Big Slo Running
Meet The Team
Tyler Sears
(Co-Founder, Co-Race Director)
I have always had a passion for serving and helping others. Which is no surprise why I enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard in 2007. It was in the Coast Guard where I found my passion for running. In the of spring of 2012, I had been placed on weight probation and needed to lose 40+ pounds quickly or risk disciplinary actions. At the time I was going through a very low point in my life. I was struggling with depression and severe anxiety. I was in debt over my head, smoking 2 packs of cigarettes a day, chewing a can of snuff a day, partying hard every weekend, and couldn’t control my eating. Exercise was the last thing on my mind. However, being placed on weight probation made me realize I needed to do something to turn my life around. I had been searching for motivation and heard about a new half marathon that was coming to Buffalo NY called the 50 Yard Finish where runners would start outside the Ralph Wilson Stadium, run around Orchard Park NY and finish on the 50-yard line of Ralph Wilson Stadium. I was intrigued and signed up to run my first ever half marathon.
With the 50-Yard Finish only 3 months away, I printed out a 3 month “couch-to-half marathon” training plan and followed it religiously. It was brutal. However, when it came race day, not only did I lose the weight I needed, I also crushed my 2:30 goal by finishing in 1:55! That moment was when I became hooked! My passion for running continued to grow rapidly. I ditched the tobacco, got my eating under control, and got my finances in order. Now after several years and many ultra-marathons under my belt, running has given me the confidence to push myself to always achieve more than I think I can.
Apart from running, I am a big family man. God has blessed me with a wonderful wife and two daughters who are my world. My wife is my biggest supporter and wouldn't be where I am at now without her.
I believe God has used running as way to help me overcome many of my past and currant struggles. And I believe God is calling me to use my story and my passion for trail and ultra running to inspire and build confidence in others so that they may be able to overcome their struggles and achieve their goals.
Tyler’s running accomplishments are:
Road Races:
2012: 50-Yard Finish Half Marathon
2013: Milwaukee WI Rock&Sole Half Marathon
2018: Last Call Half Marathon
Trail and Ultra Runs:
2013: Chicago Tough Mudder
2014: Superior Spring 50k, Superior Fall 50 miler
2015: Superior Spring 50k, Superior Fall 50 miler
2016: Zumbro 50 Miler, Ice Age 50 Miler
2017: Kettle 100k
2018: Chippewa 50K, Kettle 100k, Minnesota Voyageur 50 Miler, Abor Ridge 16k, Superior 100 Miler
Daniel Sears
(Co-Founder, Co-Race Director)
I have always been athletic playing 3 sports (baseball, football and basketball) from an early age culminating with 2 years playing division 3 football for a small university in Wisconsin. I never ran competitively and only ran occasionally during these years. In my late 20’s I began to take an interest to running and ultimately completed Grandma’s Marathon in 1992 and Ice Age 50 in 1995. After Ice Age, my family and career became my total focus. At the age of 50 reality set in when I stepped on a scale and realized that I was 5 pounds shy of 300. I made the decision to start running again in order to loss weight and get healthier. 18 months later I was down to 225 lbs. and entered my first ultra marathon since Ice Age in 1995. While I did not finish, I was totally hooked on trail running and the comradery of the trail running community.
My wife, Gaylene and I share a passion for Haiti and have been serving the communities of Pignon and La Belle Mer in Northeast Haiti since 2011. Our main mission is providing Biosand water filters (Haitisafewater.com) that provide clean and safe water to the people. A portion of all net proceeds from our events goes to support our efforts in Haiti.
Like Tyler, I also share the passion of trail and ultra running and the mission to inspire and build confidence in others so that they may be able achieve their goals.
Dan’s running accomplishments are:
Road Races:
1992: Syttende Mai 20 Mile
1992: Grandma’s Marathon
Trail and Ultra Runs:
1991: Wild Wild Wilderness Trail Run 7.2M
1995: Ice Age 50M
2014: Superior Spring 50K
2015: Superior Spring 50K, Superior Fall 50M
2016: Zumbro 50M, Minnesota Voyageur 50M
2017: Minnesota Voyageur 50 Miler
2018: Chippewa 50K, Kettle Moraine 100K, Minnesota Voyageur 50M
2021: Black Canyon 60K