1. How long have you been running and why did you start running? I started running competitively in High School, but I’d say I’ve been running since my legs allowed. I was always an active kid.
2. How long have you been part of TRL, and what drew you to the club in the first place? Longer than I can recall, maybe 20 years! After college, I just ran on my own and missed the comradery of a team. At the time, my sister was a member of TRL and encouraged me to come run the Goose. Upon joining a run, I met a few kindred souls who like to challenge themselves with a weeknight hill climb and joined up. So glad I did. I’ve met so many lifelong friends in this club and have enjoyed running on an XC team, running with shelter dogs, camping trips, group runs, and so much more!
3. What do you do when you’re not running (job, family, school…whatever it is you’d use to introduce yourself outside of running)? I now live in the Gorge, and although I miss much about Portland, I really enjoy the variety of trails and love visiting wildflowers, wineries, and waterfalls. A perfect weekend often includes all of the above. I’m often seen with a dog by my side, and I appreciate the joy they bring to my world (I think the feeling is mutual).
4. What’s your favorite distance/type of run (5K, half-marathon, marathon, ultras, relays, track, trail, etc.)? As I’ve aged, I’ve found trail races to be my preferred place. Trail races take the pressure off performance when times are more about the conditions. The field is often leveled with speedsters not comfortable with technical trails and climbers not fearless on downhills. I find the Half Marathon the perfect distance. It’s a solid effort but doesn’t beat you up like a marathon would.
5. Where is your favorite place to run in the greater Portland area? I’ve spent so much time in Tryon Creek State Park that I’ll call that my favorite place. It features great trail conditions and quite a bit of variety for a smallish park. My favorite loop included Tryon and Mary S. Young for a great long run.
6. What’s your most memorable running experience (or experiences)? The 2023 USATF XC Nationals in San Francisco is one I’ll never forget. The rain and wind were blinding during the race; you had to hope for the best with each blind step. Somehow, there was never a tailwind! Our race was the last run on the course that day after it was deemed too dangerous to continue. The remainder of the races were run on a horse race track. I much preferred dodging the flying Eucalyptus bark and puddles of unknown depth to the repetitive circles they faced!
7. What’s the best running advice you’ve ever received? My College Coach RIP Wes Cook, would always walk away from the start line with a “Hurry Back.”
8. Tell us one fun fact, hidden talent, or something we don’t know about you, but should? Hmm, I’m an open book without many talents it seems. The only thing I can think of is I’m missing my Spleen, so I guess that makes me unique.
9. OK, that’s an answer begging for a question. Is there a story? Good question, one I don’t have an answer to. The medical world believes I was either simply congenitally born without, or it was possibly ruptured and reabsorbed. I did have a pretty severe sledding accident as a child but who knows, just happy to be here spleen or not :).