Author: Seattle Running Club

In late July I got to pace a friend at the Cascade Crest 100 mile race. It was a not-quite-last-minute thing and was a great opportunity to get to know one another better. Since this leg of the race was on paved and logging roads, I wore my Glycerin 20 GTS and they felt great (they did end up brown by the end from all the dust on the logging roads haha).

In August I volunteered at the Billy Mills Run For Life for the third year in a row and at the Cougar Mountain Trail Series race I was in charge of all things involving prizes as it was the PNTF Open and Masters Trail Championships as well as the first ever PNTF Youth Trail Championship, which included the inaugural Youth Trail Project summer race series finale. So awesome to see so many youth trail runners and to support trail running and racing in our community!

My SRC-Brooks Teammate, Chris Chamberlin, and I swept part of the Teanaway 100 mile course in late September. We got to spend a lot of quality time together, cheered on almost the entire field, and take in some beautiful sunset views of Mt. Rainier. Thanks to my trusty Cascadia 16s (yes, I’m still wearing my final pair – that’s what happens when you don’t run much for a year), my feet felt great for all of the several hours we were out.

I’ve done most of my running on trails the past few months due to my heel injury. It’s been great for my dog, Ranger, because she really enjoys running on the trails and gets to go with me every time. While I’m the least fit I’ve ever been since I started running, she’s probably the most fit she’s ever been! 

More recently, I’ve *FINALLY* been able to run more and even do some workouts! It’s been a real treat being able to do this again and I’m grateful to get out every day for my run, no matter the weather. 

My Brooks apparel makes it easier and more comfortable to get out in any weather, especially with the shorter days and running the dark. The new reflective apparel is so easy to see! And those High Point trail running shorts and wool top are extremely comfortable. No matter the weather, I feel good wearing them, to the point that they kind of disappear – how awesome!

 I’m also getting excited about starting to think about racing again. I’ve got a couple of big races on my radar for the first half of next year. Now to see how long it takes to regain my fitness. Fortunately, my trusty Brooks shoes will help keep my feet and body in a good, strong place as I continue to build mileage and do more speedwork. I’m looking forward to finally having a reason to wear my new Hyperions!

Thanks to my awesome SRC-Brooks Team family for supporting me through a super rough year.

The focus of the second half of the year for me was my first 100 miler – the Run Rabbit Run 100 in Steamboat Springs, CO on September 13. The race takes place mostly at 8,000-10,000 ft and starts at 1 pm, which means the runners race through the night. I wasn’t sure how the elevation would feel as a Seattle sea level gal, but fortunately I was able to spend a week leading up to the race in Leadville with my brother who lives there, which I think helped a bit. I focused on trying to run a smart race and staying on top of my nutrition and hydration. I spent most of the race in 10^th place, which was not where I wanted to be but knew that some people would fade ahead of me or drop, and if I stayed consistent and steady it would pay off. That strategy worked and by mile 90 I had made my way up to 3^rd place. The 20-mile section before the final descent was the hardest for me but it was also where I moved up the most in the field. It turns out in a 100-mile race there’s going to be sections where everyone feels like they’re struggling, so you just have to try to struggle the least. Gotta love ultrarunning! The race went as well as I could’ve hoped for my first 100 miler, and I know there will be more 100s in my future.

Leading up to the 100 miler, I raced the Cougar Mountain Trail Run Series 14.5 miler at the USATF PNTF Trail Championships in August and defended my title from last year with a new PR! It’s always fun to rip around Cougar and was a nice confidence booster leading up to Run Rabbit Run. I volunteered at the finish line afterwards and it was fun to cheer in other runners as they finished the 14.5 miler and marathon. The week after Cougar, I set the unsupported FKT on the Mt Rainier Northern Loop – Spray Park Figure 8 route. It’s a steep, 43-mile route combining two classic loops in Mt Rainier National Park, and I used the run as my last big training effort before the 100 miler. Unfortunately, the weather was not ideal that day, and I was in the clouds all day and never got any views of Tahoma. It’s still a beautiful area in the clouds though, and I had a fun big solo adventure! 

Post 100 miler involved lots of recovery. I took some time off from running and got out on some chill adventures in the fall colors. I was invited to run the North Bend Trail Fest 30k in mid-October and decided to hop in with a focus on having fun, as I had just started feeling recovered from Run Rabbit Run and didn’t do structured training leading up to it. It was a tough, steep course and my legs certainly didn’t feel very prepared for it, but I achieved my goal of having fun and still came away with a 3^rd place finish! 

I’ve still been loving the Brooks Catamount 3 as a racing shoe and have found another favorite shoe in the Brooks Caldera 7. This model was a major upgrade from the previous version and was my shoe choice for Run Rabbit Run, when I wanted something with extra cushion to get me through almost 22 hours of running. The Brooks High Point shorts have also become a new favorite running item of mine. They have a built-in belt which is perfect for stuffing gel wrappers into during any distance and carrying everything I need for a sub-ultra race, including a flask! 2024 was a great year of running and I’m excited to chase some big goals in 2025!

It always amazes me how fast a year goes by. I do feel it has been a very productive year on multiple levels though. First off, touching back on my last report, I have been receiving excellent support from my medical team regarding my perimenopause diagnosis and I am feeling significantly better about it and much more like myself. I am already planning running events and races for next year, which is very exciting. This is still a long process of adaptation, but I have some really great tools to work with and finally feel confident that I can get back to more of the training and racing that I really enjoy. I am planning on local events as well as some destination runs/races, and of course lots of volunteer events.

This past summer I was able to do more trail runs, as well as travel down to Arizona for some really solid altitude training in Flagstaff and the Grand Canyon. It was very much out of my comfort zone, but I was really able to push myself and test my limits. I was also able to do some of our local runs and I got to explore parts of Seattle I didn’t even know existed. I loved exploring new areas.  While my own racing was on pause, I got to volunteer at multiple events such as the Cougar Mountain Series and the Brooks PR Invite. The Brooks PR invite was extra special to me this year because one of the high school athletes I coach got to compete. I spent track and cross country season running with my athletes and very much enjoyed sharing my knowledge and stories of running. I was also a fan of a couple of the latest Brooks shoe models out this year, such as the Hyperion max for my track workouts and the Divide for my trail runs. I tended to have my go-to shoes like most athletes, but it certainly was fun to try the latest innovations in Brooks footwear as well as apparel. 

A big thanks to Seattle Running Club and Brooks for all of those amazing experiences and the stellar individuals I encountered on all of my adventures.

For the second half of 2024 I’ve been focused on the Cougar Trail Run Series and cross country!

In June, I ran the 14.5 mile Cougar race and came in 4th woman (behind some speedy ladies!), I wasn’t sure how it would go just a month after running rim-to-rim-to-rim at Grand Canyon, and with not much recent speedwork, but I felt amazing and had a blast. In July, I ran the 19.5 mile distance and came in 3rd woman in an equally competitive field. I struggled in the heat and didn’t feel my best, but I was able to set a course PR. In August, I circled back to the 14.5 mile distance at Cougar, which was also the USATF PNTF Trail Championships. I made a goal to run even the steepest hills and surprised myself by shaving 11 minutes off my June time for another course PR, and also came in second master’s woman.

October brought the start of cross-country season for me, with the Emerald City Open at Woodland Park. I’d recently had covid and was not feeling 100%, but I ended up with a pretty average time for myself on that course—I’ve run faster, but I’ve also run slower. A couple of days later, I made a last minute decision through-run the Enchantments solo. This is a 20-ish mile, absolutely stunning high alpine journey, through numerous crystalline lakes, bright granite, and vast groves of larch trees (which were at their golden peak!). It had been 8 years since my last Enchantments trip, so it was wonderful to be back, and I had absolutely perfect weather. Doing it by myself, almost on a whim, was incredibly empowering and the whole day still feels like a dream!

Also in October was the Cougar Cup 7.6 miler (scored as a XC race). This is one of my favorite annual events, I am crazy about the flowy, fast course! I felt back to my normal self and ran just 15 seconds slower than my course PR, despite wet conditions. At the USATF PNTF XC Championships in November, I ran exactly the same time as I did last year (to the second!). I didn’t feel my best, but in the final 400m I finally tapped into that next gear I hadn’t been able to access yet this season. At the USATF NW Regionals XC meet a couple of weeks later, the mud only slowed me down a teeny bit from my previous time on that course. I’ve been steadily improving my times over the course of the cross-country season and feeling very good in my training. I’m truly looking forward to giving everything I’ve got at Nationals in December to close out my year!

I really enjoyed volunteering at almost all the Cougar races this year. I was on the parking crew for each race and I think maybe I’m finally proficient in this area, although I nearly parked in a whole line of people at one race—oops! Thanks Chris H. for saving the day! Volunteering has been such a fun aspect to my year, I absolutely love cheering people on and helping their race experience go smoothly.

