Today I introduce you to Jim Hennigan who is a founding member of our Harpers Ferry Ultrarunning Team (HURT) and just finished the epic HURT 100 in Hawaii. Jim is an inspiration to anyone who wants to restore their health and accomplish some crazy goals. Jim finished two back-to-back 100 mile runs this fall and winter with commendable times. Through improved nutrition he also shed pounds in the process while at the same time discovering health, joy, and a new community in his life.
Jim currently lives on the mountain outside of Harpers Ferry, WV. He works as an IT Manager for Inova Health System. He dabbles in a lot of hobbies including woodworking, car repair, video gaming, running, biking, kayaking, skiing, and many others. He loves trying new things and learning along the way.
What was your entry into running and then ultrarunning?
I ran cross country in High School but then I found I liked beer in college.(note from Mark- Jim brews amazing beer especially one called Gruelathon Ale named after a local friendly Ultra called the Gruelathon) I started running regularly again in 2009 after my daughter was born to get back in shape. I was roped into the first annual Freedom’s Run marathon in July of that year. I was in way over my head. My friend Pat Schneble and I had no idea what we were doing. Let’s just say a full on 10-mile sprint on a hot summer day in Harpers Ferry wasn’t a shining moment for us. After meeting Dr. Mark we took some of his good advice and both managed to finish that fall. Through Two River Treads and Freedoms Run I met many awesome folks who I am now lucky to call my friends. They took me for a trail run one day and I was instantly hooked. I completed the JFK 50 Mile in 2011 as my first ultra.
What was your food philosophy when you first started the sport?
I am running so I can eat what I want, right? Carbs are a runner’s friend.
Tell us some of the high and low points from the beginning to where you landed this year?
Over the years I tried different things around nutrition. I would say the paleo diet suited me best in the past. Unfortunately, stressful work and life made it hard for me to stick with anything. I found myself eating horribly and feeling terrible. At the end of the summer of 2021, I hit a real low spot. I had no energy, I was taking naps, I had put weight back on, mentally I was drained, and my training felt forced. I was having no fun. I needed a change.
You almost broke the 24 hour barrier in the Rim To River 100. Did that surprise you? Tell us how the day and night went?
Yes and No. Going into the race I felt the strongest I have felt in years, but I really had no idea how the race would play out. Every 100 has its own unique challenges. I was running strong in the early parts of the race. I was just cruising and very happy with my performance. I was smiling and confident I’d break 24 hours. Around mile 60 or so I started to get some gas issues that ultimately lead to some stomach issues around mile 86. I was having issues running due to the gas causing some stomach cramping. I really slowed down which was tough as physically my legs and body felt great. I did not go into the dreaded dark zone at all but I slowed to a walk. I will say when I crossed that finish line in the frigid 24-degree night I was elated to cross in just over 24hrs. Yes, I missed the mark by 22 minutes but I’d mark it as my strongest finish to date.
My blog from 2020 Rim to River.
What inspired you to travel to Hawaii to attempt the ridiculously hard HURT 100?
I had the honor to pace my buddy Paul Encarnacion in 2016 and fell in love with the race. (for a taste of HURT enjoy this video from fellow HURT member Paul Encarnacion)
I had been trying to get into the race ever since. I can tell you that in August I was feeling so horribly physically that when I was put on the waitlist I told all the crew I would not do the race if I was chosen off the list. Due to the drastic change in my health in September I jumped on the opportunity when I was alerted that I was off the waitlist four days before Rim to River.
That event must have been exponentially harder than Rim to River? True? How did that event go?
HURT 100 was certainly the toughest and slowest race I have completed. Rim to River had its challenges and I was pushing myself hard, but HURT was a different beast. While it was beautiful, it was rocky, full of roots, straight up, straight down, hot, and nasty humid. As any of my friends will tell you heat is my Kryptonite. I had a plan. Finish in less then 36 hours. I wanted that buckle. I had higher hopes of a faster finish initially but on the 3rd loop I came back to reality. Overall, the race went well. I did suffer some major chaffing and blisters that really slowed me down on loops 4 and 5. Luckily my brother came with me to pace and crew for me. He helped keep me moving along those last 40 miles. At mile 67 I was sitting at the aid station collecting my thoughts, the dreaded dark period. Knowing he was there and came to support me got me up and moving again. He also completed his first ultra by pacing me for 40 miles.
Tell us how you trained for these events?
I did not only do a lot of running, I also did cross training 6 days a week from September on. The cross training helped strengthen areas of my body that long slow runs just didn’t. I could see the impacts quickly. Rim to River required more running and less steep terrain where HURT, with 25000 feet of elevation gain, required more climbing. Rim to River I did a lot of Appalachian Trail running. HURT demanded I spend a lot of time doing Stone Fort repeats on Maryland Heights (a very steep and rocky loop). Figuring out my nutrition with my new “diet” certainly posed a challenge. Most running nutrition contains a lot of sugar and my body was rejecting it given my cleaner eating that started in September. I will dive into that change a little later.
