About

Well, hello. Welcome to my little corner of the internet. I used to spend all my time oversharing at runaroundaroo.com but have migrated here in early 2016. If you’re here for stories about running, adventurous recaps from the trails + my version of ultra marathon training then you’ve come to the right place. If you’re looking for healthy recipes, financial security or insight on the best way to organize your home then you’re out of luck, I have mastered none of those skills!

What is Heidi all about?

In my non-blog life I work a mix of jobs — anything from social marketing to hospitality to customer service to freelance contractor. I used to work full time in an office telling the world about adventures I didn’t have time to take. In 2015 I changed that; I left my office job for EMT training followed by a healthy dose of travel. At the moment I’m living a rather nomadic life with a lot of exploring + not so much structure. It works; for now.

 I call Wisconsin “back home” but I’ve been living primarily in Colorado the last few years.  The majority of my free time is spent outside + on the trails – either running, hiking, backpacking or snowboarding. I grew up in a tiny Central Wisconsin town + found a whole new world when I moved to Colorado in 2011. My life changed…both positively + negatively…these changes got me to where I am today.

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I have no exciting, inspiring story of how I went from 5K to 100+ miles. I just said yes to one opportunity + then another + then another to get out, run further + meet new people. When I started as a road runner — tracking every minute + stressing about the pace of my 6 mile run — I would have rolled my eyes if you even suggested I’d spend double-digit hours on the trails running + hiking with no regard to the time on my watch. But that’s where I am today + I regret none of it. I like this version of me, this weird version of an ultra runner who isn’t out to impress anyone but myself. It’s chill, it’s easy + it’s fun. Things may change + I will probably evolve again…but until then, bring on the trails, the rice krispie treats, the bacon + the endless hours in the mountains!

Beyond running I have been spending a lot of time traveling. My life changed when I took a leap of faith + pooled my entire PTO time into a two week trip to Chile + Torres del Paine in early 2015. By the fall of 2015 I was taking on three months of mountain living in a in tiny town nestled in the Swiss Alps. I learned a thing or two about letting the details go + just living life.

Since I let life happen + threw caution [+ most standard adult expectations] to the wind I have lived in Switzerland, Mexico + a van along the highways of the Western US. The basic need to pay off bills + put food in my mouth has pushed me to maintain a full time job or two during the winter mountains while exploring the world as soon as the winter season shuts down.

I hope to spent the next year or four doing just that — exploring, living, being, learning. There are no big ambitions or check lists but my nomadic ways have helped me downsize my life, become more open minded + put so much more value on a simple experience. I like it. A lot.

Sharing Logo Love

We all have logos stamped on our gear…some logos we love, others we pay little attention to. My gear closet is a mess of gear touting brand names I love + random gear that was on sale at the right now. Over the past few years I’ve been lucky enough to build up some great relationships with a variety of brands. Their logos are important because they let me show off what works for me…but for me, the truly important part of these relationships is the people I work with.

Of course, the products  + communities created by these logos is also pretty great, in my humble opinion. Zensah makes some colorful, yet incredibly function compression socks. Nite Ize has some impressively powerful head lamps + nifty gear ties. Ultimate Direction‘s packs are so versatile they are literally the only backpacks I own for nearly everything, including grocery shopping!

Trail Sisters is a strong, empowering community built around getting women outside + on the trails, with confidence…but without any “girls only” pretension. Teton Sports creates some great camping gear + has an innovative + entertaining product/marketing team. The teamEMS group let’s me put my EMS training to use at all sorts of outdoor events while supporting my own urges to get out on the trails. Twisted Trails Running Company, Point 6 + Honey Stinger fully support teamEMS, because you always need gear + snacks!

Each of the logos flaunted above are supported by myself as well as their marketing, social media + promotional staff. I know the people I social media team I give my stories to, the product development team I give feedback to + the marketing team I chat with to help promote events + sales with.

What’s #runabler about?

The entire premise of the hashtag #runabler started as a joke among friends about how persuasive people can be when they want someone to go running with them! No matter how miserable the final miles may be a runabler is there to encourage, enable + push their runablee to the finish, the trailhead or the next stop sign!

It’s actually a ton of fun being a runabler. You get to encourage friends to do make insane goals + then you get to watch them do amazing things! You can’t just convince them sign up for a race + then abandon them to do all the training alone…you get to train with them, suffer with them, learn with them. That’s my favorite part. It’s like a built in run buddy you get to play on the trails with! Life is more fun!

#runabler website || @runabler Instagram

If you’re on Instagram use the #runabler hashtag on your photos to show off where your feet have taken you! If you’re a blogger check out the runabler.com website + get your recaps included. If you’re a crazy runner without a blog you should still head over to runabler.com – we’ll give you a place to share your story!

