Overview of the Project and Western States For the past year or so, whatever spare time I had outside of work was spent towards learning a new set of skills in the field of Data Science, and working on a capstone project that I am now proud to show below. I wanted to focus on a project in an area that I have a passion for, along with one that could lead to further applications. I knew I needed a good set of data to begin with, and then be able to glean information that would be worthwhile predicting some…
Basic Overview My project is to explore the data provided from the Western States Endurance Challenge 100 mile run. The reason for choosing this race is because of its status in the ultra running world as the golden standard to compare all other races. It holds the aura of the premiere race to be in, and consistently draws the largest pool of athletes to its waiting list. The numbers are capped for the race, with a handful of athletes getting based on achievements, others get lucky by getting their name pulled from a lottery. Either way, if you toe the…
In my two years living in Pennsylvania, I've come to understand just how beautiful Pennsylvania is. Truly, there are many different ways to experience the natural wonders of the state. However, in central PA, the trails are rugged and hills are steep and relentless, traveling by foot is the best way to explore the wilds. The Hyner Trail Challenge showcases some of the best parts of PA while is simultaneously grueling and unforgiving - whether you're challenging yourself with the 25 km or 50 km. It traverses through the winding creeks and ridge sides of Hyner View State park. While…
1-Year Anniversary This weekend (09/05/2015) is the 2015 Rut in Big Sky, Montana. That means it's been one year since I had the opportunity to race there. I never got around to writing a race report and decided this would be the best time to do so. Overview The Rut is becoming a very popular race as it is one of the few true sky/mountain races in the USA. It is featured in the SkyRunner World Series, along with the USA Series. Last year (when I ran it) it featured top male and female athletes such as…
The Spark of the Project A few days ago, I went on a run with the North Park Trail Runners, and a discussion came up about different races people signed up for. It inevitably led to a conversation about how tough each race is. Don't get me wrong, if you are doing a race, it will be challenging no matter what - if it's flat, you're probably pushing your body to go real fast; if it's a little hilly, maybe you're sprinting up all the hills; or if it's very steep, you'll be walking up the climbs and running down…