How did you get into trail running?
In 2004, I heard about a 40 mile ultramarathon – Highlands Sky 40 Mile Trail Run – in West Virginia that went through one of my favorite places, the Canaan Valley and Dolly Sods area. It was a place that we had camped and hiked and skied so the idea of taking a grand tour of the area during this race sounded really fun. But I was not a runner. I heard about it too late to do it in 2004 but later that year I talked to a friend who mentioned he was thinking about doing the Flying Pig Marathon, which happened to be five weeks before this trail race. We decided to use the marathon as our long training run before the 40 miler. Neither one of us were runners, much less trail runners, up until January 2005 when we started training. The difference after finishing those two races was dramatic – after a 5 hr marathon it was like “I am never doing that again!” and after the 11 hr trail ultra we said “That was amazing, sign me up!” I’ve done that race 10 times since and I am hoping to go back and do it again next year for my 20 year ultra anniversary.
How did you find your way to ITR?
I moved to Indiana about 10 years ago, but for a number of years pretty much just ran by myself. I live in Bloomington and there are plenty of trail runners around but I was a more introverted person back then. It took me a while but after being here for several years I eventually started making connections with other local runners who were involved with ITR who encouraged me to join, which has been so much fun!
What is your favorite memory with the trail running group?
I had so much fun doing course marking for OPSF in 2023! It had rained and there was flooding everywhere so it was a little bit of a mess which probably made it all the more fun to be goofing off in the woods with trail friends.
Where is your favorite place to run trails?
Locally, I love the trails at Pate Hollow – they are just so perfect for day in, day out trail time. For jaw dropping spectacle and beauty, probably the Grand Canyon. When COVID shut down races, I went and did Rim to Rim to Rim, which I had wanted to do for years. I’ve gone back and done it a couple times since and it is such an amazing place!
You recently volunteered at the inaugural MOMOFO 100k. Why is it important to give back to the trail running community?
I feel like you get out of it what you put into it. When races are put on by trail runners and ultramarathoners they are better all around! The trail running community is obviously a wonderful place to meet people and make friends and spending all day with these people, even if I am not racing, is ALWAYS a great day!
Are you currently planning for any races or adventures?
I am just coming back from an injury so I don’t have any big plans yet. At the beginning of the year I put myself on waitlists for a few 100 mile races in late October to see if I could get into something. Not sure if any of those will work out or if I will be in shape to do that but I’ll have to wait and see. I’m also considering going back to the Grand Canyon if that doesn’t work out (or maybe even if it does)!
Do you have a bucket list trail you want to explore?
I’m really intrigued by the North and South Bass trails in the Grand Canyon. One run that’s been stuck in my head is a 100 mile loop that encompasses both the regular corridor trails, the Bright Angel Trail and the North Kaibab Trail, as well as the Bass trails. To connect all the trails you have to run along the rim, then down to the river on the South Bass, but there’s no bridge at the bottom so you have to swim across the Colorado River. Then it’s back up the North Bass and along the rim to the main corridor trails. This is a pretty big endeavor and not sure at my age if it’s doable but it is intriguing.