When and why did you change your nutrition this year?
As I stated earlier, I was in a bad funk at the end of summer. I had indulged a bit too much over a very fun summer. I had no energy and my runs were a struggle. I finished a difficult 70 mile race in June and my mind and body just wouldn’t recover. My training runs were sluggish and zapped my energy. I needed something to kick start me. In comes E2M (Eager to Motivate) to the rescue. My brother had joined the program in March and lost like 50lbs. I had held off as I worried it was too extreme. I hesitantly joined with the caveat I would stop if it affected my training for Rim to River. It was a silly thought as my training was already in jeopardy. I started my healthy living on Labor Day and have not looked back.
What were the main changes?
Number one change was accountability. Many of my friends and family were already members so they were always there to cheer each other on. The other changes consisted of intermittent fasting, very few sugars, no milk products, wholesome foods, more water, cross training, and cardio. Foods consisted of simple lean proteins, vegetables, and healthy fats. It was a shock to my system for sure. The first couple detox weeks were rough. I was ready to give up after two weeks. Something clicked in the third week and immediately my energy levels jumped and where I was struggling, I suddenly felt strong. I ran a strong 52 miles that third Sunday at ATR 12 hour trail race. I was beside myself in how much change occurred so quickly.
What is your new food outlook?
I know now that without a doubt that sugars were playing a dangerous role in my lack of energy. I will still enjoy them from time to time but not nearly at the level I was. I am also enjoying simple meals using the template that brought me health and success. Anytime I slip away from eating cleanly for more than a couple meals I start to feel the energy levels dip. I try and enjoy things in moderation, except when my brother and I celebrated in Hawaii post HURT, LOL.
What role do you think exercise plays when it comes to weight and fat loss ?
Exercise is important but diet is instrumental. I wasn’t able lose weight or fat even running all the miles I was in training prior to changing my diet. Along with a good diet I did learn that I needed strength training as well as the cardio to bring on the change.
Can you described to us the biggest challenges in maintaining nutritional change?
Busy life and stress are the biggest opponents. I work in IT in healthcare. We have had some challenging times supporting our Nurses and Doctors over the past two years. Long hours and the ease of just grabbing fast food is always a battle. Sometimes I just miss some things that I know aren’t good for me. Key is to have a cheat meal or two planned to help fend of those cravings so when I do enjoy those foods, they feel earned.
What have you learned to be the go to foods to keep you on track?
A big container of Costco nuts. I have also found a love for coffee. I used to be a Diet Dew or Coke Zero guy but honestly, I don’t find them as appealing as I used to. Food preparation is the key to my success. If I spend time on Sunday preparing at least three days’ worth of meals, I can stay on target. It is easy to grab a container with some chicken and veggies, throw it in the microwave, and chow down.
Why do you think most people fail at “diets”?
I think too many folks go into it with the wrong mindset. I do not want to call it vanity, but I think sometimes the focus is on looks versus health. I learned this the hard way and hence why I had to make a hard change in September. People, including me, too often worry about the scale versus their health. There are also some unrealistic expectations when folks enter a diet. They tend to fall off if they don’t achieve their goal quickly. When I decided to make the change in September the positive results were not just physical but mental as well. I felt less stressed, and I was having fun again. It was a drastic turn that is hard to put into words. I was thrilled at how my health and fitness levels were improving but honestly the mental improvement had the biggest impact on my wellbeing.
How has the pandemic affected your diet and lifestyle? Has it presented unique challenges?
The pandemic has certainly brought on a lot of stress. Stress never leads to better health and good decisions. Early in the pandemic I was working 16+ hours days trying to support our healthcare system helping our community. I ate a lot of take out and drank a lot of soda. I came home tired and just grab whatever was easy to eat quickly. The flip side to that though is currently I am cooking more at home and eating less fast food. It is a treat versus the standard.
Any goals for this year?
I am going to attempt the Ironman race (swim 2.4 miles/bike 112/ marathon run) in Tennessee in September. I have been putting it off for years with one excuse or another. Given my newfound health I am going to go for it. I bought a new bike as part of the commitment.
Any go to resources you would recommend for people who were trying to get into Ultrarunning?
Find a group of local trail runners. The ultra community is full of super supportive people. Our fun community is the Harpers Ferry Ultrarunning Team (HURT). We all started somewhere and someone in the community welcomed us.
How does the local running community contribute to your well being?
My friends in the running community are like family. We have a saying “what is said on the trail stays on the trail”. Honestly, these crazy folks keep me sane. We run a few times a week together. The standing runs keep me honest and help get me out of the house.
