Bad news polar bear

Steve Luckey

Boulder, Colorado

34

Running Experience:
Advanced

Why should we pick you to go to the North Pole?:
Do you remember the movie, “The Bad News Bears?” If they were a running team, I probably would be on their team. No doubt. They were a bunch of kids who had so much life and character. If you recall, they did not win the championship, although they did make it to the final game. Just like them, I have never won any type of race on an individual basis.
My favorite player was Tanner. He was the under-sized, short-tempered shortstop who tried so hard at the game but did not have the natural ability in the ultra-competitive league. He played for the right reasons. I, like Tanner, may not have the best natural talent, but I love the sport of running and I do not back down from any challenge. While I try my hardest, I love being goofy and I try to keep a fun, fresh perspective about the challenge at hand. A few summers ago, I was pacing a buddy over Hope Pass during the Leadville 100-mile race and I wore a kid’s cow Halloween outfit. I always race with a smile, basketball shorts, and brightly colored socks.
I realized that I could be a Bad News Bear when my high school football coach told me that there were 52 positions on a football team. I was the third-string place-kick holder. Man, I absolutely loved everything about the game of football, the strategy, the contact, and the athleticism. That is the mentality that I race with. I hope that I will have a great race and I am just so pumped to be out there and running.
Lastly, during the championship game for the Bears, Coach Buttermaker told Timmy Lupus, the worst player in the league, to get into the game. "I don't know about you Mr Buttermaker, but I wanna win so don't put me in." Buttermaker replies with, "You didn't come into this life just to sit around a dugout bench did you?" Lupus went in the game and made the inning ending catch that saved a grand slam, allowing a Bears comeback in the bottom of the ninth. This would be an incredible experience that I will have for the rest of my life, just like Lupus did.
Heck, maybe I could get Chico Bail Bond’s as a sponsor.

Tell us about your cold-weather race experience:
This winter has been a tough, cold winter with lots of snow and sub-zero days. Although I am sure that even this winter does not compare to the Artic Circle in April. It is clear that this race will be completed because of mental strength.

Tell us about your marathon experience, including times, results, etc.:
Oh right, you want to know whether I can run the 26 miles in subzero temperatures. I have completed 2 ironmans, many half-ironmans, several 100-mile mountain bike rides, completed the San Juan Solstice 50-miler as my first ultramarathon trail run. I finished my first 100-miler by completing the Leadville 100 (my first 100-mile race) in under 25 hours. I also successfully completed the Cascade Crest-100 miler in Seattle while drinking strictly Frappacino’s for the last 30 miles (unfortunately there were no Mate Latte’s available). I have also completed numerous 50K trail runs. Running at the North Pole requires a strong mind and by looking at the applicants, it is clear that each individual contains the mental fortitude as well as the physical ability.

What do you expect your North Pole Marathon time to be?:
5:30

Can you write well? Explain:
I am a PhD research scientist and my job requires me to write grants and manuscripts. I also write my parents once a month, as well as send out several postcards in the same time.

Tell us about your media experience:
To be honest, I have little video experience. I have only been filmed for a documentary. However, I teach classes at the University of Colorado, Boulder where I am constantly "entertaining" students.

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