My Brooks shoe lineup has truly contributed to my success this year. My daily trainer is the Hyperion Max, I love the combo of peppy responsiveness and max cushion. I think these shoes have been a key factor in helping me increase my average weekly mileage this year while avoiding injury. For speedwork I love the regular Hyperion. These shoes are soooo light and responsive, they work perfectly with my foot strike and make me feel so efficient. I also loved them for my road half marathon PR earlier this year. On trails, my daily favorite is the Caldera, and for the middle distance races I’ve been doing (and also some of the XC races!), I have been obsessed with the Catamount Agils. These shoes are really special and make me feel like I’m flying down the trails. For clothing, I do most of my runs pre-dawn at this time of year, and I feel like I’m constantly wearing the Brooks Run Visible ½ zip. It is the brightest top I’ve ever worn and is super comfortable for a range of temperatures. I need another because whenever it’s in the wash I’m very sad. I’ve had such a fun year on the SRC-Brooks team. It is so wonderful to be a part of this team and the whole SRC community, a group of people who share my love of trails and of pushing our limits!

September through November has been full of XC races and crisp fall weather workouts ranging from intervals on Lake Washington to tempos down on the Green River Trail. While there is comfort in a familiar workout and location, there is also excitement in trying out new trails and parks. It pays to break out of the comfort zone once in awhile (or once weekly?). My actual running performance has been trending steadily upward over the last few months as measured in not just races but in the workouts as well. I’ve noticed performance improvements in Emerald City/PNTF /Regionals in time from 2023 , but more importantly in how my body was moving and ultimately recovering after the races.  This is a testament to all the work I’ve been putting in the strength exercises, drills, and stretching….all the things that tend to get forgotten when life gets busy. It took me way too long to have  the realization that my glutes/hips were barely working any more and I had to make a serious effort to whip them back into the kind of shape that could put up 50-70 miles a week with quality workouts mixed in.  I certainly have more work to do but it’s a great feeling when you do a hard workout and can still run the next day without having compromised your mechanics and stride. It would be dishonest to not mention that the rotation between my Hyperion Max and Elites for long runs and workouts have been a game changer. I like to save the elites for race days and my toughest workouts, but Hyperion Max is quickly becoming my “If I had to pick one shoe”. One stand out race for me was the October Cougar XC Cup. It was a real test of strength and speed where I was beaten down handily on both accounts by a couple of very strong local runners(Kudos Doug and Zach).  The 7.6 mile course forces you to dig deep on the ups/downs/ and flat if you want to keep up with the front pack! I was happy with a distant third, another reminder of the work I needed to do but always trying to keep in mind what I’ve managed to do thus far! Catamount 3 was my shoe of choice for this race with a great balance of speed and some extra protection from the spicier parts of the trail. I’m thinking Agils next time to crank it up a notch on speed! I did also manage to sneak in a Turkey trot this year which was supposed to be my 5k comeback , however a long course and early start wave mishap prevented that magical sub 16 number , I instead settled for a good 16ish minutes of hard crowd dodging and dodgy pacing. 3 days later I managed to do some mile repeats and run my first mile in under 5 mins since 2016 (This may need to be fact checked but I’m pretty sure it’s been awhile…). With a sub 5 in a workout I was able to meet at least one arbitrary time goal for the year so I’m taking that momentum and confidence booster into my final big race of the year on December 14th.  I expect a muddy, sloppy golf course where obsessing over pace and numbers will get you nowhere!

The second half of 2024 featured a welcomed break from marathon preparation. After getting married in July, I dusted off my coach’s stopwatch and transitioned to training with the Eagles of Cleveland High School for their upcoming cross country season.

My fall racing plans this year aligned nicely with the high school calendar. This provided the perfect opportunity to get in some well-deserved bonding time with the scholastic harriers. Working with the youth running community gives a great perspective on why I appreciate this sport.

Coaching younger runners to achieve their goals is extremely satisfying. I am grateful that as a member of the SRC-Brooks team, I have been able to pursue a handful of ambitious, personal goals. And as a leader in this Seattle running community, I feel empowered to share my experiences and knowledge of the sport with up-and-coming runners.

As the sun sets on 2024, I am looking forward to wrapping up my year with a challenging 10k on the cross country course at the Club National race just outside of Tacoma. It will be a grind, for sure, but thanks to the camaraderie of our team, I know I’ll be in the best company who will share in the delightful misery.

Thanks to the support of Brooks Running and my teammates on the SRC-Brooks team. I appreciate ya! 👊 Hydrate. Breathe. Eat yo’ veggies. And Let’s Run There!

2024 was a challenging year for me both as a person and a runner with job changes, moves, and injuries, but I’m proud that I’ve come out the end of it still standing (and mostly running).  I started the year with a first-place finish (thanks to some errant runners ahead of me) in the Bridle Trails Winter Running Festival 10-mile individual race AND the 6 person relay (after two very cold hours of parking lot volunteering!). I ran most of the Cougar Mountain Trail series and while not performing quite as well as previous years, I thoroughly enjoyed every root and rock. I have had a more productive cross-country season with SRC this fall with times equaling my bests from a few years ago, but at the end an injury curtailed the fitness I had been building since the summer. 

The Brooks Cascadia and Catamount have remained my go-to trail shoes, and I’ve been impressed with how well they grip on PNW trails. I love training in both the Adrenaline (tried and true classic) and Glycerin (so, so soft). 

Getting to volunteer with SRC has given me a lot of purpose this year. We’ve helped maintain trails at Cougar Mountain and I had the pleasure of volunteering at the Billy Mills run for life in north Seattle. I spent much of the year helping to grow SRC as the merch/membership distributor and a board member.  Being part of the SRC-Brooks team has been an honor again this year, not just for the actual running but the amazing teammates I get to race and run with (as an adult it’s tough to find a “team”!). I spent the summer running in Ohio, and I was so proud to run on the other side of the country with the SRC and Brooks logos displayed on my clothes.

The second half of 2024 got off to a great start for me with strong finishes in the July Cougar Mountain 10.8-mile race (1^st in my age group) and the Wy’East Trailfest 28k (2^nd in my age group). Both of those races were super fun because I ended up dueling it out with a couple runners in sprints to the finish line. I came up short on both occasions, but it was a rewarding experience to push myself hard at the end of the race when my tank was empty. The 28k was a particularly great experience because the race was on Mt. Hood, which was both amazing and extremely challenging with tons of steep vert. The one downside of that race was that I came home with a sore hip. The soreness never went away and eventually got worse the more I ran on it. I finally went to the doctor and through x-rays discovered that I have osteoarthritis. Needless to say, I’ve been sidelined from running for a while and will likely be so for the foreseeable future as I work to build up muscles around my hip and seek out treatment options. The life of an aging runner is not for the faint of heart!

On the volunteering side of things, I continued to help with parking at SRC’s Cougar Mountain races and pitched in at the October trail work party. It’s nice to play a small part in making these races run smoothly, and of course to test my Tetris skills by squeezing as many cars a possible into the Sky Country Trailhead parking lot.

I’ve been running in Brooks shoes and wearing their apparel for several years and while they have always been great products, I feel like they really stepped up their game in 2024. I loved wearing the New Ghost Max on my long runs and the new Hyperion Max has to be the best thing out of their shop in a long time. The fit and comfort of both shoes keeps my old legs happy! On the trail side of things, I spend all my time in the Catamount and have enjoyed them on short and snappy runs and out on log hauls through the mountains. The Highpoint trail collection, specifically the waterproof jacket and the shorts, were great additions on my trail runs this year. The shorts are super comfortable and have tons of storage and the jacket is a lightweight security blanket when the weather turns for the worse. While I am stepping back from running next year to heal up, I will still be managing the team, supporting SRC through volunteering, and wearing my Brooks gear wherever I go.

The focus of my summer running was a trip to the Colorado’s Sawatch Mountains to race the High Lonesome 100. With an average elevation over ten thousand feet and a high point over thirteen, I knew I needed to get in some altitude acclimation for my sea-level lungs. I chose a strategy of working up to the high altitudes, first spending a week at 7000′ in Park City, Utah, running in the mountains and taking care of my day job remotely. Then for the week leading up to the race I camped near the course at 10000′, mostly taking easy outings to taper for the race but also tackling my first climb up a fourteener. The weather on Mt Yale was spectacular that day so I relaxed for a few hours at the summit to squeeze in a bit more acclimation; a nasty headache dissipated as I descended below 12000′ so I figured I was ready.

The High Lonesome 100 course is a big loop through the southern Sawatch Mountains, with a lot of long climbs, rocky jeep roads, open high country, and bit stretches on the Colorado Trail and the Continental Divide Trail. The race was very tough — it’s always hard to keep consuming calories in a long race and especially difficult at altitude, and I suffered for hours from cramps brought on by deep breathing in the thin air. But my fitness after a spring of training was good and I finished with a time I was satisfied with, 29:07 for 21st man.

HiLo turned out to be the only one for me in the second half of the year; a lingering hamstring injury meant I stuck to mostly easy running in the fall. But I enjoyed finding other ways to be a part of the running community. I volunteered from before the start to the finish of the October Cougar Mountain Trail Run. SRC-Brooks teammate Trisha and I spent an evening safety sweeping eighteen difficult miles during the Teanaway Country 100 race. I loved being a spectator at this fall’s cross-country races and am looking forward to the same at USATF Club Nationals soon.

The Brooks Catamount 3 was a major discovery for me this year; they’re a joy to run in on all kinds of trails, including Pacific Northwest mud, sandy desert singletrack, and Rocky Mountains … rocks. I decided to start my 100 miler in them and keep my Calderas available in case I decided I needed some more cushioning as the race went on, but I never did. Love ’em.

