Jodee Adams-Moore has been a (well, to now) relatively anonymous name on the trail-running circuit. A local high school phenom who later wore spikes out east at Georgetown U, she now relishes the trail and is routinely posting times that are slowly dropping more and more jaws. I broached this little kernel of an idea to her in January, and now I find myself rushing to get this out before iRunFar makes her a household name. To those who know her, you probably already love her. For everyone else, allow me to (obnoxiously, of course) introduce you to Jodee Adams-Moore.
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Shoeless Joe: Hi everybody and welcome to 2013! After some hemming and hawing from Win Van Pelt and a particularly testy round of emails with the SRC board of directors, I’ve been put on probation but thankfully have finally been approved for another round of in-depth runner interviews! This time I am honored and privileged to be speaking with Jodee Adams-Moore! I met Jodee for a few seconds over a year ago at the 2012 Chuckanut 50k when she passed me at mile 1ish. Do you remember me, Jodee? I had a blue shirt on.
Jodee Adams-Moore: What hue was the blue?
SJ: Umm. I guess similar to the type of blue the US Naval Academy wrestling team wears?
JAM: Well, I can’t say I remember you specifically Joe, but did you have fun in the race?
SJ: I did! Well, for most of it. Parts of it, really. Very few, small parts. I don’t get to run in snow very often so I’m quite not good at it. Did you have fun?
JAM: I had fun for a while but there came a time–somewhere in the vicinity of Lost Lake–that I kinda lost it and had to ride the fumes of hallucinatory mayhem of the mind. Mantras popped into my head from seemingly nowhere. One was even in Spanish. What once was a flat and friendly Interurban Trail looks completely different to me now.
SJ: Wow that sounds like a lot of fun! Speaking of hallucinatory mayhem, I thought my eyes were broken when I saw you had a 99.5% UltraSignup score. In fact your runner-up finish at that 2012 Chuckanut is the only blemish so far. And this year you seemed to figure out the Interurban Trail part. How else did the 2013 race differ from 2012?
JAM: My mind was sharper and my body stronger this year. I’ve been practicing. I felt more floaty.
SJ: The only other things I’ve learned about you from extensive googling is a) you were a local high school runner and you ran track and XC at Georgetown b) you enjoy pottery and other art and c) your college transcripts. When did your interest in trail running begin, and why?
Jodee Adams-Moore: I grew up on the east side not too far from Tiger and Cougar Mountains, so I’ve been hitting up the trails since I was 14. Saw me a few black bears in those little mountains. Even at Georgetown I ran lots in the trails that weave throughout DC and always felt more invigorated running through the woods than running on the pavement.
SJ: I have only anecdotal evidence to back this up, but it seems a good amount of Division 1 collegiate runners either move on to the road running circuit or stop competing altogether, at least for awhile. What was your experience going from Georgetown to where you are now? Long break from hard training & racing? Jump right back into and embrace racing?
JAM: The transition from the running I did at Georgetown to the running I do now has been a seven-year evolution of finding where and how running needs to be in my life for me to be balanced and happy.I never stopped running after Georgetown and I raced a little bit with Club Northwest and ran road races in the area, but that energy slowly puttered out and I just ran during all those years just as my daily medicine. The more time spent running in the woods the more I craved it so the whole trail racing thing kinda happened organically. I met James Varner of Rainshadow Running one February at a time when I was isolated from any running community (other than my training buddy Pablo, the dog). I was living on an old dairy farm property in rural Snohomish County and running on Pilchuck Tree Farm trails. He urged me to try his races. That June I drove out to the Methow and ran my first 25k at Sun Mountain and loved the energy of the event; more like a picnic party in a beautiful setting with, oh maybe a 25k or 50k or 50m thrown in just for fun! I thought that would be the longest I’d want to run but over time my body grew stronger and longer runs in the trails naturally evolved. Recently, in a coffee shop in San Luis Obispo I stumbled upon a book, The Zen of Running, by Fred Rohe. This excerpt opens the book (alongside a black and white photo of a snowy mountain stream reflecting sunlight):
“This experience is a newly discovered form of meditation or one more way for you to discover you. So I suggest you joyfully, exuberantly, take a short run. (Short might be 10 yards or 10 blocks, that’s your own private affair.)”
