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Not to be ignored

With four 100-mile wins and another three podium finishes since early 2021, Arlen Glick may be the most successful-yet-underrated runner out there.

Heather Balogh Rochfort

August 31st, 2022

7 min read

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It takes me a hot minute to track down Arlen Glick for an interview. He isn’t sponsored so there is no brand or public relations team to connect with, and he doesn’t believe in social media so I couldn’t find him via Instagram or Twitter. Folks online aren’t even sure if he has an email address, so I throw a Hail Mary and leave a decidedly awkward comment on his Strava amidst the dozens of supportive notes praising his running workout. Fortunately, it works. Glick emails me the next day.

It doesn’t typically take this much detective work to schedule an interview with an ultrarunner as decorated as Glick. Not only did this 29-year-old win the 2022 Men’s USATF 100 Mile Road Race in February, but he also placed third at his first-ever Western States appearance at the beginning of this summer. In 2021, he won the Umstead 100 in March, Mohican 100 in June, Burning River 100 in July, and the Javelina Jundred in October, smashing course records at both Mohican and Burning River. Even though he has only been running 100 milers for a couple of years, Glick seems to have a knack for the distance, which says quite a lot, since he definitely does things his own way.

Born and raised in Ohio as a devout fifth-generation Mennonite, Glick was homeschooled along with his eight siblings (now his crew team at races) as the family routinely traveled the country for their prison ministry responsibilities. The large family — 11 including his parents — formed a musical group, singing gospel and playing instruments to inmates as far away as Florida. Their travels were so frequent that Glick never knew what his year would look like. “I dealt with a lot of uncertainty from year to year, so I couldn’t commit to a certain career because I never knew how much time we’d be at home,” Glick says. “But I think it’s good because it taught flexibility, and that mindset helps in ultramarathon.”

Family Crew at Western States 100.

The family schedule left no time for organized sports either. But, as Glick grew into an adult, he wanted to improve his fitness, so he dabbled in running. He never intended to compete, but the situation quickly escalated after he entered (and won) his first-ever 10K in 2014 at the tender age of 21. He worked up to a marathon in 2015, a 50 miler in 2017, and his first-ever 100 at the Eagle Up Ultra in 2018–which he also won. He went on to win his second and third 100 milers back-to-back in 2019: Mohican in June and Canal Corridor just four weeks later.

“I eventually realized that you never know what the day is going to hand you when you’re standing at the start line,” Glick says. “Every race is brand new and you’re going to face things you’ve never faced before, challenges you’ve never had to deal with. And that’s the fun of it.”

For his part, Glick’s career is steamrolling ahead but it’s not without its challenges. For starters, Glick will be the first to say that his geographic location works against him. He still lives in Ohio, and notes that he is constantly working against the ultrarunning community’s strong bias that anywhere east of the Rockies isn’t for serious runners. “It’s common knowledge amongst Easterners and Midwesterners that you’ll get treated like a nobody until you go west and do something great,” he says. “But most of those people don’t come back east so they don’t know how difficult these courses are.”

The way Glick sees it, he has a mental advantage over anyone routinely training out west. To prepare for Western States, he’d run 20 miles of hill repeats up and down a 100-foot hillside or spend hours on the treadmill working a steep incline. He dubs this work “mentally taxing,” but notes that it makes the consistent, 4,000-foot climbs out west feel easy by comparison. “Mohican has 13,000 feet of elevation gain which is less than Western, but most people run Western faster because you can really get into gear and get comfortable,” Glick says. “Around here, the hills are really punchy and the humidity is a huge factor.”

Beyond geography, Glick also battles against the realities of everyday life. Even though he has won nine 100 milers since 2018 and podiumed at three more, he was only one of two athletes in the top 10 at Western States without a sponsor. This means, mere mortal that he is, Glick has to work full-time at his brother’s excavation business along with his family’s prison ministry obligations that still call for travel two months out of the year. Would it be convenient if he was sponsored with more time to train? Absolutely. But he isn’t willing to capitulate to social media, and many brands aren’t willing to look beyond Instagram followers.

Western States 100 finish line.

“I’ve chosen to stay off social because I feel that it’s so dangerous and hurtful and what it has done to our culture is so catastrophic,” Glick says. “It’s ruining young people and yet, it seems like the only thing brands are willing to work with these days.”

It’s a very personal stance for Glick, and one that he feels professionally hurts him. He notes that he has entertained loose conversations with brands, but they come to an abrupt halt when they learn he isn’t on social media. “It would be great if a company would see through this and work with me anyway, but until then, I’m paying a very big price for it,” he says. “But it’s a price that’s worth paying.”

In the meantime, Glick will keep doing what he does best: winning 100 milers and pushing the limits of his abilities in between all of his life obligations. He wants to continually dive into mountainous races, beginning with the upcoming Run Rabbit Run 100 in Colorado. From there, the sky may literally be the limit as he yearns for both bigger and longer races, specifying that Badwater, UTMB, and Hardrock are high on his wish list. But at some point, the work-life balance may become a larger factor.

“It brings me joy and I’d love to be able to do it without the financial pressure,” Glick says. “Until then, I’m just going to suck it up as long as I can and see where it goes.”

*featured image courtesy of @RidgeRUNers

18 thoughts on "Not to be ignored"

  1. Jill says:

    Great story. I am disappointed that brands are so far unwilling to give him any obviously well deserved sponsorship, but I respect him so much more for choosing to stick to his principals and not give in to the pressure of today’s social media demands. Bravo! You will still be a superstar to many for your stance and your many accomplishments.

  2. Stephen says:

    Amazing article. I was lucky enough to meet Arlen this past weekend at the Tuscazoar 100. He wasn’t racing himself, but was there to cheer on all the runners. He is such a nice and genuine person. I look forward to cheering on Arlen in years ton come.

  3. Curtis P says:

    Way to go young man. Your talent, accomplishments and goals are to be respected but by far your stance on social media is the 5star mark in my book. As it is with most things in life it’s the choices we make that define us.
    I also chose not to participate in social media when it first was launched (I’m an old guy) and I’ve not once regretted it.
    Be blessed today my friend. And best of luck to you.
    CP

  4. Jen Simpson says:

    Arlen, you are an amazingly gifted, and inspirational runner and an overall decent person. The real deal! You are following God’s plan for you. God bless and keep you. Looking forward to following all of the great things that are coming your way!

  5. Kara says:

    I love this article and support him 100% for going with his heart and values. What a genuine person who truly works hard and deserves more from the brands. Did they not sponsor anyone before social media? I highly doubt that

  6. Erin says:

    Great article. One of the many beautiful things about the trail running community is how tied together we all feel despite our different backgrounds, locations, faith. Love how this highlights who Arlen is beyond his ultrarunning successes. And you have to love his crew!

  7. Josh J says:

    Fred Rogers showed that tv broadcasting isn’t evil, it’s not the medium, it’s what you do with it. The mere existence of social media isn’t “ruining young people.” What’s “dangerous and hurtful,” is it the platform or the content? We can be part of the solution, or at least just make good, positive content, instead of just criticizing from the sidelines.

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