Samson’s supernatural strength came from his hair. The worldwide adventure that took him to six continents is coming to an end, though and he’s moving to Colorado Springs next month. Miller’s unique lifestyle gave him instant notoriety within the sport. He reached halfway in front at 2:57 and fought off late-race fatigue to carry a minute-plus lead to the finish in 6:11, 3 minutes under Canaday’s year-old course record. The chase pack let Miller go early on, likely discounting his inexperience at the 50-mile distance, and at ultras in general. “What if I just completely tanked and was a one-hit wonder?” Those hesitations proved fleeting and unfounded, and like at JFK, he raced with “not a whole lot of strategy other than to listen to his body and enjoy the experience.” “A week out I had a lot of thoughts going through my head,” he says. His voice reflects his youth and carefree attitude, but even he acknowledges the pressure he felt entering Lake Sonoma. Miller upstaged Rob Krar, Sage Canaday, Max King and a who’s who of the sport’s best on his way to a 6:11 win and new course record. Despite that initial breakthrough, it was only slightly less of a shock when he did it again last weekend at California’s Lake Sonoma 50.

His coworkers didn’t understand his presence, and neither did the collective ultrarunning community at last November’s JFK 50, when he won in 5:38. “It was a strange place for me,” he says. Play icon The triangle icon that indicates to play

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