The simplicity and joy in Rohe’s relationship with running reminds me how I experience running now. I don’t “train” anymore. The running of now is closer to a meditation, one blending the nature of the forest and the nature of my body, this amazing machine that is so very receptive to how I treat it as a whole. Do I run hard? Yes, sometimes I want to sprint up the street or up the hill! But I don’t log workouts, I don’t wear a watch and I don’t ever force myself out. More often than not though I find myself running up steep forested hills, happily.
SJ: Wow, that’s surprising. I know (of) a number of people who look at running in a similar light but none of them could ever dream of running Orcas in five hours, or Chuckanut in four. I had three followup questions about GPS watches but now I guess I won’t be asking you those. Umm. Does this mean you run without goals or planning of any kind? Race days like Orcas or Chuckanut are just little diversions on a schedule otherwise filled with whatever you feel like doing? And whatever happens on race day, happens?
JAM: Yes! Pretty much! Every day is its own little adventure. Some days more awesome than others…but all with little bits of awesomeness. Running is part of this. My last run’s awesomeness was similar to a strong dark beer–higher percentage awesome content.
SJ: Please tell me you at least get an occasional old, weak, watered down 3.8% abv beer cruddy day.
JAM: I do, I do.
SJ: I’m gonna go ahead and steal that and call those my “Michelob Ultra” days from now on if you don’t mind. Now, is it a compromise at all in terms of your speed? Maybe you *could* get even faster with some specific training, but you wouldn’t really enjoy it? Or is a happy Jodee also a faster Jodee?
JAM: For me happiness is the ultimate goal and most things should fall into place thereafter.
SJ: So what about running makes you happy? Is it something I can learn? Please?
JAM: Enjoying the inner nature and outer nature and realizing the connectedness of both. Often it feels like a meditation and ritual and that is soothing to me.
SJ: Does the same go for races? Or do those require a slight mental re-tooling?
JAM: Some races are wonderful and I feel super high the whole time but sometimes these thoughts go through my mind: “I just don’t care, I don’t care at all and I’m gonna stop. Soon I’m gonna just stop. My body hurts. This is not good for my body. F IT!” But I haven’t stopped yet.
SJ: Us runners can be slaves to finishing our beers, even those Michelob Ultras! I personally like to think about the cookies I will eat after runs. Before runs I like to plan out exactly how I will obtain said cookies, so that there’s minimal wasted motion. I also consider complementary food items. Will I eat them with milk? Coffee? Perhaps both? Umm. Yeah, so do you like cookies?
JAM: Yeah I like cookies. All sorts.
SJ: Cool me too! If you’re ready I think it’s time for the now-unsponsored Lightning Speed Round! I have a guy who wants to open a bakery in Seattle and he said he’ll sponsor it but he hasn’t opened it yet. Maybe he’ll have cookies! Anyway, I’m going to ask you some questions real fast-like and you’re gonna show everyone how fast you truly are. Jodee….I hope you’re ready for a little interval training.Favorite Metallica album?
JAM: I don’t listen to Metallica, never have.
SJ: We’re road trippin’ but the tank’s on E. What are you getting at the AM/PM?
JAM: Spicy bloody mary mix and some peanuts.
SJ: Describe, in as much detail as you’re comfortable and no less, your preferred PB&J sandwich?
JAM: Any PB&J I scarf at mile 18 and above in any race is a winner.
SJ: Fine, let me get to the heart of the matter. All things equal, and not late in a race: chunky or smooth?
JAM: (C)HUNKY!
SJ: I’m holding steady next to you in a race, and I start chatting. Do you a) return the favor b) run ahead of me or c) fake an injury?
JAM: B.
SJ: Sunrise or sunset?
JAM: Sunrise
SJ: Any past or current boyfriends/husbands/significant others ever spell your name wrong on a valentine or birthday card?
JAM: I dont think so.
SJ: Best cereal?
JAM: Puffins with granola on top.
SJ: With milk, water, oj, or dry?
JAM: Milk of vanilla hemp cow
SJ: I sit next to you on a fairly crowded bus. Eventually we’re the only two left. Should I move?
JAM: Yeah.
SJ: If you were on the outside seat, would *you* move? Even if it would probably hurt my feelings?
JAM: I don’t know right now
SJ: Dirty Dancing or Pretty Woman, and why?
JAM: Labyrinth. There is no other.
SJ: Wow! The bar has been set folks, I think we just witnessed a new land speed record in the speed round! I won’t pretend I’m not a little concerned about your bloody mary/peanuts mix but there’s no denying your speed Mrs. Adams-Moore!
How many sons or daughters does Jodee have?