I haven’t been able to run much, so I’ve been doing a lot of hiking, strength training, and multiple methods of x-training including doing the stairs near my house, using a new-to-me elliptical that I got from my Buy Nothing group, and doing online video workouts. I’ve also gone up to Camp Muir every two to three weeks and most recently climbed Mt. Baker (on the 5th). My Brooks Cascadia GTX shoes have been ideal for each of my mountain trips.

While that’s still further out in the future, more immediately I’m looking forward to pacing a friend at the Hardrock 100 mile race on July 13th in Colorado. I’ll be carrying my Brooks Highpoint Waterproof jacket and pants with me so I’m prepared in case any storms roll in, which often happens during this race.

On the volunteer front, I’ve helped out with registration at the Cougar Mountain Trail Series races. It’s always fun to see people come out to the races who are new to trail running as well as folks who have been doing these races for years. Such a wonderful community and a fun time all around!

I started 2024 off with the Bridle Trails Winter Running Festival where I ran on a relay team with some of my SRC teammates. We came home with the win! I then took a little bit of a break from running to do some skiing. I went on a two-week trip to Norway with my mom in March and we did a 54k classic ski race together. It was fun to try out a different kind of race! I battled some mysterious fatigue for a bit but slowly eased back into running. I kicked off the racing season with a first-place finish at the Yakima Skyline 25k in April. I felt great and it was a good confidence booster! In May, I tackled the Tillamook Burn 50k, securing another first-place finish. Some unexpected life stress leading up to the event made me feel uncertain going into it, and I did experience a bit of a bonk near the end but overall I was happy with my performance given the circumstances and felt ready for Broken Arrow Skyrace 46k in June, which was my “A” race for the first half of the year. This is a mountainous race in Olympic Valley, CA with 9000 ft of gain and even a little bit of scrambling. I had a blast running it and the views were incredible! It was the most competitive race I’ve run, and I was thrilled to achieve my goal of a top 10 finish, coming in 8th place. The hot temperatures and high elevation were big unknowns going into it, so I started out conservatively and was able to gradually move my way up the field. I recovered at Lake Tahoe after the race, and the following weekend, I had the rewarding experience of crewing and pacing my partner Blake at the Western States 100. Broken Arrow and Western States are both iconic races in the trail running world and it was fun to experience them both in one trip!

Outside of racing, I found joy in giving back to the SRC and brooks communities by participating in trail work parties, making pancakes at the June Cougar race, and volunteering at the Brooks PR Invite, where I watched some speedy high schoolers race. Throughout these adventures, the new Catamount 3 shoes have been a reliable companion, still proving to be my favorite racing shoe and getting better with every version. It’s been a successful running year so far, and I’m excited for some summer FKT adventures and for gearing up for my first 100 miler at Run Rabbit Run in September!

2024 has been an interesting year to say the least. So many things have happened that it’s hard to know what to share first. I did start the year off with one of my favorite races in Arizona and took a solid second place. I also started a new coaching job which I thoroughly enjoy. I am very much enjoying summer now that it has finally arrived because it is my favorite season in the PNW. One of my favorite parts is volunteering at the Cougar race series. It is fun to be on the other side of the event and to cheer on runners of all different experience levels. When I first started running, I had no idea how much effort goes into putting on a single running event, so it’s wonderful to experience the camaraderie and teamwork at every single race I run or volunteer at.

The biggest hurdle I’ve encountered was being told I am perimenopausal. Learning to eat, train, and get the necessary support has been quite the adventure! I’ve had to completely rethink and reevaluate my running goals and training plans. I spent the spring track season running daily with my athletes. My go-to shoe for track workouts in the Hyperion Tempo. My focus now has been to build up slowly and try different running distances on both road and trail to see what feels best. They are all fun and challenging in their own ways. There is no sugar coating that menopausal running is a very different experience than anything I’ve had to adapt to prior to this point in time. But I am here to tell you that it by no means prevents you from having big running dreams and pursuing them.

Which leads me to my next big adventure run I have planned for this year. In 2022 I lost a very close trail running partner. We did countless runs and races together, and his passing left a huge hole in my life. We had a plan to run the Grand Canyon together in 2024, and I have decided to continue with this plan in honor of him. I find the thought of doing this without him is intimidating on multiple levels, but I feel confident that with the right approach and training I will succeed at this endeavor. This goal has been a big motivating factor as I reassess my summer/fall training plans. Fortunately, I had the opportunity to train down in Flagstaff, AZ both last year and this year which helped boost my confidence a bit as I learned to navigate the different climate and altitude. I have decided that I like both the Catamount and the Caldera for trail runs. I will have to decide which one to wear for the big run! The story of this venture will likely be in my next report, so until then, happy running!

May was an exciting running month for me, I completed a life goal of mine to run rim-to-rim-to-rim at the Grand Canyon (45 miles with 11,000 feet of elevation gain)! My running partners and I lucked out with temperatures only rising into the 70s and we were able to soak up all the beauty with minimal suffering.  In June, I volunteered and raced at the second Cougar Series race (14.5 mile distances). I felt extremely strong and came in 4th woman! I absolutely loved racing in the speedy Brooks Catamount Agils and can’t wait to use them for the rest of the Cougar Series races this summer, where I will also be volunteering.  In this hot weather, I’ve also been loving the Brooks Chaser 3” shorts and Sprint Free tanks!

May started off with our club’s Cougar Mountain Trail Series opener. I opted for the 10.8 miler which was the long option. It was a scorcher of a day for early May but I was familiar with the course and happy to be at  my go to training trails. I found myself isolated for much of the race before finally pulling up on the leader only to get dusted in the last quarter mile. Still, I was happy to finish in a solid second and make a beeline for the watermelon and post race refreshments. Towards the end of May I made my way to Leavenworth Skyline 27k, a race with one big climb and one big descent. The thought of 10 + miles of continuous downhill was a little scary for my quads as I’d been prone to big time quad soreness in the past. It was a game time decision between my Catamounts and Calderas. Would Caldera 7s provide the extra cushion for a gnarly descent? I believe so based on my longer adventure runs, but my Catamounts have been my go to racing shoe and the choice boiled down to wanting to jump into the aggressive switchback running in the first 6 miles. The race had some really strong climbers put the hurt on me early. “Surely I’ll get some ground back on the downhill” I thought….well I managed to sneak past third temporarily, but let’s just say when you a crush a downhill for so long , the next little hill you encounter feels like the biggest hill you’ve ever seen! Maybe I should have studied the course elevation a little more, but when you look at the 6 mile 4k plus climb vs a little few hundred foot climb you think “How bad could it be ?!?” Well the answer is bad in terms of losing that last podium spot you worked hard to catch up to, but boy does it feel good just to finish and interestingly the quads held up. You better believe the Caldera’s still got some love and made it into my cooldown. Rotating shoes is an underrated move people!

June brought on Cougar race number two, weighing in at 14.5 miles. I immediately was brought back to memories of my epic duel with Max Ferguson back in the summer of ’14. Which of course ended in a tragic miscalculation of the final climb and perhaps my first trail duel lost on the unforgiving late climbs. Wait am I detecting a pattern? Did I not learn lessons in 10 years? Perhaps mistakes were made but fun was had. Well this one ended in another 2nd place, but I promise you I was soundly defeated before the final climb. Never underestimate the jump from the 10.8 to the 14.5! June also brought the volunteering at the Brooks PR Invite where the best of high school track athletes compete right down the road from me in Renton. Talk about wishing I had more of a finishing kick……kids are fast these days. Awesome to see the best go at and even though the mile was never my event (for reasons you can probably guess) I love watching the 4 lapper. Some fantastic young talent and I hope we see some of them come to the trail world one day, but maybe let me get my Cougar win first.

The end of the month brought me to Missoula for what became the half instead of the full marathon due to an injury bug and deciding to lessen the risk of walking away more damaged. This trip had been long in planning and I would have been more bummed except my mom made her return to the marathon after a 10 plus year hiatus! I was proud to see her step to the plate and tackle this even after a few minor setbacks in training. We both ended the day running a little slower than what we set out to do but it’s a lot better when you make a family trip out of it and you learn to appreciate the loved ones that wake up at 4am to help with logistics and cheer all morning on little sleep. It’s always been a fault of mine to want to wait until I have some arbitrary level of fitness before stepping to the line but anytime I show up I find inspiration from the energy at great event. If you haven’t made it out to Missoula, it’s a great town!

January

Volunteering: 4 hours in the absolutely frozen tundra of Bridle Trails State Park, Running:  260mi (419km) @ 33 hours 41 minutes. 

Kicking off 2024, Smu and I continued our New Year’s Day tradition of logging a scenic trail run among the conifers of Cougar Mountain. As the Route Planner in Chief (RPIC) in our household, I assured my favorite run bud that it might take us close to three hours to complete the lollipop from the Licorice Fern Trailhead around the Whittaker Wilderness and Wilderness Cliffs trails. Better prepared for our adventure this year, Anna gave me the OK. We took to the forest, enjoyed the lush tree canopy, ran up and down some hills, and ended our outing at the local diner for brunch before returning to Seatown.

