Milan running coach completes 100-mile trail run

(MILAN, Ind.) – A Milan resident and running coach just completed one of Indiana’s most difficult and longest races. 

34-year-old Alex Berger is a Navy veteran who never ran or played sports in high school. 

He picked up running a few years ago and the 2024 Flying Pig was the first marathon he ever participated in and completed. 

Berger continued participating in events such as the Spartan Races and discovered not only a passion for running, but also for teaching. 

“When I started running I was doing everything wrong and didn’t know it was wrong.  It was a rough learning process and I want to help others do it safely,” Berger shared. 

His experience inspired him to become certified as a running coach and he provides in-person or online individual training through his company called ‘Hoosier Trail Running.’

Berger can often be found running at Brum Woods in Batesville or at Versailles State Park. 

He’s devoted countless hours of training to prepare for the Indiana Trail 100 which took place at Chain O’ Lakes State Park in Albion this past weekend. 

It’s the only 100-mile trail run in Indiana and is also a qualifier for the prestigious Western States Endurance Run in California. 

Preparing for a 100-mile ultrarun requires not only running, but also time-on-feet management, mileage per week, night running, strength training, nutrition and hydration practice, and terrain-specific training. 

“The past two years I have worked to be extremely consistent and haven’t taken a lot of time off. This wasn’t just about two months of training, but 2 years of consistency,” he said. 

Berger started the Indiana Trail 100 at 6 a.m. on Saturday and finished at 11:38 a.m. on Sunday. 

It was 29 hours and 38 minutes straight of running, including through the night. 

He finished the race with an elapsed pace of 17:17 per mile. 

Berger is one of only 104 people who finished the race while 83 others did not make it to the finish line. 

He has earned a lottery ticket to the Western States Endurance Run, however, will likely have to run a few more 100-mile races before getting selected. That race has about 10,000 runners who apply annually and only 260 get selected. 

You can learn more about Berger and Hoosier Trail Running by following is Facebook page here.