for 20-25 mins on three separate occasions out of fear for the longevity of not only my fingers but for survival itself. The situation was hectic with volunteers screaming and signaling for runners to get inside mountain huts and refugios as the wind and precipitation ripped through our layers to our skin. At the Les Chapieux aid station (about 50k in), I was bone cold, water proof pants and gloves ripped, and waterproof jacket soaked through. In desperation for warmth, I was led into the medical building. Here my coach, Hayden Hawks, was sitting by the heater alongside other runners and offered me his gear so I could continue. I put on his beanie, waterproof jacket, emergency blanket, and water proof gloves. Without the resupply, my race would have ended right there. I continued on through the night and arrived in Courmayeur, Italy as the day broke- far off my splits and far from feeling very sane. I was truly traumatized by that night and mentally, I was fried. My emotional bandwidth became non-existent. Natalie, being the angel she is, blessed me with food, fresh clothes, and her warmth. I left after about an hour. In my head, I didn’t think I should, but she forced me out. On the way to Grand Col Ferret (at the border of Italy and Switzerland), I began feeling nauseous and woozy. Upon reaching the pass, I almost fell over and the medical officials took me into their tent to perform a vitals check. One thing lead to another and they had me on all fours to take my temperature via my booty. That hurt more than I thought it would but they said I was good to go. I got up and trudged along, not enjoying the experience and not feeling like I could regulate anything. Continued in the comments.

Tomorrow, UTMB starts at 10:45 am central time (5:45 pm here in Chamonix). 110 miles and 33,000 feet of elevation gain spanning across three countries. I thank God for this opportunity to race overseas, for Natalie crewing me through the night and day, for all the sacrifices my mom has made for me throughout my life, for the privilege of being here and having the means to do this, for a healthy and happy body, for all the support from my family and friends near and far. I’m going to be thinking about you all tomorrow and I’ll be calling on the collective strength of you guys to push me through this voluntary suffer fest. I have goals to make this sport my profession and this will be the prime test to see if I’m ready. When I started running in 2022, I made a goal to become a professional ultra runner by the time I was 27.5. With still 2.5 years to fulfill that goal, I know this experience will be very important no matter the outcome. The biggest goal is to finish the loop around Mont Blanc but I think finishing in under 24 hours would be really cool and even crazier would be a top 10 finish. I’m not sure if I’m ready for a top 10 here but given what I’ve been incentivized with, who’s to say I shouldn’t go for it and see what happens. Transparency is very important to me and I’d be lying if I said I knew what I was capable of on this course. I’m here to find out. I’m not afraid of failure. Tomorrow, we will learn a lot, adapt, keeping moving forward, and repeat, until we cross that finish line back in Chamonix 🙏🙏🙏

Most pastries and bread we’ve ever seen. Then you look up and you’re hit with a 15,770ft Mont Blanc perched 12,000ft above Chamonix. Everything about this place is beautiful- the walkability, the houses, the greenery, the glaciers, the peaks, the pace, the public transportation, the bonjours and the mercis. We’re enthralled but also feel quite dumb when we’re spoken to in French and reply in English. Natalie’s on duolingo as I post this and I have a bowl of pasta in my lap. I can’t wait to decimate my body in this wonderland on Friday.

Summer training is over. Fitness is ready to be cashed in. Spent most miles and climbs alone but those I spent with loved ones were the miles I’ll remember the most. A few training moments these past couple months that stick out were: - running from Big Cottonwood Canyon to Park City with a mega group - training with Sam at Snowbird and PCMR - training with Adam in Ouray over the 4th of July - date nights on the trails with Natalie - guzzling @precisionfandh PF 90s and 1500 tabs - summiting Enniss with Zach - millcreek canyon looping with Scott - summiting Timp from both sides with Caleb - bear 100 course recon with Benjamin - lambs canyon with James and his crew - decompressing with Tanner and Cody on the Cinnis loop - rocking my @runinrabbit button-ups and sun shirts - having Natalie & her parents crew at Speedgoat (first pic is me griddying up to hidden peak- practicing my 100 mile effort that day) All of this in preparation for Natalie and I’s first time overseas and my first time racing in Europe. It hasn’t been an easy block but my mind and body are ready to perform at UTMB. Your energy in the YouTube chat next Friday would be sick. God’s with me. We got this. Thank you to @runinrabbit for the top tier apparel and @precisionfandh for keeping me fueled and hydrated every run. Thank you to my coach @hawks_hayden for dialing in my training. Thank you to my friends and training partners for running with me. Thank you to my wife @natalieproctor_ for always supporting me and stepping up big time when my energy levels wane. I love this sport and I love to compete. The world stage is waiting in Chamonix! (just a few layovers to go) 📸: 1: @codieem 19: @shitinthewoods #rabbitelitetrail

Twisted Fork 68k- 8th Place GLORY TO JESUS FOR IT ALL 🙏 This wasn’t the result I trained for, dreamt of, or displayed my capabilities but I’ve had a lot of time to reflect on the outcome and I’m grateful. I’m grateful that I had the heart to go for it from the jump and the courage to run with some of our sport’s finest. When it came down to it, about 5 miles in, I realized I had been past the redline for a few too many miles already at altitude and suddenly my body started to shut down. I didn’t run my own race, went out too hard, and executed poorly. Legs turned to bricks, GI system started going haywire, and mentally I knew I was going to be in for a very long day. Right before the second aid station and atop the first climb of the race, I hit the bushes and diarrhea’d (wouldn’t be the first time 🤣), saw @trailswithzach at the aid, then immediately threw up. I was so disappointed in what was unraveling but I kept my legs moving in commitment to finishing the race to the best of my abilities. The saving grace was running alongside some of my training partners- Tanner, Caleb, Chepe, and Jesse. The camaraderie of the local trail running community was palpable and kept spirits high throughout even in the dark times. When it got rough on the ridge headed to the Big Mountain aid, I had my eyes set on the Lord and prayed for the persistence my mom has recovering from her knee surgery, peace for Chepe running the race after losing a loved one, and a smile for @shitinthewoods 📸. @runsingletrack and @campjewel did an impeccable job with this spring trail running festival. Their passion and attention to detail shined through and I couldn’t be more stoked to support their efforts. The best part was hanging out for hours with Natalie and all our friends after the race sharing stories and hearing that Natalie had “way more fun” running her first trail race than all her road races. @massifrunning has plenty more things in the pipeline and after this experience, I’d be more than honored to continue competing at their events. Thank you to the aid station volunteers for keeping me alive ❤️ 📸: @shitinthewoods (1,3,4) @ecam44 (2) @zebwatsonphoto (5)