Forget babies, let’s talk about Labyrinth!
Let’s talk about Jodee’s sponsorships.
I smell clay, let’s discuss Jodee’s artistic side.
SJ: I’d like to finally learn about how you *became* a runner. When did you start, and why?
Jodee Adams-Moore: I started running in 8th grade when I realized I could beat most of the boys in my gym class. Before running I’d been the average suburban child athlete. You know, swimming on the “B” team and being the back-up midfielder on the soccer team. I liked being good at something and it seemed the more effort and love I put into the running, the faster I became. I would get off the bus after school and run 12 laps around the dirt track most afternoons. I was crazy. Luckily, I found myself in a great HS Cross Country program led by a stellar (and speedy) couple, Mindy and Mitch Leffler.Running was definitely a mixed bag of positive and negative for me back then. I was obsessed with the sport and while that led to success as a high school athlete there was a dark side. Food issues and growing up issues and depression were mixed in throughout the early years and into college. The evolution of running in my life parallels my own growth. Happiness and overall wellness in life leads to better running. And by better I mean days and runs speckled with bliss. I read this quote last night from Fred Rohe’s “Zen of Running”:
“Remember: we create our world(s) with our mind(s). So let your mind say ‘look, I’m running and all runners do this beautiful dance, each stride a leap thru space–ho! what fun!'”
SJ: That’s one reason I wince sometimes at the glorifying of young, early/mid teenage athletes; to be that good at something, especially running, oftentimes means an unhealthy singular obsession at an age where one should maybe instead be exploring all kinds of different things. At least though you ended up focused on an activity that you continue to enjoy today…albeit somewhat differently, it sounds. What kind of sage advice would today’s Jodee give her younger self, or any other young runner? Besides to wear Vibrams, of course.
JAM: Life moves sooooo fast. Be brave and follow your bliss.
SJ: Shades of Ferris Bueller, I like it. Though I think you may want to add in something about avoiding boys with teardrop tattoos. Or beach cuts. I get the feeling you take your running one day at a time, but is there anything you’d like to achieve or simply just *do* with your two feet on this planet that you’ve yet to do, before it’s all said and done?
JAM: I’ve said it all!
SJ: Well Jodee you are a delight and I am envious of you in many ways. Mostlythoughbecauseyou’refasterthanme. Is there anything you’d like to ask me?
JAM: Nope!
SJ: Have you been courted yet by any companies or persons (myself not included) to endorse their products or lifestyles or energy ion bracelets or websites (not including seattlerunningclub.org)? Have you had to make any potentially tough decisions in that regard?
Jodee Adams-Moore: No, but if you know any companies that want to support my lifestyle, please by all means get them in contact with me!
SJ: Sorry, I do not. The only person to contact me was a guy who owned a t-shirt company…and he ended being my dad, playing a prank on me. I think you’ll be fine though. All in due time. That begs the question though, what *is* your lifestyle? How goes a day in the life of Jodee Adams-Moore?
JAM: • Wake up around 8 am and look out my basement window towards the light.
• Brew up some strong cofffee (cream and sugar, of course) on the stove and head back into the basement, aka “The Art Zone,” and get down with some clay and music for a few hours.
• Maybe go to a yoga class.
• Maybe go work a shift at the Skagit Valley Food Co Op.
• Look for jobs in Bellingham on Craigslist.
• Run in trails in the afternoon.
• Make dinner and kick it with the housemates, including two rad kiddos every other week.
• Check out some music and grab a beer in town if I’m feelin’ it.
• Bed time.
• Do it all again the next day.Sometimes I like to dance and write poems and also I play the kalimba.
SJ: Right on! I know a bartender at Sierra Nevada Brewery in Chico, CA; I will get you and Sage Canaday both beer sponsorships. Since this interview is live and in person and I’m nowhere near my googleable laptop, can you tell me what exactly a kalimba is? Is it a board game?
JAM: Don’t you see it right here in my hands, Joe? It’s a thumb piano! Also known as an Mbira!
SJ: Ohhh, yes of course, a….mbira! I…love those! Did you bring that as a gift for me? I don’t have anything for you. 🙁
JAM: No it’s not for you, but you can obtain your own Hugh Tracey Kalimba at www.kalimbamagic.com (!)
SJ: My brother used to play the drums, so you could say I have an ear for music. Can you play me a tune?
JAM: (plays) Did you like it?
