My Stories

runventure

Wildflower Running

There is one thing you learn really quickly when you don’t have a lot of time to fit your runs in – you cannot wait for the weather to be “just right”. If it’s 80 degrees without a cloud in the sky…you’re going running. If it looks like rain…you’re still going running. If it is actually pouring raining…you’re still going running. Same goes for your pre/post run fueling and such. Not sure how a Lunchable for breakfast will fuel you’re long run? Let’s find out… [spoiler: it did a great job!]
(more…)

By Heidi Kumm, ago
trails + tents

Camping at White Ranch

While I’m studying my eyeballs out with EMT training I have been working at Ibotta, an app startup in Denver, where I help out crazy rebate/coupon’ers and hunt down the fraud-sters. What I do isn’t exactly glamorous but it’s exactly what I need in my life right now and the entire Ibotta crew is kind of awesome. Need proof? How about a Thursday night of camping with co-workers, just because?!

That’s exactly what I was doing last Thursday night! I met a few co-workers at the White Ranch upper trailhead and we packed our camping gear + food about a mile into the hiker campsites, set up camp and created our own version of “mountain happy hour” with a bonfire, s’mores and a stormy sunset.
(more…)

By Heidi Kumm, ago
runventure

Happy Trails

My running mojo has been a little lacking lately but that doesn’t mean I haven’t been taking advantage of the gorgeous Colorado summer weather. It’s been really hot lately so most trail explorations have been in the cooler early morning + late evening hours. And I don’t get out to the actual trails often but late last week I had a few hours to kill after class. Sure, my EMS book would have loved my attention but my brain was fried so I headed to Mt Falcon where I left my brain in the car and just wandered along the trails.
(more…)

By Heidi Kumm, ago
friends + feelings

Treading Water [EMT Training]

I’ve kind of fallen off the face of the internet lately. And oddly enough it wasn’t a planned part of a “screw you internet!” over reaction…it was simply life being life and getting in the way of life. How inconsiderate of life!

I have spent the last 6 weeks immersed in an accelerated 10 week program to become an EMT. Going into this I really had no idea what EMTs did…I talked to a few people who were EMTs but it was a pretty general chat. It wasn’t until the second day of class during a real heart-to-heart that I realized exactly what EMTs and Paramedics did in their day-to-day work life. It is not very glamorous; it’s actually pretty disgusting on the “bad days” and there isn’t always instant gratification; even when you do your job right. Rather than scare me off that realization made me want to work harder than ever to become the kind of EMT the medics wanted to work with.
(more…)

By Heidi Kumm, ago
runventure

Finding Fun in Misery [Steamboat Marathon]

Okay, this is getting a little bit ridiculous. It’s been nearly three weeks since I ran the Steamboat Marathon and, while I have a few failed attempts saved, I am yet to actually write about the race. In my defense I haven’t had time to write about anything but what’s really holding me back about this race recap is the gigantic gap between the important parts I want to share and coherent writing.

The race was important to me for a few reasons - it was a road race I had a few time goals for, my mom + friends + Jeremy spent the weekend in Steamboat for this race and because, at the end of the day, I learned how to have fun even when I was hating life. But for some reason I cannot figure out how to put the experience into words — not necessarily because it was so profound but because my brain is so exhausted with EMT training/medical jargon the thought of trying to process the experience into words freaks me out.
(more…)

By Heidi Kumm, ago
runventure

Twenty Freaking Seconds [Colfax Half Marathon]

I’m about the recap my version of the 2015 Colfax Half Marathon approximately four [very long…] weeks after the fact. As a rather impromptu race it wasn’t necessarily a huge day for me but I learned a lot, got one heck of a confidence boost in my ability and finish just 20 freaking seconds shy of my half marathon PR so I really want to write about it, if only as a reminder of what I learned. In theory I would have been smart enough to take these lessons and use them during the Steamboat Marathon but…I’m not quite that smart!
(more…)

By Heidi Kumm, ago
friends + feelings

Currently.

For the record I haven’t fallen off the face of the earth, just the tiny little that is the internet. There have been another round of major life changes going down here in the Land of Heidi and rather than try to put everything into words I’ve let all my social oversharing fall to the wayside [well, except for Instagram because a photo is worth a thousand words, right?!].
(more…)

By Heidi Kumm, ago
runventure

Just Go Get Dirty

Here in Colorado we have had a LOT of rainy days and many people have been very vocal about their dislike for this gloomier-than-usual weather. Sure, there is a very good chance that 2015 will fail to delivery the “300 days of sunshine” Coloradoans like to brag about but I’ve been kind of loving the cool days + rainy weather + cloudy runs. The trails have been muddy and, while it does make running tricky, I think mud is fun. And since mud running is about all I’ve done outside lately I’m going to go ahead and talk about muddy running, again!
(more…)

By Heidi Kumm, ago
friends + feelings

Sweet + Sticky Goodness [GoodPop Giveaway]

Disclaimer: This post + the giveaway is sponsored by GoodPop as part of my Blend Retreat attendance.

And just like that it’s the weekend again…or something like that! I worked a grand total of two days this week and am headed off to the Blend Retreat this afternoon for a weekend of food + trails + Boulder with a whole slew of blogger friends! And since it’s my version of the weekend I think we should all celebrate! And what better way to celebrate than with some deliciously sweet + sticky goodness on a stick!? Of course I’m talking about GoodPop…which are tasty popsicles made of real fruit + flavors that you’ll love, I promise!
(more…)

By Heidi Kumm, ago
runventure

Trail Running at Chautauqua Park [Blend 2015]

This coming Friday I’ll be leading a group trail run at the base of the Flatirons in Boulder, CO to kick off the Blend Retreat. I’m kind of excited about this…it’ll be the perfect setting to show off some of Boulder’s trails and get a big bunch of IRL friends + internet strangers together for some Colorado sunshine!

While I am the first person to admit I’m no expert on trail running I do have some experience wandering around the Boulder trails and thought it’d be nice to bring together all the questions I’ve gotten about running [and hiking!] the trails from the Chautauqua trailhead.
(more…)

By Heidi Kumm, ago