For the rest of January, I stuck to my Boston Marathon training plan like the packaging of a messy energy gel sticks to my fingers during a long run. 

February

Volunteering: 0hrs, Running: 242mi (391km) @ 29 hours 42 minutes

The month of February is my favorite month to run in the Pacific Northwest. The temperatures are ideal for distance running. It’s a fairly gloomy month, and I just absolutely love it. For the Brooks’ team run this month, we met on a damp and dark Sunday morning in West Seattle. I enjoyed getting out on the Alki Bike trail for the first time in a while. We split up once our group rounded the bend towards Lincoln Park.

Teammate Chris C. and I continued through the park. I led him on a route through the middle of the West Seattle peninsula. We climbed up from the shores along Fauntleroy and headed north past the central neighborhoods before descending through a delightful Greenbelt down Fairmount Ave.

The scenery among a dense forest in West Seattle almost compares to the views one experiences along the bluffs running through Ft. Ebey State Park in Coupeville on Whidbey Island. That’s where I opened up my racing for 2024 – the Kettles Trail Run. This one is hosted by our friends at Northwest Trail Runs.

I came away with a ~1-minute P.B. along the half marathon course and finished 4th overall. It was a super fun weekend. Here’s a pre-race snap with me and my friend Matt P. who also did the half.

March

Volunteering: 8hrs. SRC Aid Station atop Cleator Rd at the Chuckanut 50k; Trail Running Film Festival at the Egyptian.

Running: 314mi (506km) @ 37h 9 minutes.

One of the best parts of being on the SRC-Brooks team is getting to experience the annual Chuckanut 50k trail race in Bellingham. Having checked it off of my racing list last year, I planned to once again help out at our team’s aid station atop Cleator Rd. After we finished our shift, a few of us ran along the course, cheering on runners grinding through the last 10 kilometers of their 50ks.

For the second year in a row, the weather was pretty fantastic all weekend in B’ham. Running a 10k shakeout – and imbibing in the post-race celebrations was just about what I needed before one of the last big, long runs of my training cycle for Boston – a 39k (24.2mi) out and back between Sudden Valley and Wickersham.

This.run.was.the.business. I was genuinely terrified and excited to get out along the rolling roads nestled between the foothills of Mt. Baker and the Chuckanuts. On paper, it looked like a twisty, rugged, beast of a run. And it lived up to all of my expectations. With sweeping views of the Twin Sisters range and a few peeks at the peak of Mt. Baker – add that to the serene stretch next to Lake Whatcom, my running heart was full.

Other highlights for the month of March were volunteering at the return of the Trail Running Film Festival and a pair of long runs around Central Whidbey Island. Running along the ridges above the Puget Sound, cresting the spine of the Island, and climbing atop Bush Point Rd at the end of some 2+ hour stretches provided equal parts mental fortitude and lactic burn.

April

Volunteering: 0hrs, Running: 170mi (275km) @ 21h 13 minutes.

It was time to get down to business in April for the Boston Marathon. I’m not sure how many “serious runner” marathon cycles I have left in me, so my mindset was to make this one count. I gave myself ample time to get on the east coast schedule – I spent a few days at my childhood home in South Jersey, a couple of nights in Philadelphia with my brother, and then took the Acela up to Boston – that’s Amtrak’s “fast” train, for all the West Coasters reading this.

Boston really goes all in on their marathon weekend. Here’s an excerpt from the race recap on my personal blog (https://www.rocheam.com/move.html#BOSTON2024):

…everything about the Boston Marathon exceeded my expectations…My number one objective was to stay patient through the downhill parts of the course so that I wasn’t cooked by the time the hill sections appeared later in the race. And, as always, get to mile 20 so that there was something left to give for that last 10k.

…The race is described as a 26-mile-long parade. I saw it more as eight consecutive, small town 5k races…

…Having “summitted” … “Heartbreak Hill,” I prepared for what I expected to be a smooth, downhill cruise to the finish in Boston…

Well, it wasn’t exactly a cruise, but I stayed on my feet, kept up a respectable pace, and persevered better than a whole lot of other runners. From the hills to the finish, there were plenty of runners-turned-walkers who were overcooked from the hills, the “heat,” and their high expectations of running ~fast on this course.

…I craned my neck to look toward the horizon to see just how much farther I had to go for those final two turns at the finish – “right on Hereford, left on Boylston.” I ran beneath the I-90 overpass and climbed to the top of Commonwealth Ave on the other side and finally saw the first turn!

…I crossed the line in just over two hours and fifty minutes. A pretty good day’s work. B+ for the effort. A+ for the experience.

May

Volunteering: 1.5hrs. Brooks PR Invitational, Running: 170mi (273km) @ 22h 23 minutes.

A fun, end-of-spring tradition with the team has been to volunteer at the High School showcase meet known as the Brooks PR Invitational. This year’s race was held at the Renton Memorial Stadium. After watching junior athletes zip down the straightaway and around the track, we got to help with breaking down the event.

It’s a pretty fun atmosphere with high production value thanks to the involvement of major sponsors and top industry media coverage.

My other highlight for May was participating in a 20-mile race in the Methow Valley. From the valley, this race climbed to the foothills leading to the Chelan Sawtooth Wilderness. This run was good for my soul: sweeping views across the North Central Cascades, beautiful wildflowers in full bloom, and absolutely zero sorority members lining the course screeching at the top of their lungs.

June

Volunteering: 0hrs, Running: 216mi (347km) @ 31h 38 minutes.

June was a very chill month compared to May when every weekend I had at least ten things going on. Smu and I took a serendipitous day trip from Whidbey out to the San Juans to check-out the farmer’s market in Friday Harbor. We ran from the ferry and into one of the most beautiful forests I’d ever encountered.

The Friday Harbor Laboratories Biological Preserve was lush with old-growth conifers and melodious songbirds. The brief time we spent running from a peaceful country road and into one of the most exotic landscapes is something that will stick with me for a long while. 

Lastly for this mid-year report, I’ll recap the Brooks team run from Sunset Way on Tiger Mountain. Jenny led us on a casual mid-week jaunt up and around Tradition Plateau. It’s always a pleasure getting to catch-up while logging some miles with my kind teammates.

Well, that’s six months down and six more to go for 2024! Thanks to the support of Brooks Running and my teammates on the SRC-Brooks team. I appreciate ya! 👊 Hydrate. Breathe. Eat yo’ veggies. And Let’s Run There!

I participated in two Cougar Mountain trail work days, where I helped to clear a few downed trees on some major routes and generally prepare the course for upcoming races. I placed 7th overall and 2nd masters at the May 10.8 mile Cougar Mountain race.  I am excited to get some bigger races on the schedule for the second half of the season, in addition to a full slate of cross country races, culminating at nationals in Tacoma!

The first half of the year was an eventful one for me with more races, including two road 5k’s (it’s been forever since I’ve run one 5k, never mind two!), than in recent years. In addition to the St. Paddy’s Day and West Seattle 5k’s I ran the Yakima Skyline 25k and the June 8-mile and July 10-mile Cougar Mountain races. Solid finishes without any fireworks, which is fine by me at my ripe old age. That said, I did enjoy dueling it out with another oldster at the July Cougar Race. I came up short but have my eyes on revenge at the August PNW Trail championships.

I also kept busy with a number of volunteering opportunities, which began in March with staffing the Cleator Road Aid Station during the Chukanut 50k with a number of my SRC-Brooks teammates. The weather gods shined on us this year with a sunny, warm day. Other volunteering included clearing trails prior to the May Cougar Mountain Race, and managing parking at the June and July Cougar races. This can be a wee stressful but it’s kind of fun to keep everyone organized.

I spent a lot of time training in the new Ghost Max, which is now my favorite road shoe. It’s easy to churn out lots of miles in all that sweet, cushiony goodness and the fit is spot on. On the trails, I have been running a lot, including all my trail races, in the Catamount 2. It’s the perfect blend of trail feel, quickness, and traction; I can’t wait to give the 3 a tryout later this year! A final piece of gear I have been loving is the new High Point waterproof jacket. I got stuck in a late spring snow squall miles from the trailhead in the Teanaway and it kept me absolutely warm and dry. I would have been a hurting unit without that layer of protection and now it lives in my pack. The rest of 2024 is shaping up nicely with the Wy’East Trailfest 28k next on my list.

In January, I started my new life as an SRC-Brooks Team member off right by joining some of my teammates to run the Bridle Trails 50k relay, in unusually frigid conditions. I’ve enjoyed racing the 50k solo there in the past so it was a fun change to have just one five-mile lap to run as hard as I can. I’m primarily an ultramarathoner so hitting a race pace for a short lap is tough but a great way to introduce variety and become a stronger runner. Thanks mostly to my speedy teammates, we got the relay win!

During the dark Pacific Northwest winters, I have two strategies that help keep me active outdoors. First, I embrace the grey on our local trails; Tiger Mountain just feels right when the weather’s a bit ugly and my feet are wet. Second, all my favorite cross training happens on skis, both nordic skate skiing and backcountry ski touring.

As spring arrived my next racing outing was at the Yakima Skyline 50k. This race has been a longtime favorite for me; I have seven previous finishes there, more than anyone else. I love it for the usually warm and dry early-season conditions on the east side of the Cascades, and for the training motivation from remembering how tough its four monster climbs are. My time was about average for me, but was pleased that my out-and-back splits were just a few minutes apart, for a really well-paced race. I ran 6:18:25 to take fifth place among the men.