SJ: (slow clap) That was pretty great, Jodee. Was that Styx? The next time someone insists to me that you are not multi-talented I will definitely set them straight. I also think that’s a great segue into the Hugh Tracey Lightning Speed Round! By now you’re probably aware how this goes. I ask you the tough questions, and you answer quickly. Race pace!Hottest US President ever?
JAM: Abe Lincoln
SJ: If you were ever going to become a hoarder, what would you hoard and would you ever then agree to go on the hit VH1 show Hoarders?
JAM: I don’t know, and I’m not into pop culture tv shows…sorry.
SJ: Ok that’s fine. Don’t apologize ever again for not watching Hoarders. What would you hoard though? Maybe…Kalimbas (mispronounced)?
JAM: Kalimbas would be a pretty nice thing to hoard! Thanks for the idea.
SJ: Please tell me you are familiar with Saved By The Bell.
JAM: Ditto.
SJ: John, Paul, George, or Ringo?
JAM: Yoko.
SJ: On a scale of 1-10, how loud do you snore?
JAM: Ask my ex.
SJ: Why? Oh, I get it. Most relatable Sesame Street character?
JAM: The little inch worm.
SJ: Dr Pepper or Mr Pipp or Dr Thunder or Dr Chill or Dr Skipper or Dr Shasta or Mr Pig or Dr Riffic or Dr Buzz or Dr Bold or Dr A+?
JAM: Mr. Pipp.
SJ: (hands Jodee a paper and pen) Could you please draw me a picture in one minute?
JAM:
SJ: Dirty Dancing or Pretty Woman, and why?
JAM: Neither! I don’t like these sorts of films, sorry! They depress me.
SJ: I personally find Dirty Dancing to be powerfully inspirational, but to each their own. Can you name a movie *you* find inspirational?
JAM: Inspirational movie…hmm. I have seen maybe three movies in the last year, that is how much I watch movies. I know, it’s crazy. If I think of one I will let you know. Oh! This movie called “Babies” was pretty interesting. It’s about babies from different countries and how differently they are raised. I liked it.
SJ: Great speedy job in the speed round, Jodee! Even faster than I was expecting!
How fast was Jodee in 8th grade?
Lol wait Jodee ran with CNW?
That’s none of our business, let’s discuss Jodee’s artistic side.
David Bowie’s crotch?
SJ: I’ve heard of that baby movie but have not seen it on Netflix Instant yet. It’s interesting, huh? Have you ever had a baby?
JAM: No I have not.
SJ: Me neither. Do you think you ever will? I could see a baby enjoying the hell out of that kalimba.
JAM: Oh babies love kalimba. I just dreamt I was at the DMV and all of us waiting started an open mic. I was so excited because I had my kalimba and I got up there and started in with my spoken-word poetry–backed by kalimba–and even though many people were talking, when I started in with this poem about primal fear and the lioness, the crowd kinda hushed. But then I forgot some words and I looked over at this guy I was dating and he was sleeping. WTF?! Here is the poem I performed at the dream DMV:
fortune flavor fortune flavor
perched atop a toothy saber
dark and empty in the house
in the line
it calls me out
waltz the line of sleepy stranger
behind door
lingers danger
knoby hand to the knob
crack
the lioness
the throb
She the dark the primal one
She the fire
She the sun
at the disco death arrives
fancy dancing with alive
SJ: Wow that was great Jodee, thank you for sharing! I’m not a licensed psychiatrist but I think it’s pretty obvious your dream means we should step up to the mic, so to speak, and not be afraid to put ourselves out there. The sleeping boyfriend reminds us that, even if we miss a line, it doesn’t really matter and likely no one will notice. The important thing is to take the leap! Either that or it just means your boyfriend is a jerk! lol Have you been writing for a long time or was this a one-time deal in a dream?
JAM: I have a whole batch of poems I’ve written since August! I even recorded an album!
SJ: I want a copy! Name your price! How can I get it?! I used to be in a band back when I was 10 or so. We didn’t play any instruments, just wrote lyrics and sang them acapella. We were called The Bandits. I wrote all the “achieve your goals” inspirational songs while my friend Scott wrote all the “Baby I wanna get witchoo” love songs. Nothing much came of it, and I lost the tapes. Maybe if we had you with us, on the kalimba.
JAM: …
SJ: Ahem, well I’m certainly impressed by your wide swath of interests and talents beyond running, Jodee! I was worried we’d spend the whole time talking about gps watches or Gu. This was fun! Is there anything you’d like to ask me?
