My Stories

runventure

Run-muting: Running to Work

Well, I guess I should probably start running on a more regular basis, maybe even start officially training. For me this is a special sort of world, a world where I use the term “training” very loosely. Over the years I’ve learned that I am not a very disciplined runner. While I do like keeping tabs on my miles and workouts I do not like having a regimented training plans that required I run a tempo run at X:XX pace on this day followed by an easy run at this HR on that day or really any plan that says more than “get your butt outside and run”. That is exactly why my Arizona 200M training plan is so vague.
(more…)

By Heidi Kumm, ago
runventure

22 Weeks to 220 Miles [Arizona 200M]

I’ve hinted to this race…there are links in my sidebar, it’s come up in online conversations, it’s on my calendar…but let’s make this officially internet official! Last month I registered for the Arizona 200M in June. I spent the months after RRR100 eyeballing races trying to figure out what I wanted to do with 2015.

If I learned anything during RRR100 [aside from the fact the pain eventually stops getting worse] it was that I need something more than just a distance to make a race worth it for me. At RRR100 I had the motivation of it being my first hundred…that I was running exactly one year after my first ultra experience at the same race [crewed RRR100 in 2013 for Nick!]. When things got crappy, that helped. No way was I quitting – I couldn’t recreate this scenario next year, it had to go down THIS year, right now!
(more…)

By Heidi Kumm, ago
trails + tents

A New Take on Backcountry…

Well then…it looks like we have tumbled our way right into a whole new year. Hopefully you were able to kick the year off in style with a big, cheesy grin on your face. If that didn’t happen…don’t worry, the first Monday of the year doesn’t arrive for a few more days so you have time! That’s the calendar I’m living by right now so not much has changed for me. Well, except for an extra day off work and my favorite New Years Resolution ever…eat a donut, every damn day. I figured if I can survive two weeks of ice cream I can manage 365 days of donuts, right?! That’s how moderation works, I think?

But forget the new year and all of it’s silly expectations – let’s face it, you’re really just another day older and writing the wrong date on everything – and talk about more exciting things. Like snow tubing in the backcountry.
(more…)

By Heidi Kumm, ago
runventure

Fresh Legs

In the midst of documenting the process of screwing my trail shoes [for traction on ice] I had an “aw, crap…left that in the car” moment which lead to a quick scamper down the stairs and across the parking lot, sans jacket. As I was bouncing down the stairs I randomly noticed how happy my legs were. They wanted to flouncy about, they wanted to run across the parking lot, they wanted to move.

For the last month or so being intentionally active has been rough. I still lack the endurance to bust out a 3 hour run and somehow that gave my brain the right to veto shorter runs because they weren’t badass enough. While fighting my own internal battle of “to run or not to run” I was also wiggling my life schedule around to find time for strength training, yoga and spin classes.
(more…)

By Heidi Kumm, ago
runventure

Creating the Perfect Capri

I may have gone on a short tirade last night about brands refusing to make clothing that fit tall people. I was [a teeny tiny bit] irrationally upset that a pair of fantastically colorful capris fit so poorly I could not justify the purchase, but as my active clothing wardrobe has grown it’s become apparent that 90% of the brands out there have NO idea how to make clothing that fit someone with slightly longer arms/legs than the “average” human. This is insanely frustrating!

But, rather than focus on all the things brand do WRONG with gear, let’s focus on something a little more exciting…like all the awesome things about capris! Maybe, just maybe, by focusing on all the great things about various capris we can come up with the perfect design and convince a brand to pick up the design… #agirlcandream
(more…)

By Heidi Kumm, ago
runventure

Just a Plain Ol’ Runner

I like to call myself a trail runner and sometimes I even toy with the idea of claiming the title of ultra runner but in reality I’m just a plain ol’ runner. Someone who puts one foot in front of the other in a slightly faster, much bouncier fashion that of a walking human. It was during yesterday’s run that I realized I am perfectly content being just a runner…no special adjective required.

