Becoming Captain Miles
The Story Of Becoming Captain Miles
Sometimes the best running stories start by accident. For Chris Cedar, running wasn’t part of some grand plan. It started the same way many journeys begin: life happened.
When his wife became pregnant with their first child, Chris gained a little weight right alongside her. After their son was born, he realized it was time to make a change.
From Tough Mudder To Trails
That change started with a Tough Mudder. Like many runners, Chris crossed the finish line and immediately said he would never do it again.
Three days later he registered for the next one.
What started as obstacle races slowly turned into something bigger. Friends invited him to pace a 100K trail race. At the time, Chris didn’t even know what a pacer was. He didn’t know much about trail running either. He simply said yes.
The First 100 Mile Attempt
That willingness to try became a pattern. Soon he was chasing bigger goals, including a 100-mile race at Oil Creek. His first attempt ended in disappointment. Rain, injury, and trench foot forced him to stop before reaching the finish.
Many runners would have walked away. Chris came back.
He trained harder and learned more. He returned to Oil Creek and earned his first 100-mile buckle.
But the buckle isn’t what matters most.
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The Birth Of Captain Miles
The heart of Chris’ story is family.
Early in his running journey, his son called him a superhero and gave him a name that would stick forever.
Captain Miles.
Today that nickname represents something bigger than running. It represents showing up when things are hard and doing difficult things even when nobody expects you to. It represents believing ordinary people can do extraordinary things.
Why Simplicity Still Wins
When asked what advice he would give new runners, Chris didn’t talk about pace, mileage, or expensive gear.
His answer was simple.
“Just run. Don’t buy a watch. Just buy shoes.”
For many runners, that might be the most important lesson of all.
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