Following a successful career as Nordic combined skier, Adam Loomis decided to pick up ultramarathoning in 2018. While both are endurance sports, with Nordic combined featuring a cross country portion, Loomis has experienced more success than he could’ve dreamed of when first switching over.
In his 23 ultramarathons since 2018, Loomis has won nine — over a third. As Loomis’ name and reputation are starting to grow within the sport, so have his efforts. Working full time as a sport director for Park City Ski and Snowboard Club, Loomis is now running an ultramarathon every month in the warmer months in Park City.
Loomis’ last race was the Speedgoat Mountain Races 50K at Snowbird on Saturday, where he finished fourth with a time of 5:22:44. He’s signed up for August’s Telluride Mountain Run 40 mile run.
Loomis said he continues to enjoy his new competitive outlet. As a late starter in the sport, he’d like to run until the wheels fall off, more or less. There is a little bit of money in ultra running to go along with the other benefits like pride and time outdoors.
“I found a little more success than I expected,” Loomis said. “The last couple of years have been particularly good. It’s been fun to be able to continue to have an athletic side to myself and build on the endurance base I had from my Nordic combined days.”
Loomis feels he’s constantly improving as he ramps up his race schedule. At 33 years old, he wants to maximize what time he has left to be competitive in the sport. Loomis said he’s constantly looking into how he can better train, diet and more.
Loomis trains during the week when he’s not coaching for PCSSC. He likes to schedule weekend competitions. Loomis said he likes to book races that he’ll have fun with because he knows the toll that training takes.
“I often can handle up to one race a month,” Loomis said. “Even that’s a little on the heavy side. You’re right having to balance everything with recovery.”
Loomis still finds the preparation and search for improvements fascinating. He said he learns to apply what he learns in his training to the athletes he coaches at Park City Ski and Snowboard Club. There, Loomis coaches Nordic combined, ski jumping and skimo.
Loomis acknowledged the Western States Endurance Run as something on his agenda. The race is just over 100 miles in California’s Sierra Nevada Mountains, considered one of, if not the, toughest races in the sport. Loomis said seeing his friend Caleb Olsen of Draper win the race inspired him to lace up his shoes for it in the future.
“I would say the pinnacle of the sport is largely in the Western States,” Loomis said. “Seeing my friend win it this year definitely opened my eyes to it in a new way and put it back on my radar. … I’ve been kind of having the itch to get back overseas (to race). I haven’t really been overseas since I competed in Nordic combined.”
Loomis’ future results can be tracked on UltraSignup’s website.