He's back!

The King of the Incline who shocked us with 371 Incline climbs last year, Roger Austin has crushed that mark.

On Oct. 5, Austin made five roundtrips on the Incline to complete 500 this year (507, as of Oct. 10.)

How did he celebrate? Austin climbed it twice the next day. He admits he has obsessive-compulsive disorder. Go Roger! That's what we say.

(Photo by Jill Suarez)

We slowed down The King long enough to have him answer a few questions. And for the record, he swears he's not the "King." That title may better fit Greg Cummings, who knocked out 601 climbs between Oct. 19, 2010 and Oct. 18, 2011. Cummings said he believes Austin will break the record this year.

You hit 500 Inclines in 278 days (on Oct. 5), that's right at 1 million feet of climbing and 1,000 miles on your feet,  how does your body feel overall?
There are days my body refuses to talk to me anymore and other days it seems to be cursing me profusely. The relentless workouts really don’t allow my legs to recover, so for most of this year, they have felt beat-up and cramped.  While the uphill will make you sore, I think it was the pounding of running straight back down that really took its toll. In addition, I ended up with a few injuries along way. Early in the year I messed up my back having to carry my sick 82-pound son off the Incline. I had issues with my left knee popping and had to wear a brace to continue my quest. I severely twisted my right foot leaving me with a swollen ankle that got re-injured several times in the following months, and oh yea, let’s not forget about the broken thumb incident as I walked down daydreaming one lazy day. I did two more trips before going to the ER, not smart, it was throbbing a lot.  Whatever doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger right? There is a phrase a lot of my trail running friends use, “If the bone ain’t showin, keep on goin!” ... so I kept going.

Link to our interview with Roger after he completed 371 in 2012

We knew you were capable of a big number. Do you have a goal now for the year?
I set a goal of 500 for the year because it was a nice round number. But since I managed to get that with almost three months left, I guess I’ll look to a new number — maybe a 600 or a 700. Or I could try to get 730 (two for every day of the year), not sure. I thought about easing off a bit and relaxing for the rest of the year, but I just don’t see that happening. I guess I’ll let my body tell me how much more I should do. Next year will be a different goal, not a big number.

You finished off 500 by doing five on Saturday, Oct. 5. What prompted you to do so many in one day?
Knowing I would need to take days off for other life commitments and rest, I knew I would have to do lots of days with multiple trips to get to my goal. As I got closer and closer to 500, I checked the calendar to see what day might be good to finish on. I have a little OCD to go along with my type A personality, so when I saw 5 Oct., and thought 5 trips gets me to 500, on a Saturday when most of the regulars are there, I thought why not?  The most I’ve ever done back-to-back is six, but I hope to do seven or eight in one day this year, and maybe even go for the crazy Inclinathon (13 trips up and down) that four of my friends did last year. 

What keeps you motivated to climb the Incline over and over?
There is something very addictive about the Incline and having OCD, I guess I was and still am obsessed with doing it. I actually feel guilty when I miss a day. Besides, I’ve met so many great people there it’s always nice to see them and say hi. Also, anyone who has done the Incline will tell you the view from the top is incredible. Probably the most photographed spot in the state. I love to get up there in time for the sunrise, of course that is generally on my second or third trip because I love to see the city lights in the dark as well.

What is your personal record - your fastest time bottom to top - on the Incline?
My personal best on the Incline was 27:20 or 27:40. I can’t remember which — but that was several years ago. I thought I had a 25-something this year but couldn’t replicate it, so I’m going to call that a watch malfunction — timer on my cheap watch was broke so I was doing math. My times right now are generally in the mid-to-low 30s ... slow I know, but I attribute that to too many Incline trips with little rest. Occasionally I’ll get a sub-30, but that is when I’m “a bit rested” and being pushed by friends that I hear coming up behind me. I don’t even have to see them, I know their breathing, cadence and silhouette in the dark...freaky.

There is a community of Incline climbers who are regulars. Tell us how these folks have motivated you.
I’m very happy to be considered part of the community of Incline regulars — those who not only hike it so often, but take care of it by keeping it clean from trash. These are the fittest people I know and their dedication to be there so consistently inspires me to do the same. Since I always go up and straight back down the Incline, I get to see several of them on every trip —a nd have come to know which days or times they are likely to be there. It’s always nice hear and give encouraging words to those I cross paths with. If I’m not there, I generally will hear about it with someone asking why I wasn’t there.  Umm, tired?

Your still a young man at 48, but how much longer can you keep going?

What I have learned from my trail running friends is age really doesn’t matter.  I guess the saying, “you don’t quit running because you get old, you get old because you quit running” is true.  I have Incline friends 10-20 years my senior that can get up and down that hill faster than virtually any 20-year-old.  I unfortunately am only fast on the downhill. For me, fitness is a lifestyle I have always engaged in and one that I hope to continue for many, many years to come.