In June, I ran the Cougar Mountain Trail Series 14 mile race, which was a ton of fun. Trail and weather conditions were ideal, and despite the previously mentioned discomfort with running “short” races – I had a great time pushing the pace. I was happy with my 2:14:16 and 6th man.

The rest of the first half of 2024 was filled with volunteering and training for upcoming summer adventures. Working the top-of-Cleator-Road aid station at Chuckanut 50k in March with my teammates was great fun; filling bottles and handing out snacks is a great way to be a part of the race experience and help others hit their goals. I got in some good trail work days as well, both keeping the Cougar Mountain trails in great shape with SRC, and helping build new trail in the Teanaway with Washington Trails Association. Training is going well as I prep for a big mountain race later in July as well as to-be-determined challenges later in the summer.

The Brooks Catamount 3 was new to me this spring and has been a fantastic discovery! The fit suits me just right and I love the grippy but lightweight sole on smoother trails and when scrambling over rocks. I’m looking forward to seeing how fast and far they can carry me in the rest of 2024.

Kristi Williams

The later half of 2023 has been filled with trails and the cross country courses! The summer was completed with a 5th place finish at the USATF PNTF 14.5 Miler Trail Championships on Cougar Mountain (August Cougar Mountain Trail Series race). I was pleasantly surprised making the top five considering the level of amazing female athletes that were present. Being 39 (an almost masters) and competing on the same level as those who may be close to half your age is challenging and slightly daunting, but at this point in my running career I am happy to be out there still doing what I love regardless of my age and what is going on in my life! “Run happy” is my mantra no matter how I feel, it helps me race with optimism versus stress and anxiety. After the completion of the Cougar Mountain trail series, I was so excited to discover that I had outright won the short series! I never imagined I was capable or talented enough to achieve such an outcome. It just goes to show hard work, commitment, showing up, and doing your best can pay off even if you are not an expert in that area…I still find myself to be slightly naive or blissfully oblivious when it comes to trail running. 

The transition into cross country was a bit difficult. Trying to get my muscles to remember what it feels like to really push hard over a short period of time took some work and patience. I managed to run all the xc races SRC competed in this year, but it took some of the races to really reengage that mindset necessary to run successfully in cross country. I had to accept that I shouldn’t go out with the lead pack, but rather run consistently and slowly work my way up. The Bill Roe Classic was an eye opener which led to a more successful Lower Woodland and an even better performance at Lincoln Park PNTF Championship. XC Regionals in Portland was a hoot mainly because of the tight timeline I found myself on where I drove up with my mother in law, who also raced, and managed to warm up and race within half an hour of the race’s start time.  Let’s just say my hips were solid as a rock and it became a game for me, during the race, trying to figure out how to run quickly with little to no gross motor movement in the lower half of my body. Not entirely desirable results, but the course was long and it was windy so that will be what I will attribute most of my troubles to! The last Cougar Mountain 7.6 miler was a blast and a well deserved change from fast parks and golf course settings! I managed a second place finish and was delighted to be back on the trails.  I love how I crave the mountains and trails now more than flat speedy surfaces of roads and fast grass….who knew I’d really morph into a trail runner after all! I am not racing XC Nationals this year due to how far away Florida is, but plan to run the Christmas Rush 10k to end my XC season with a fast, flat, and fun road race! 

I enjoyed volunteering at the last two Cougar Mountain Trail Series races in August and October at the food tent (my favorite volunteer position!). I love cutting watermelon in the summer and plating pumpkin pie in October. As always, it is a thrill watching people finish their races ranging from first time trail 5kers to 50k studs. It is a blast being surrounded by like minded individuals who value nature, the thrill of trail running, and community. 

I love the new Hyperion Max and have been utilizing its cushion and quick turnover for workouts while the Catamount 2 remains my trail favorite. Although, the Caldera 6 has grown on me for those trail runs with lots of descents…..my knees appreciate all that cushion! 

Thanks to Seattle Running Club and Brooks for supporting my fellow teammates and myself! It is a wonderful feeling to be a full time working teacher and mother while still having support from my local club and running company to help me realize my running dreams and potential! Thank you SRC and Brooks!

Dave Messenheimer

The second half of 2023 has included lots of miles, lots of trails, unfortunately some injuries slowing me down, and lots of fun times running with other SRC members.  Racing performances have included a 3rd place at the USATF PNW Masters Trail champs at Cougar Mountain in August, some middling cross country results for SRC, and being part of the winning team at the Cougar Cup race in October. In September, I joined fellow SRC members Chris Tremonte, Uli and Trisha Steidl, and Erik Barkhaus in a beautiful run to Pyramid Peak on the slopes of Mt Rainier. This was especially challenging for Erik and I, as we had just raced the Bellingham XC race the day before! The Brooks Cascadia and Catamount have become my go-to trail shoes, and I’ve been impressed with how well they grip on PNW trails. 

As important as the running accomplishments have been this year, getting to volunteer with SRC and Brooks has been equally enjoyable. We’ve helped maintain trails and performed some heavy blackberry and log removal at Cougar Mountain.  Being part of the SRC-Brooks team has been an honor this year, and I’m so grateful for the opportunities it has granted me, not just for the actual running but the amazing people I have gotten to know and share time with.

Barrett Gray

For the second half of 2023, I turned my focus to FKT (fastest known time) adventures. I did an FKT around my birthday in early August for the second year in a row with my friend Charlie. For this year’s “Birthday FKT” we ran the Foss Lakes – Iron Cap Loop, a 26.5-mile route in the heart of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness with some scrambling and off-trail travel in the middle section. We set a new Mixed-gender team FKT by almost 5 hours. The Birthday FKT has become a fun tradition! Next up in my FKT season was the Grand Loop, a rugged 44-mile route in Olympic National Park with 13,000 ft of gain. The loop was absolutely stunning and quickly became one of my favorite routes in Washington. My main goals going into the run were to keep moving with few breaks and to be efficient with water stops and pole transitions to prepare me for my bigger FKT attempt on Section J of the PCT a couple weeks later, and I was stoked for that to all go well and help me get the women’s FKT! Two weeks later I set out at 4:45 AM from Stevens Pass on my Section J FKT attempt. 16 hours and 15 minutes later I made it to Snoqualmie Pass for a new unsupported women’s FKT on the 75-mile section of the PCT. This run was a big milestone for me in many ways. It was my longest run ever (by time and distance), and by far my longest solo effort. I backpacked this route a couple years ago over 5 days and it was fun to experience a familiar trail in a new way. There was something magical about experiencing sunrise and sunset out on the trail in the same day and covering so much distance in a beautiful place. This route will always be very special to me!

Running the FKTs was a fun change of pace from ultra-racing, but I didn’t completely stop racing on the trails and enjoyed switching it up with a couple sub-ultra races in the second half of the year. In August, I finally ran my first Cougar Mountain Trail Run Series race at the USATF PNTF Trail Championships. The 14.5-mile race had a competitive field and we started out fast on the flatter parts of Cougar Mountain. I was in 4^th place to start, but as the course became hillier and more technical, I was gradually able to make my way to the front for a 1^st place finish. It was fun to test my speed on home trails and be out there with many SRC teammates! To cap off my year of running, I decided to do one more sub-ultra race at Run the Rock 20 miler at Smith Rock State Park. Conditions were perfect this year with great weather and dry trails, which made for a very pleasant race experience in contrast to last year when I ran the 50-mile distance and there was a snowstorm the night before and morning of the race. I led the 20-mile race from start to finish and came home with a win and a new course record by 16 minutes. It was a great way to end an awesome year of running!

I’ve still been loving the Brooks Catamount 2 for all my fast trail endeavors. I quickly went through my first pair and was excited to get a second pair in August. The Brooks Cascadia 17 also came out this year, and I’ve been loving the new model. It’s been a great shoe for my endeavors on technical trails and terrain. My Brooks shoes are also great to wear while I’m volunteering at SRC events! I always enjoy helping out at the Cougar Mountain races and had a fun time volunteering at the Billy Mills Run/Walk for Life this year.

Katelen Phelan

Imposter syndrome mainly defines the latter half of my 2023 year in running. I’ve attempted to run, but my body hasn’t healed yet from my high-risk tibial stress reaction (yes, from April). So, my movement has been redirected to neighborhood strolls, bike rides, in-home stationary cycling (have you ever tried Zwift?!), physical therapy and light lifting routines. I can now do multiple pull ups! In September I eventually started getting runner-specific physical therapy through Chris Johnson at Zaren PT. He’s guiding me towards a strong recovery with minimal setbacks. The process takes time, but having tailored physical therapy exercises to get me there is giving me hope. 

This fall cross country season; I was a volunteer coach with the Highline High School Cross Country team again. This year’s coaching staff gelled well together. As the injured coach, I often led modified workouts for fellow injured runners, core work, and stretches. The most rewarding part was connecting with athletes about their hopes and goals both within the xc season and for their future in general. Some of these athletes were former students/athletes of mine at the middle level! The young athletes dialed in on setting PRs, encouraged one another and treated competitors with respect (despite some bizarre race day shenanigans). I also had the honor of volunteering at the Hallows Eve October Cougar Cup Trail Race at Cougar Mountain. So many friendly faces, strong paces and entertaining costumes. It was a frigid and frosty morning with one patch of pre-race sun for runners to huddle up in. 