 

41 Comments

  1. scatterbrainjane February 22, 2011 at 8:59 pm Reply

    Hey! Just came across your blog, I am from Wisconsin and dating my high school boyfriend still. We met in 7th grade and it was fate ;). Thought I’d stop in and say hey!

    • Heidi Nicole February 22, 2011 at 9:31 pm Reply

      Hey, if you can survive the drama that goes down in the life of a teenager you can survive pretty much everything! 😉

  2. benchingthebar April 12, 2011 at 2:02 am Reply

    Loving the blog! 🙂

    • Heidi Nicole April 12, 2011 at 7:26 am Reply

      Thank you! 🙂

  3. beyondbananas April 24, 2011 at 8:54 pm Reply

    Hi.. Just came across your blog and it is really cute!!

    • Heidi Nicole April 24, 2011 at 9:20 pm Reply

      Awww…thanks! Hope you keep stopping back! 🙂

  4. Heidi July 14, 2011 at 5:11 pm Reply

    Yeah! Just saw your tweet today about liquor and now we are fellow Heidi’s with blogs who are connected. 🙂 Ain’t social media grand!

    • Heidi Nicole July 14, 2011 at 8:12 pm Reply

      And you had answers for me! I’m really liking this social media dealio!

  5. elvalentino July 16, 2011 at 1:26 am Reply

    Haha that’s a cool picture of your cat

    • Heidi Nicole July 16, 2011 at 9:36 pm Reply

      Haha, yeah…he is kind of a special ed cat! 😉

  6. lindsay July 29, 2011 at 12:28 pm Reply

    youre hilarious! I am crazy, my hubs is normal (kinda). I love green and carry gum with me EVERYWHERE!

    • Heidi Nicole July 29, 2011 at 6:58 pm Reply

      Haha, thanks! I think the only reason Chris seems normal is because I’m definitely an odd duck! 😀

  7. Kiah September 24, 2011 at 8:47 pm Reply

    This section made me crack up! My husband is Chris, and I hate all power gels, too. Gross gross gross.

    • Heidi Nicole September 26, 2011 at 11:25 am Reply

      Thanks! I aim to please!
      And nothing is more digusting (to me) than bad tasting, warm jelly yuck! 😉

  8. Sarah October 5, 2011 at 12:05 pm Reply

    I love that we both have husbands named Chris…I have never lived in WI - but my husband went to college in Milwaukee…then we met when he moved back to CO 🙂

    • Heidi Nicole October 5, 2011 at 12:13 pm Reply

      Its only been a few months but I’m a firm believer that CO is better than WI…if only for the weather. Your husband can probably attest to that!

  9. Brittany @ Itty Bits of Balance October 13, 2011 at 4:45 am Reply

    The photos of you & Chris in the snow are adorable! I’ve never seen wedding pictures taken in the snow all bundled up, so I definitely admire the creativity 🙂

    • Heidi Nicole October 13, 2011 at 4:03 pm Reply

      Thank you! We are big snow lovers…as you can tell! 😉

  10. Kristi @ lifesprinkles November 10, 2011 at 11:45 pm Reply

    I used to never be able to run without gum either! also love green 🙂 looking forward to reading more!

  11. Thao @ Snapshots of Happiness December 1, 2011 at 12:08 pm Reply

    I definitely agree with you… Snow is the best form of precipitation. I just love the snow! And happy that I live in Colorado. It snows just enough here. Then melts quickly so that I don’t get sick of it. LOL

    • Heidi Nicole December 1, 2011 at 7:30 pm Reply

      I’m right there with you. I won’t hesitate to suit up in snowboarding gear just to frolic in the yard but as soon as the snow gets crusty and brown I’m over it. So far CO had delivered wonderfully in the snow department!

  12. Corrie Anne January 21, 2012 at 5:40 pm Reply

    Ahh.. Wisconsin. We moved here in August from Minnesota. Sounds like you are really taking advantage of the area!!

    • Heidi Nicole January 21, 2012 at 9:02 pm Reply

      Ahh, yes. We love the weather, the scenery and the six million things we can do outside! It still isn’t quite “home” but we are working on that!

