Featured Runner “Kimberly Myers” March 2018

March 8th, 2018 Tags: amazing, badassery, Being Epic, Featured Runners, motivation, perseverance, ultrarunning, unstoppable, why
Posted in Announcements, Featured Runners, Funny, Inspirational, Motivational, Personal Philosophies, Preferences & Opinions, Tips, Training

Kimberly Myers (in her own words): I picked up this running habit in the late 80’s, encouraged by my Dad who typically ended his workday with an evening run.  It started with a bright yellow Sports Walkman, a Master of Puppets cassette, some heavy cotton T-shirt and cutoff sweats (don’t judge—at least the tall hair phase had passed).  Even with all of those disadvantages, I ran my first 3 ½ miles nonstop and was hooked.

The progression from a 5k to taking on the ultra distance took years and my Dad has been with me every step of the way. We ran our first marathon together back in the day when the Wichita Marathon was still routed through McConnel Airforce Base, and ran our first trail marathon at the Rockin’ K over 16 years ago.  When the marathon was no longer enough, I found the holy union: ultras AND trail, which led me down the path to being knighted into the FlatRock Hall of Pain last September.  Ultrarunning keeps me motivated and inspired to continue training and to challenge my perceived limits.  I may still occasionally jam out to the Master of Puppets on a run, but that old Sports Walkman found its way to the donation bin (the cutoff sweats…well I hope they got burned).

THE BASICS

Date of Birth: 08/12/75

Place of Birth: Wichita, KS

Currently Residing:  Harrisonville, MO

Marital Status: Not married.

Job(s): GIS Coordinator

Children: None

Height: 5’8 ish

Weight: 135ish

Shoe Size: Depends on the shoe…8 or 7.5.

Best Physical Feature: Freckles – they eliminate the worry of uneven skin tone.

Worst Physical Feature: My uncooperative digestive system.

Religion: Life—living it humbly and mindfully.

Political Affiliation: Not affiliated with a political party.

Educational Background: BA from KU, MA in Geography from University of Montana.

Personal Strength(s): Determination to get things done.

Personal Weakness(es): Ignoring all the signs that it is time to relax.

Make Of Car You Drive: Saturn Ion

Make Of Car You Would Like To Drive: Haven’t really thought about it….possibly one I could travel in and sleep somewhat comfortably in.

Pets: My best buddy Zeus, aka the couch walrus / space invader.

FAVORITES

Favorite Author: Too many to pick just one…and it depends on my mood.

Favorite Book: Stephen King’s Dark Tower Series.

Favorite Non-running Magazine: Outside Magazine.

Favorite Movie: I find it difficult to sit down through a whole movie—too many other things to do.

Favorite TV Show: A Chef’s Life

Favorite Actor/Actress: I’m dumb when it comes to naming actors/actresses.

Favorite Music: Fairly eclectic, but dislike most rap & country.

Favorite Musical Performer: VK Goes Wild.  Don’t let the name mislead you—she’s a classically trained pianist who rocks out to her own arrangements of Pantera, Metallica, NIN, Godsmack and a whole host of other bands.

Favorite Artist: Simone Lazzeri Ellis

Favorite Spectator Sport: Ninja Warrior…I guess that counts.

Favorite Subject in School: English

Favorite Game: Hand and Foot (card game).

Favorite Vacation Destination: I prefer mountains over beaches.  Colorado is our typical family destination.

Favorite Time Of Day: Morning’s civil twilight.

Favorite Item Of Clothing: Yoga pants with one of my many FlatRock T-shirts.

Favorite Non-Running Leisure Activity: Yoga

Favorite Running Shoe: I wouldn’t say favorite, but I currently alternate between Adidas trail shoes and Salomon Sense Mantras.

Favorite Food/Drink Before An Ultra: Coffee & a banana or an avocado (but really depends on how my stomach is feeling)

Favorite Food/Drink During An Ultra: Anything I can stomach, which usually isn’t much…Nuun tablets have worked well and I do really like salted watermelon when the weather is hot!

Favorite Food/Drink After An Ultra: Again, depends on how angry my stomach is.  I usually crave sugar and resort to drinking pop.

Favorite Crew/Pacer Person(s): Parents, Jim & Barb, boyfriend Dave & my favorite buddy Zeus.

Favorite Place To Run: Trail network around Missoula, MT & rolling hills of rural Kansas (specifically Lincoln & Marion county)—all places I don’t get to run in very often.

Favorite Type Of Running Surface: Single track trail…really anything that’s not pavement, concrete or asphalt.

Favorite Famous Quote: “Simplicity is our revolution”-Vandana Shiva
“…the greatest fear is supposing food comes from the grocery…” -Aldo Leopold.

ULTRA STUFF

Number of Years Running Ultras: Holy crap…10 years.

Number of Ultras Finished:  I’m horrible at keeping track (I wasn’t even able to answer the above question without finding the shirt from my first 50k the Sun to Sun).

Best Ultra Performance(s): The first annual Prairie Spirit—even in the blizzard, I managed a 50 mile PR!

Most Memorable Ultra: The Heartland 100 when Dad paced me the last 17 miles with his pants on backwards as we were followed by a UFO.

Typical Training Week(s) Before A Major Race: I’m pretty inconsistent.  I usually don’t run much the week of the race, but continue to do daily gentle yoga.

Injuries: Hamstring, IT band & achilles—all on the left.

Ultrarunning Idol: Darcy Piceu

Why Do You Run Ultras: Many reasons: the comradery, a chance to travel and see things I wouldn’t typically see, and the challenge–real growth comes by stepping out of your comfort zone.

Advice For Other Ultrarunners: Have fun, live in and be grateful for the moment; and if the moment sucks, don’t worry it will pass.

ACHIEVEMENTS / GOALS / MEMORIES

Personal Hero: My grandparents on both sides.

Personal Philosophy:  Keep things simple, be mindful of how your habits affect the environment and others & know that there is always something more to learn.

Short-Term Goal: Plan our garden.

Long-Term Goal: Through hike the CDT with my boyfriend Dave so he can earn his triple crown.

Most Prized Possession: Pictures and memories of the family farm.

Most Recent Proud Achievement:  Induction into the FlatRock Hall of Pain.

Kim being knighted into the legendary FlatRock Hall of Pain!

Happiest Memory: Hiking in Colorado with the family, summer internship on the PEAS farm in Missoula, wheat harvest, running the Rockin’ K with my Dad.

Secret Ambition/Fantasy: Master the handstand & shoulder stand.

Greatest Adventure:  Traveling in Bhutan.

DISLIKES / FEARS

Least Liked Subject: Gym

Least Liked Household Chore: Cleaning out the bathtub drain.  Apparently folding laundry falls as a close second because I seem to seriously procrastinate on that.

Pet Peeve(s): Lack of kitchen counter space for cooking & preparing meals.

Greatest Fear: I try not to think about what I may or could be fearful about…what is fear anyway?

SPARE TIME

Book Currently Reading: 1491 by Charles C. Mann & a slow weekly chapter read of The Yamas & Niyamas.

Hobbies: Yoga, reading, playing the piano, gardening & cooking.

Collections: I’d like to say nothing, but realistically I’ll have to admit to books, running shoes and FlatRock T-shirts.

What’s Next: Antelope Canyon 50 Miler, but by the time this comes out I’ll have that one in the bag, so I guess it’s April’s Rockin’ K marathon with my Dad.

Kim finishing the Rockin’ K Marathon with her Dad, Jim!