I’d be lying if I didn’t say it’s been a challenge to stay engaged with home gym routines and solo walks. However, this extended recovery time has helped me reach out to and reconnect with friends and family who are also approaching physical activity in lower-impact ways. Turns out the views last a little longer and more can be noticed when you slow it all down. I’m looking forward to lacing up my Brooks shoes and going for runs in 2024!

Trisha Steidl

After spending the first half of the year focused on the 24 hour race, I needed a mental and physical break. I didn’t know how long that break needed to be, but figured my brain and body would let me know. I was also excited to get back out on the trails again. Fortunately, my good friend asked me to pace her again at the Cascade Crest 100 mile race. I was more than happy to oblige and tried to get my trail legs under me. It seemed to work, though my downhill ability was sub-par. I had a blast volunteering the day before the race and being part of a team of incredible women working together to crew and pace her to yet another win and a new course record! Supporting someone else in achieving their goals is a true privilege.

The following week I volunteered at the Buck Creek aid station at the White River 50 mile. It was fun to provide support to so many runners and to reconnect with people I haven’t seen in awhile as well as meet new folks. The August Cougar race was also the PNTF Trail Championships and I volunteered there and the next day drove up to Bellingham to volunteer at the Hamster race. I ended up pacing a guy for a couple of loops around Lake Padden. It was fun to meet him and his family and to support him as he earned his first 100-mile buckle! What a treat to have the impromptu opportunity to meet and help someone towards such a big goal!

A couple of weeks later, I volunteered at the Billy Mills Run For Life race which is a wonderful event that promotes suicide awareness, specifically in the Native American community.

During this time I was getting out on the trails more in my trusty Cascadia 16s and planned a couple of bigger, fall foliage, trail runs with small groups of friends. It’s always fun to take friends to beautiful places they’ve never been before and explore them myself, too. I also got to cheer on my SRC-Brooks teammate and friend, Barrett, as she finished setting a new FKT on Section J of the PCT! More volunteering at the October trail work party at Cougar and the race the following weekend where I got to cheer on my teammates.

Finally, I decided I was ready to race – at least mentally. I brushed old grass and dried mud off my Brooks Mach Spikeless Spikes and ran the PNTF XC Championships at Lincoln Park. Racing 6k after not doing any racing for several months and not doing the training for such a short race meant it was slow, but I felt so good, ran strong, and truly enjoyed the experience. Our women’s masters team earned a 2^nd place finish and I was 2^nd in my age group. It’s always special to race as a team. Two weeks later I raced at the Regional XC Championships in Portland where our masters women’s team earned 2^nd place again and I earned 3^rd place individually in my age group on a cold, blustery day. 

I’ve got two more short races on the calendar (Brooks Hyperion, for the win!) to finish out the year. My hope is that by racing more often and doing shorter races, I’ll be able to get to a place of fitness I haven’t been in awhile, gain that fitness in a fun way, and represent my club and Brooks better and more often. What a full year! Huge thanks to Seattle Running Club and Brooks Running for their continued support!

Aaron Roche

For the second half of 2023, I continued the pursuit of the running goals that I had set for myself – race hard, stay engaged with my local running community, and have fun! As an ambassador of the SRC-Brooks team, I coordinated with the United Native Education Alliance (UNEA) to strengthen our partnership at their annual Run for Life event. As a coach at Beacon Hill’s Cleveland High School, I contributed to the progress of 30-plus cross country athletes this past fall. And as an athlete, I competed in four races and one 4th of July Egg Dash. I am grateful for the opportunities afforded to me as a member of the SRC-Brooks team and the support of Brooks Running.

July through September stats. Volunteering: one event for a total of 4hrs. Training and competing: 97 hours across 771 mi (1,240km). For the second year, I led the SRC volunteer effort at the UNEA Run for Life held at North Seattle College. This event is a staple in the UNEA’s calendar of events. It provides important awareness to suicide prevention that disproportionately affects the Native American population and includes a keynote address by Olympian Billy Mills. Seattle Running Club was responsible for helping with registration, course marshaling, and race photography.

Training and racing-wise, I was in the thick of preparing for my big hairy audacious goal of running the New York City Marathon in early November. En route, I was the sole SRC-Brooks participant at the inaugural Redmond Harvest Half Marathon on Labor Day. Later in the month, I joined our harriers up in Bellingham for WWU’s Bill Roe XC Classic. It was an honor and a privilege to suit up in the SRC Sky Blue singlet and represent among collegians half my age.

October through November stats. Training: 48 hours across 389 mi (626 km).

The work continued all through October. I had a massive stretch of back-to-back-to-back weekends with long runs or 39k, 39.5k, and 40k that simulated the various bridge climbs that make the New York City Marathon unequivocally the toughest of the six marathon majors.

November 5th, 2023. The New York City Marathon had finally arrived! I navigated the complicated pre-race logistics with relative ease, made it to the start line on the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, and raced through the five-borough route to a one-minute personal best!

I had some awesome support that enabled me to achieve this year-long objective. My team of physical and massage therapists are right at the top of those who helped me on my journey. Brooks running has been masterful in creating the best training shoes (Glycerin 20s) for all those long run climbs up Madrona Drive. A huge thanks to my SRC-Brooks teammates for the inspiration to stay fit and keep up my competitive spirit. And last but not least, my partner and fellow 2023 NYC Marathon finisher, Anna Smu, for being with me stride for stride throughout the trails of life. But most importantly for putting up with my alter ego: running Diva Aaron.

Bergman Umana

My second half of 2023 was a blast! I focused on trail races that ranged anywhere from 5k to 20 miles and had the great opportunity to volunteer for Brooks at the Dawg Dash 5k and SRC’s Cougar Mountain October Series.

One of the most memorable races this season was the Backcountry Rise 20m. It was a big reach for me since I had never ran this distance before. On top of that, I had skipped way too many Wednesday workouts this summer to feel confident. But there I was, Mile 13, totally in my zone. I think it was the bee stings at mile 4 that helped me stay mentally grounded, haha. At mile 17, I suffered a fall that slowed me down for about a mile, but I was able to come back and put my batteries on for the last 3 miles. The remainder of the race was grueling, but I pushed through and finished 18^th. Completing this race made me excited about my future adventures in trail running.

Another fun race I competed in this season was the Middle Fork 13.1m. This was a fun little race I ran with some of my friends. The goal was to take it easy and enjoy October’s turning leaves. At mile 5 however, my friend realized that she was in 1st place for the ladies, so naturally, we picked up the pace.  I ended up in 6^th place and my friend snagged women’s 1^st.

In 2024, I’m looking forward to longer distance runs and exploring Washington’s mountains!

Erik Barkhaus

Summer running has traditionally been a time of bulk miles and grand adventures on the trails, yet I found myself heeding the advice of the Dr. and limiting mileage and intensity. Luckily progression in rehab and heeding the advice of my doctor still allowed me to run pain free while vacationing in Maine with my family and visiting my girlfriend’s family cabin in upstate New York. Both completely new territory for me and worth the increased humidity of the east coast summer. I found myself browsing races in the area to revisit in the coming years! In keeping to the cautious side, I did not race in the summer but was a regular in the Cougar Race Series registration tent. I enjoyed observing the various pre-race routines and speaking with all the excited, nervous runners. It’s refreshing to see so many folks out there just enjoying themselves and not overthinking it (Note to self). It’s great to see this series going strong 10 years after I first ran one! It was hard to be sidelined, but I was still able to enjoy some great finishes by SRC Brooks team members and other SRC members. It’s always fun to talk to someone after a race once they’ve caught their breathe but still enjoying the full rush of a runner’s high.

September means cross country season and the arrival of crispy fall weather. I’ve always felt a boost from the cool weather and the balance of speed and trail in cross country has always been a great match for my strengths as a runner. I was a regular at both SRC Wed night XC workouts and races from September through November. In late September we kicked off racing in Bellingham for the Bill Roe Invitational, I was quickly reminded that running in college races means going out fast but I was still able to run the race I wanted to, an even effort meant to be a rust buster for my body to acclimate to racing again. I ended up running three more XC races, culminating in the Regional Championships in Portland where I was able to run a full minute faster than my first race of the year. While I felt some of my goals for 2023 were derailed by injury, I was able to pivot and make the best of the second half (thus far) and reconnect with one of my favorite running disciplines. XC is more team oriented and generates an exciting atmosphere so it is a welcome change from the usual routines of individually focused efforts that are common in a post college world. I’ve still got several weeks left of 2023 and I’m already excited to ramp up training again. In past years I found myself needing an extended break towards the end of the year, but perhaps my caution early in the year set me up for an even stronger end of 23’and beginning of 24’!

Adam Hewey

The second half of my year was a whirlwind or should I say Worldwind? I had the good fortune to be able to travel all over Europe and beyond for two and a half months. The problem with living out of a backpack is you can only bring one set of running clothes and laundry is a luxury. This led to much less running than I’d have liked but the running I did was unforgettable. My three favorite runs I did on vacation were:

Tour of Porto, Portugal on foot. 