JAM: Not that I can think of right now.
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SJ: Ok, so you pick Labyrinth over Pretty Woman or Dirty Dancing. I am sad to say I have not seen that movie since prom night my junior year of high school. Why does the movie resonate so strongly with you?
Jodee Adams-Moore: David Bowie as king of the goblins, Jim Henson muppets and the quest for the baby… what more do you need Joe?
SJ: Hey I’m with ya! My only problem is David Bowie’s wig. Or at least what I hope is a wig. It just…breaks me and distracts me to no end. Or maybe I’m just jealous, I dunno.
JAM: I think the crotch is more distracting than the wig, but to each his own.
SJ: Ha. Not saying that crotch of his *isn’t* distracting, but hey thanks a lot now it will be even moreso for the rest of my life. Do you have any non-Goblin King feelings about David Bowie? His was the very first concert I ever went to.
JAM: Awesome! After the race the first thing I did when I got home was made up a bath with epsom salt and cranked the Best of Bowie…I’m not a die hard fan but it just seemed appropriate.
SJ: That makes me legitimately happy to hear. Ok then Jodee, to wrap this up, let’s each pick a Bowie song/video to send home with the readers. One of my favorites is Ashes to Ashes.
What say you?
JAM: Here is a trailer for an inspiring movie! Bruce Bickford is the man. I’m soooo over Bowie.
SJ: Wow that was fast! Just like you! Thank you for your time Jodee, this has been a blast. Is there anything you wanted to ask me?
JAM: Nah.
SJ: A little bird* told me recently that you are actually quite talented with pottery. How long have you been working/playing with clay and why clay of all things?
*”Little bird” meaning google when I was stalking** you before this interview.
**”Stalking” meaning researching my interview subject.
Jodee Adams-Moore: I always loved art making and in primary school the clay day (which was once a school year) always was my favorite. Georgetown U didn’t offer ceramics but I had this dream that one day I would live in the woods and all my dishware would be handmade. A few years after college I was ready to commit to throwing (using the wheel) and my folks gave me a ceramic class for Christmas. The love affair began. www.batcavepottery.weebly.com
SJ: And do you live in the woods with all handmade dishware?
JAM: Kinda! Lotsa handmade cups and mugs and bowls to use and I live up against Galbraith Mountain!
SJ: How might someone, hypothetically, procure product? Just knock on doors around Galbraith Mountain?
JAM: You can contact me through my website or visit any one of these shops:Lucky Dumpster, Edison, WA
Dandelion Botanicals, Seattle, WA
Skagit Valley Food Co Op, Mount Vernon, WA
SJ: You express yourself artistically in many ways, as I’ve learned in our in-person interview here. Pottery, music, writing. Perhaps even more. Steve Prefontaine looked at his running as an artistic expression. Would you consider YOUR running to be an artistic expression of any kind? Is destroying the field at Chuckanut an expression of creativity?
JAM: Yes. Life is one big art project, Joe! Thats why it’s so awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SJ: Wow, and right in my ear! I will have to add more than a couple exclamation points, I think! Before I get out of your hair, I feel I should inquire about any other artful expressions you indulge in that perhaps we never got around to. Or have we covered the gamut?
JAM: My oil paintings are on display at Lighthouse Coffee in upper Fremont through April. But yeah I think we pretty much covered it.
SJ: What about dancing?
JAM: I like to tap dance on occasion…
SJ: I knew it! I was just gonna say “you dance, don’t you?” Well there ya have it folks. This woman is better than you. Jodee, I feel inspired. You’ve shown me there’s (slightly) more to life than Zack and A.C. Where might folks find you next, wearing a race bib?
JAM: I’m still working on that.
SJ: Are there any questions you wanted to ask me? (leans forward, expectantly)
JAM: Joe, I’ve been meaning to ask you… Would you like to learn how to shuffle-ball-change?
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I want to thank Jodee for welcoming me into her home and studio and backyard and almost her garage and taking part in the longest interview to date, by far. She didn’t need to trust me but she did. It was an honor to hang out with her and Pablo for the first time, and my only regret is I brought my brother along and thus could not go run some trail with her for a little bit afterward. I don’t know where Jodee is running next, but I know I’ll be pulling for her to beat everybody. In the meantime, you can see her paintings in Ballard through April, and gawk at or buy her rad pottery in a variety of places. Or just find her on a trail near Bellingham. Listen for the kalimba.
All images: Terrance Creighton