  13. janetha January 24, 2012 at 11:10 pm Reply

    digging the snowy photos AND the cat photos. love, love, love. come to utah and let’s snowboard! we would get along.. i have many of the same views, especially the ones on snow and kids 😉

    • Heidi Nicole January 25, 2012 at 10:20 pm Reply

      Anyone who can also say “snow, yes!” and “kids, meh!” is a perfect friend in my book! I was to Lake Tahoe a few summers ago…and cannot wait to go snowboarding with views of the lake! Our season passes cover Heavenly and Northstar so we’ve talked of making the trip…do you have decent snow yet?! 😉

      • Heidi Nicole January 26, 2012 at 7:37 am Reply

        Oh wow…now I feel like a complete moron. Just so you know, I’m aware of the fact Lake Tahoe is in CA, not Utah…just felt the need to point that out! We were talking about Heavenly this morning and I had an “oh my goodnes, I’m an idiot” moment and had to come correct this! Gah. I am now going to go sit in the corner…and hide!

        All of that being said - where do you board in Utah, you know, places that actually exist within the boundaries of the state?

  14. lynne @lgmsash January 27, 2012 at 4:23 pm Reply

    Hey! Found you from Heather on Twitter - just wanted to say that we’ve got some things in common and you should join us for the Pure Barre class! My fiance and I are getting married on the day before our 6 year dating anniversary and he also lived in Wisconsin (MKE) for 1 year of those 6 - we love WI! Mmm. Cheese curds and beer. Anyway, hello!

  15. Marian Mann February 8, 2012 at 10:58 am Reply

    I LOVE all your photos! So cute and hilarious! um your cat is pretty much awesome too!

    • Heidi Nicole February 9, 2012 at 8:23 am Reply

      Thanks! He is quite amazing…until he is sitting on your pillow and meowing in your face at 2am, just because he wants attention! 😐

  16. Kallin March 18, 2012 at 6:42 pm Reply

    Hey Heidi,
    I’m also a fellow born and raised Wisconsinite. I’m just curious to what part of Wisconsin you grew up in. Since you tend to do a lot of stuff in the Twin Cities I’m guessing you are from western Wisconsin, which is also where I am from. I grew up in a small town near the MN/WI border near Rice Lake. Just curious.

    • Heidi Nicole March 19, 2012 at 4:50 pm Reply

      Hey! I actually grew up in Central Wisconsin {think south of Wausau} but went to college in Eau Claire. With EC so close to the Cities we did end up doing a lot there!

  17. Robin April 18, 2012 at 5:15 pm Reply

    I spy Bear Creek Trail in those bike pictures? Maybe?
    Just happened across your blog..looking forward to reading!!

    • Heidi Nicole April 22, 2012 at 12:24 am Reply

      Yes! That is the Bear Creek Trail!
      Thanks for stopping by! 🙂

  18. Cassie @ Rural Running Redhead March 20, 2014 at 8:12 pm Reply

    I am so glad for Twitter since I found your blog! I love Boulder Running Company…kinda jealous that you run for them. 🙂

    • Heidi Nicole March 21, 2014 at 8:39 am Reply

      I know! I think you’ve been in my Feedly for a while, just never followed up with Twitter! I kind of love BRC too — the people are awesome and who doesn’t love new shoes/gear?!

  19. Kelly October 22, 2015 at 2:59 pm Reply

    Hi Heidi!

    I’m Kelly, a student from Vancouver. My team and I is group of 4th and 5th year Business Marketing students from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada. We are working on a project for Arc’teryx, a Canadian outdoor sports retailer.

    I am hoping you could take 2 mins to do a survey about the women’s outdoor apparel industry 🙂 We need expert opinions from bloggers like you!

    The link: http://goo.gl/forms/jcbAfXCpb3

    Thank you!

    Best,
    Kelly

    • Heidi Nicole October 23, 2015 at 12:26 am Reply

      Done and done! Good luck with your project!

  20. Angel January 20, 2016 at 9:15 pm Reply

    Hi Heidi,

    I was passed your blog along on the outdoor bloggers group on FB. I am from here and there, and I’m totally digging your blog. I hope to make it to Colorado one day (hopefully during the summer). Anyway, I’m glad I found your blog, it’ll help for inspiration since I just started running again 🙂

    • Heidi Nicole January 21, 2016 at 9:20 am Reply

      Hi! Thank you! I’m working my way toward being more nomadic and kind of loving the freedom that comes with it. Let me know when you make it to CO [or, really, any part of the Western US…I’ll be traveling about] and maybe we can share trail stories IRL! 🙂

  21. Helen Behn March 22, 2016 at 11:23 am Reply

    Your blog is super inspirational. I thought ‘because why not’ when I started my own business that I’m navigating through. Looking at your site makes me appreciate the journey 🙂 Thanks…

    • Heidi Kumm March 22, 2016 at 11:36 am Reply

      Thank you! So much! It really is a long process of navigation…through life. 🙂

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