What started as a break from studying in medical school to relive stress has turned into a passion for extreme running distances for Dr. Karl Studtmann. Feeding this passion has taken the Jackson otolaryngologist to new heights, giving him breathtaking views from atop mountains, in canyons and on trails, while challenging himself mentally and physically.

Technically, any distance beyond a marathon (26.2 miles) is considered an extreme “ultrarun,” he said. Most ultrarunners consider “real” ultras to be 50 miles or longer. Adding a new dimension to ultrarunning and making it a bit more extreme is running on a trail for your course, which could take you up a mountain, through a forest or around a canyon.

“I ran my first marathon my fourth year of medical school,” said Dr. Studtmann, a member of Jackson Road Runners. “After completing a number of marathons, I started looking for what I could do next to challenge myself. I discovered extreme ultrarunning. In 2007, I ran the 50K Swamp Stomper trail run in Memphis, which sort of started it for me.”

“There are tons of websites and trail runners’ magazines that feature places to run. Some trails or places are considered to be classic runs among ultrarunners, such as the Grand Canyon, that are done as a self-challenge rather than as a race. You also can meet a wide range of people. Running such a long distance, you have time to talk to those running around you.”

Jackson urologist John Carraher and attorney Brad Box share Studtmann’s passion. The three choose a destination to run each year that allows them to try something different. Their sport has taken them to the summit of Pike’s Peak, across the Grand Canyon from the north to the south rim and back again and a six-day, 116-mile trail run in the Rocky Mountains. In some instances, the three stay together throughout the run for safety purposes due to the nature of the course.

Besides the physical training, a great deal of planning and preparation goes into these types of runs. For the 42-mile Grand Canyon run this past April, for example, the group ran marathon distances every weekend for months before the trip. They also spent a year planning the details, from the route to contingencies in the event of an emergency.

“We are pretty compulsive about what we do,” said Dr. Studtmann. “We break down each segment of the route and plan accordingly, knowing where water is available, when we need to hydrate or eat and where shelter may be. We then determine how much water and food we each will need to take with us on the run. It is the only way to do it as there is no support out there other than your running mates and little, if any, cell coverage.”

Their preparation paid off. Five miles from completing the Canyon run, Dr. Carraher dehydrated, forcing the team to stop and call for help with an emergency beacon. “We knew there was a ranger at Phantom Ranch, but when she had not arrived after about 30 minutes, I went for help,” said Dr. Studtmann, who ran into the ranger as he entered the ranch. “Everyone was fine because we planned and were prepared. We already are looking into where our next adventure will take us.”

“On the trans Rockies run, we never got below 10,000 feet on some days; it was amazingly beautiful,” said Dr. Studtmann, who typically finishes in the top 10 percent of races.

For Dr. Studtmann, ultrarunning is not about beating another runner or winning. Instead, it is the self challenge and the feeling he gets when he knows he has done his best.

“If you work for it, you can do it. Many can do way more than what they think they can. Don’t be limited by your mind. There is no reason for anyone not to do what is on their bucket list, regardless of what that is.”

Featured Doctor

Karl Studtmann, M.D. Otolaryngology

An honors medical graduate of the University of Tennessee in Memphis, Dr. Karl Studtmann completed his internship in surgery and residency in otolaryngology and head and neck surgery at the University of Kentucky in Lexington. He has done research in his medical specialty and has had many articles published in medical journals.