My fiancée Elly and I ran all over Porto one day. Amazing views were in abundance and we stopped a few times to visit art galleries, step into very old churches and we may have paused to have lunch and a glass of wine. Not the fastest run but way more fun than most. 

Sunrise in Tangier.

We set the alarm early and ran into the sunrise as it came up over Africa along the beach in Morocco. Some runs tick a bucket list box you didn’t even know you had.

The Ladder of Kotor.

Montenegro is an amazing country just South of Croatia. Limestone mountains hover over sheltered bays and tiny medieval towns dot the coast and hilltops. Above the walled city of Kotor is a steep switchback trail called The Ladder of Kotor. It goes up 3,000 feet to what was a mountain top town. The views were memorable and the hike up and run down was exhilarating.

It has been a blast wearing my Seattle Running Club gear in so many countries. It has been a pleasure being part of the SRC Brooks Team. 

Chris Hoffman

The second half of the year flew by and I’m happy with what I was able to accomplish with my racing even as my training mileage has decreased. At the July Cougar race, I came in 3^rd in my age group in the 10-mile race and was even able to improve upon my time from last year. From there, I transitioned to longer races, with a 2nd place finish in my age group at the 20-mile Backcountry Rise race. I finished up the year with the last race of the new Vert Series at the North Bend Trailfest 30k. While I finished out of the medals at that race, I was able to lock up a 3^rd place overall finish in the series for the masters category.

On the volunteer front, I continued to lead work parties for SRC at Cougar Mountain. Running around the Cougar trails with club members and SRC-Brooks team members is always a good time, especially when you feel like you are helping maintain one of our local treasures. I also volunteered at the Brooks display at the University of Washington Husky Dawg Dash. The love for Brooks is strong here in the PNW and that came across loud and clear from all the racers who came by the display. As a SRC-Brooks team member it’s very rewarding to be associated with Brooks since they are such a community-focused company.

Summer and fall is always prime time for hitting the trails and I got out on some old time favorites like Section J of the PCT and tried some new to me trails including Panhandle Gap/Indian Bar at Mt. Rainier and the Foss Lakes Trail in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. The latest iteration of the Cascadia (the 17) has grown from a casual fling to a full-fledged love affair. I expect to be running happy in these for a long time!

Dave Kwiatkowski

Towards the beginning of July, I had a fun time volunteering at an aid station in the Cougar Mountain Trail Run Series with Alex Kylyukh! We rolled 2 full wheelbarrows of food and supplies out to an intersection on the trail and set up a table full of running goodies. There were a lot of flying bugs at our station, but we joked about it and had a blast helping the runners. When it was time to pack everything out, we zipped up and down the trails once again with our wheelbarrows, and we may have taken a wrong turn down a long hill that we had to trudge back up.

At the end of July, I headed out to Colorado with my trail friend Chris Wu to run in the Never Summer 100K. Since I DNF’d my first 100K last year, finishing this race would mean a lot to me. We spent some time getting to know Boulder and northern Colorado for a week, and then we both finished our first 100 kilometer race! Though it was a tough course, the event was beautiful, everyone was nice, and it was very well run. I had fun!

In October, I spent some time with my family in Charlottesville, Virginia, and I was also there to run in my dad’s backyard ultra, Andy’s. The course of Andy’s Backyard Ultra was marvelous with all of the autumn colors. The runners, supporters, and spectators of the race were just wonderful too. I ran Andy’s Backyard Ultra, and was the only finisher after 32 hours and 133.3 miles of running.

After this event, I traveled back to Seattle and spent some more time commuting from Bellevue to Seattle by foot and running up and down Howe Stairs in November. In December, I’ll be running the Hellgate 100K through the dark, cold Blue Ridge mountains. Afterwards, I’m sure I’ll enjoy too many holiday treats and cookies. The Seattle Running Club made 2022 a year to happily remember, and I am forever grateful for my teammates and this organization!

Jenny Easterberg

First off, I absolutely loved the long summer we had! The sun and the heat made for glorious mountain runs. It was by far the driest cross country season I have ever coached. I enjoyed mini trips to places like Lake Chelan well into October. It is always fun to represent Seattle Running Club in different parts of the state. Like many runners, I was challenged by the smoke and forced to be not only smart but also creative with my exercise. I was also grateful that many of the races I annually volunteer at took place earlier in the year, before the smoke moved in.

While beautiful, it was also the most challenging time for me regarding running. I unexpectedly lost my closest trail running companion and race partner in the beginning of October. I attempted a run the next day and found no comfort in the mountains, which is my usual place of sanctuary. I was shocked and disappointed in this, and hoped this wasn’t a new permanent reality for me. However, I persisted with my daily runs and within a couple days I was able to let the mountain air and serenity of the woods begin the healing process. This experience has also reminded me that life is short, and I have now set some solid running/race goals for myself over the next couple of years. Being a runner isn’t always easy, but overcoming challenges helps me to grow both as an athlete and an individual.

Aaron Roche

The end of the year is near! Here’s what I’ve been up to as a member of the 2022 SRC-Brooks since the last report in August.

Thanks again to Seattle Running Club and Brooks Running for presenting me with this opportunity to fulfill my potential as an athlete!

Here’s the month-by-month summary of my volunteering, training, and racing between August and November.

July through September stats. Volunteering: two events for a total of 7hrs. Training and competing: 108hrs across 921mi (1,483km). 

Highlights!

• The Billy Mills Run/Walk for Life. This event hosted by the Urban Native Education Alliance was remarkably impactful. It was quite humbling to be able to leverage our role in the local running community to support the messages of suicide awareness and prevention, as well as community health and wellness.
• After having a chance encounter at a friend’s wedding and feeling empowered by my position on the SRC-Brooks team, I connected with the South Seattle scholastic running community. Members of Cleveland, Franklin, and Rainier Beach High Schools welcomed me to attend their summer cross country camp in Seward Park. Later in the summer, I started helping out as an assistant coach for the Cleveland High School cross country team.
• The Brooks Mobile Tour was in town in July and a few from our squad met up to lead group runs around Green Lake. I had a ton of fun helping local runners *and friends!* demo the new Brooks line and then lead them on a run around *LOOT LAKE!*
• Other highlights:
  • Support squad captain for Anna at Race the Reserve on Whidbey Island.
  • Group run leader for attendees to the PATH International Conference
  • XC Season opener at the WWU Bill Roe Invite.

October through mid-November stats. Training and competing: 49hrs across 415mi (667km).

• This was a lot of *ME* time. And a lot of smoke!! Training got challenging due to the bad air in and around Seattle, so I ventured out to Whidbey Island quite a bit to get in some quality workouts leading up to the Philadelphia Marathon.
• I got engaged to my partner Anna!
• The Philadelphia Marathon! This was a top five day. There’s so much to unpack from that experience that it will get its own report. Watch this space! rocheam.com/move

So that’s it for the 2022 recap! Thanks for your support this year and every year. I am continually inspired and impressed by my fellow SRC-Brooks teammates and their dedication to our Seattle running community.

Breathe. Hydrate. Eat your veggies. And Run Happy!

Kristi Williams

The remainder of 2022 has been an absolute joy for me in the world of running! After a successful Cougar Mountain Short Series win this summer, I utilized the strength I built from all those mountain miles with some wins on the road racing scene. I managed secure victories in the Bill Burby 5k, San Francisco Marathon 10k, Alki Sunset 5k, Sounders 5k, and Sam 6k with the last two races first overall wins! Wow, it has been a while since I managed to earn outright victories. I owe this success to Brooks for the awesome shoes and stellar gear, my teammates for the endless encouragement, and my son Felix, for some seriously strenuous stroller runs with him in tow! After almost a year and half post baby birth, I finally find myself strong if not stronger with a new appreciation for running and those who support this endeavor in my life. After a full summer of racing, I found myself happily entering cross country season with added joy due to the prolonged summer we had well into the month of October. Nothing like cross country racing in late September with temperatures well over 70 degrees! After some strong cross country finishes at Bellingham, Woodland Park, Lincoln Park, and Chambers Bay Regional Park, I found myself signing up for USATF Nationals which I have not done since my infancy with Seattle Running Club way back in 2018. I am so excited to compete with my teammates on the infamous Golden Gate Park course and truly soak up all the energy and love for running with like minded folks!

Volunteering remains important to me and plays an important role in building camaraderie amongst fellow runners and enables me to spread the love about our amazing running club. All summer I volunteered at the Cougar Mountain Trail Series in addition to racing them! Helping make everyone’s race experience more memorable and enjoyable brings me great satisfaction. I love handing out race numbers to excited runners and prepping tasty food for those who finish. The food spread at the Cougar Mountain Series is amazing! What is not to love when eating pizza, watermelon, and even pumpkin pie! In addition to my time volunteering at the Cougar Mountain Trail Series, I spent one afternoon spreading the love for Brooks with their Mobile Tour. My time was spent helping people get fitted into Brooks shoes that exhibited their new cushioning technology and going on fun group runs. It is a blast sharing my love for running to anyone who is willing to hear and I love helping others in any way I can to help their running journey be that much better! 

I want to thank SRC and Brooks for all their support and love in helping shape my running journey into one that is truly cherished. I feel so lucky to have such an amazing team and teammates whose positivity and presence makes my running journey meaningful and special. 