The forecast called for Saturday night snow…which had me all sorts of excited for a snowy white Sunday morning trail run. Instead Saturday night brought…gray skies and not a single flake of snow. I wanted snow, dang it! Lots of it! I wanted cold feet and wet socks. I wanted to slip and slide on snow covered trails. I wanted to earn a scalding hot post-run shower. I wanted an excuse to drink hot chocolate at 9am. But no…Mother Nature was in a gray funk and refused to offer me any of the above.
(more…)

By Heidi Kumm, ago
runventure

#Runabler Recap: Meaghan’s First Ultra

Note From Heidi: This is one of [hopefully] many race recaps I’ll be able to share for Meaghan…as well as other runners who don’t have a blog-like platform to share their recaps on. This recap is 1000% from the mouth of Meaghan, I just placed photos and added a few links. If you’re looking for a place to share your race accomplishments shoot me an email at runaroundaroo@gmail.com, I’d love to share your story!

I did it. I ran an ultramarathon.

This is a short blurb about my entry into the world of ultra running. Back in the spring of 2014, I decided that I was finally going to take the leap from marathon running to ultra running. I decided that a 50k would be the best option, after all, how much more difficult could 5 more miles be? I searched for a local race so that I wouldn’t have to worry about travel accommodations and could potentially be familiar with the course. The Indian Creek Fifties somehow caught my attention. I had run Waterton Canyon a few times and done sections of the Colorado Trail several times. Perfect! Mitch, Danielle, Allen, and I decided to do a “test” run in the summer at Roxsborough. After the run, I was immediately onboard to sign up for the 50K.
(more…)

By Heidi Kumm, ago
runventure

Ultimate Comparison: UD Jenny vs UD Wink

Disclaimer: This post reviews the UD Jenny and UD Wink packs, both of which were given to me by Ultimate Direction [one through an unaffiliated giveaway, one for product testing]. While they did not require a blog post in exchange for the product I really love the packs [and the company!] so I want to share my thoughts and experiences! Aside from product I am not being compensated for this post and all opinions are my own!

When I first started running it was shorter distances on roads and I was rarely concerned about carrying along water, food or gear. As I started signing up for longer races my solo training run got longer and I needed a way to drag along water and snacks. In the past I’ve strapped on a Nathan Fuel Belt on longer training runs, regularly filled the SPIBelt for shorter runs + races and made good use of handhelds. This all changed when I decided to take on ultra running. I spent the days before the Bear Chase 50K concerned about how I would survive with just a handheld. In the end it worked out perfectly; the aid stations were wonderfully stocked and my Ultimate Direction handheld was great for gauging my water intake between aid stations.
(more…)

By Heidi Kumm, ago
trails + tents

#ExplOregon: We would have died. Literally.

I proudly pack ALL of my weekend adventuring gear and backpacking essentials into a 22L Columbia pack and wrangled tent poles through airport security with big plans for some backcountry backpacking in Oregon with Erin and Weez. After a day of wandering around Portland on my own it was time to explore the great outdoors. On Friday morning I carefully packed up my food and reassessed my layers. The weather was much chilly than forecasted but we had high hopes for rising temps as the world woke up.

By mid morning we’d packed everything into the car and headed southeast toward the Three Fingered Jack trailhead. Our game plan was to spend the next two days/nights backpacking the 20-24ish [depending upon which website you ask] loop around Three Fingered Jack. In our diluted minds we’d spend the days hiking and exploring than camp along the trail with rainy but bearable temperatures that *might* drop below 20 degrees. The closer we got to our destination the more “uh, we might die” talk swirled around the car. The thermometer in the car kept spitting out lower temperatures…by the time we got to the trailhead, at 2pm, it was reading 11 degrees. ELEVEN DEGREES! In the afternoon…on a very sunny day. Oh, and we were surrounded by heaping piles of snow. As in the trailhead was not accessible because it was buried under 2-3 feet of fresh snow. This was not going as planned…
(more…)

By Heidi Kumm, ago