Barrett Gray

Since the last report, I’ve run two more ultra-races in the PNW. I ran both in my bright pink Brooks Cascadias which have been the perfect complement to my often colorful running outfits. In August, I ran Backcountry Rise 50k near Mount St. Helens where I finished as the 1^st female and 4^th overall. The views along the course were absolutely stunning, and it was fun to test out my uphill running on this technical course. 

Most recently, I ran Run the Rock 50 miler at Smith Rock State Park in mid-November and the race itself and leading up to it ended up being a bit of a rollercoaster. Three weeks before the race, I started experiencing some pain in my left hip flexor, particularly on uphills and during workouts. In hopes of being able to make it through the 50 miles, I had to limit my training to mostly easy flat runs, which was not really ideal for a trail ultra. I wasn’t sure what to expect going into the race and some fresh snow and a stormy morning made race day even more interesting. Fortunately, my hip flexor pain was pretty mild during the race, but my legs seemed to turn to cement halfway through and they struggled to get through the second half. This was my most challenging race this year given the circumstances, but it was a good experience to have to push through that challenge, and I managed to snag a spot on the podium with a 2^nd place finish! 

While I was unable to join SRC for cross country races due to my hip flexor, I enjoyed supporting the team while volunteering at the October Cougar Mountain race and cheering them on at the PNTF XC Championships. I always enjoy watching and supporting friends at their races when I’m not running myself. It’s been a fun year of trail racing and FKTs, but I’m looking forward to taking a little break and doing some skiing before turning my focus to next year’s races! 

Trisha Steidl

I’ve been enjoying the cross country season this fall. Racing alongside your teammates is a special experience that I appreciate more as I get older as it’s the only opportunity to compete as a team. 

The Bill Roe Classic was a true rust buster for me. I made a poor shoe choice, going against my gut, and paid for it. The shoes are good generally, just not the right choice for this bumpy course. I generally have a fairly competitive nature, but in this race I just didn’t care. I’m still not sure what that was all about, but the post-race frustration fueled my competitiveness going forward, so for that I’m thankful.

I scheduled my COVID bivalent booster and flu shot two days before the Emerald City Invite. I didn’t experience much in the way of side effects from either vaccine previously, but this time around it hit me. I didn’t feel bad on race day, but I also had nothing to give. All I could do was run a moderate type of effort. After the race I wasn’t tired, but during the race I could not go any faster, despite trying. It was a most odd and frustrating feeling. The biggest positive was running in a group with my teammates and encouraging one of them to go chase after the next woman ahead of us. I also, again, made a poor shoe choice. I’ve been running XC for a long time. How am I making rookie mistakes? Good grief!

I felt more in my element during the Cougar Mountain 7.6mi race – finally! I made a good shoe choice (finally!) wearing my Catamounts. I paced well, was smart with my race tactics, and ran what felt like a strong, solid race (finally!). At one point I could hear a woman closing in on me, then I heard another woman’s voice. Where did they come from? And two of them?! This got my competitive juices flowing (finally!) and made the rest of the race a lot more fun.

The last race I ran was the PNTF XC Champs at Lincoln Park. Another appropriate shoe choice (Brooks spikeless spikes FTW!) and the competitive juices flowing made for a fun day. Unfortunately, my right hip started bothering me after my workout the Wednesday before which made it difficult to move my leg on uphills and downhills during the last 1/3^rd of the race. I was happy that I stayed mentally in it despite the pain and body frustration. I got to race near a few of my teammates, too, which was fun.

Next up is the Club Nationals meet in San Fran in mid-December! Hopefully by then I can get everything to come together on the same day – fingers crossed!

Outside of the XC season, I had the awesome opportunity to volunteer with a couple of my teammates at the Billy Mills Run/Walk for Life. We got to talk with Mr. Mills a decent amount and have a photo taken. It was a great event focused on suicide prevention and health put on by the Urban Native Education Alliance on the North Seattle College campus in Northgate. It was nice to connect our two communities and I hope we can connect again for future events.

Chris Hoffman

The second half of 2022 was bookended by two very different races: the hot and dry August Cougar Mountain Trail series 14.5 mile race and the snowy and cold Run the Rock 20 mile trail race at Smith Rock State Park in central Oregon.

The August Cougar race also doubled as the Pacific Northwest Trail Running Championships. As an over 50 master’s runner I really didn’t think I had much of a chance to be in the hunt for a medal, but I ran hard and was vey happy to come across the line in 3^rd place in the master’s (over 40) race. I was also 1st in my age group, which was a nice little bonus! 

As I woke up to fresh snow and cold temperatures and I knew the Run the Rock race was going to be a challenge. I had thrown my micro spikes in the car at the last minute, but I really wasn’t mentally prepared for the weather. I took a deep breath at the starting line and focused on maintaining a consistent pace. The race unfolded without any big surprises, except for what felt like and endless (and ridiculously steep!) hill at mile 17. I recovered from that and was able to bring down my splits over the last few miles to finish 3^rd in my age group. I was hoping for a better time but considering the conditions I was pretty happy with the results.

As the club’s trail work coordinator, I wrapped up the year with a final work party in October, where we cleared the Cougar Mountain racecourse trails ahead of the year’s last race. I really enjoy this type of work and signed up to do it again next year. I’m also excited about a serving on the SRC Board as the Brooks Team Manager.

All in all, 2022 was a rewarding year. I was able to get back in shape after a cardiac ablation to address my atrial fibrillation, performed reasonably well at my races, and volunteered at several events. I also found my new favorite Brooks shoe, the Caldera 16. I wore them on several long trail runs and raced in them the second half of the year. They kept my feet happy and my legs feeling fresh. What more could I ask for!

Katelen Miller

Trails and Cross

This summer-turned fall season was all about racing on trails and staying injury-free. On 9/10, I raced the Middle Fork Trail Run 22-miler as a speedy training run for my upcoming 50k. I secured 1st place female (among 4 women total) and 3rd overall. The Perpetua Coast 50k was the year-end goal race I trained for all summer. I finished 10th overall, 4th female, and just 30 seconds away from the 3rd place female. It was a beautiful sunny day along the coast, cliffs, and forested trails. 

Club Cross Country Season: I’m fortunate to have made many of the cross country races this season with the Seattle Running Club (SRC) Team. Our first race was on 9/24 at the WWU Bill Roe Classic in Bellingham. I raced in the Hyperion Elite 3s and finished out with a new 6k personal record (PR) by ~65 seconds and was the 2nd female for SRC. Next was the Emerald City Open on 10/8 at Lower Woodland Park. I’d just finished my 50k a week prior, so I biked out to cheer on our women’s team, who all ran strong! On 10/30 I raced the Cougar Mountain 7.6 Mile (cross country edition). I beat my prior PR by ~4 minutes, placed 2nd female, and didn’t roll an ankle. At the PNTF Championships on 11/6 at Lincoln Park, I raced really hard alongside SRC teammate Katherine, got coated in mud, managed a ~15 second PR, and placed 2nd female for SRC. I planned to run the Regional Championships on 11/19 but I got sick and my lungs weren’t well enough to race. Now I’m healing up for a strong race at the National Club Cross Country Championships in San Francisco this December.

Throughout this season I also volunteered weekly as a coach with the Highline High School Cross Country Team. Several of the junior and senior runners at Highline were my former cross country athletes at Sylvester Middle School, where I teach and coach. It was a heartwarming reunion for us to run together again. It brought me a lot of joy knowing these student athletes are making positive life choices and are continuing to build community through running. The team started off with minimal training, but over the season, student athletes increased their stamina, felt comfortable with more miles and performed really well in their races!  

Adam Hewey

The second half of 2022 was an interesting experiment. I did not have any races on the calendar and was mostly running for the joy of running. I took my Brooks Launches out for casual weekend runs along the coast and on commutes to work and back a few days a week. My fitness and endurance slowly slipped away. Then I heard about Puerto Vallarta 50K by UTMB!

Game ON!

50K race in Mexico starting at the beach, going up into the jungle, past Agave fields and back to the beach the same week as Halloween, Day of the Dead and my birthday! I had NO excuses to pass up this race.

I had 10 weeks to get my 54 year old body back into race shape. I slowly built milage and intensity. I crammed for the test. I felt heavy, slow and sweaty. I went from 8-16 miles a week to seventy miles per week over the course of my training. I stayed healthy. I stayed focused. I skipped XC with Team SRC because I needed to follow my plan. 

October 29 I was at the start of my first ever race in Mexico. Me and 700 excited runners. I was planning on a conservative 6 hours for the race. The race had other plans. Hot, crowded, crazy jungle footing, humidity, wild parrots, cool plants, awesome volunteers. I hit the halfway point in 4.5 hours! The heat got to 95 degrees with 88 percent humidity. I hydrated like a champion and didn’t dance with Mr. Bonk or Lady Nausea. I dragged my carcass back to the beach in 8 hours and 20 minutes. I proudly wore my Team SRC/Brooks kit. I love representing SRC/Brooks at international races. My decision to wear the Brooks Cascadia 16s was spot on. 

The rest of 2022 will be more volunteering, more running for fun and possibly I’ll jump into a shorter race or two now that I’m fit.