Interview with Katerina Claiborne 1) You’ve had a tremendous year, which includes completing three 100 milers. What are some of the experiences that stand out to you along the way? This year was like a dream for me. It was my first year running ultras, and I’ve truly found my passion. I loved reaching new milestones in distance and in elevation. I gained a new perspective by traveling to Leadville to watch the race and climb Mount Elbert with ultra friends. I loved crossing the finish line at my first 100 miler, Potawatomi, and my experience at the Bear was life changing. But the most significant ultra experience of my year was pacing Tony Cesario and Mike Wolkowicz for the second half of the Sawtooth 100. Watching them overcome so many difficulties to make it to the finish line together was an amazing experience. It taught me so much, and it made me realize that when you think the tank is empty, you can always dig just a little deeper. 2) When did you start running ultras and what motivated you to try your first? I ran my first ultra just one year ago at the Farmdale 50, in October 2013. I was running on the weekends with a group of ultrarunners, and I was inspired by their stories of distances that I couldn’t comprehend. I wanted to experience that struggle and spend the day out in the woods on the trails. Scott Kummer and Melissa Pizarro encouraged me to try leaping into longer races without worrying that I hadn’t taken the traditional route of slowly increasing my race distances. 3) Tell us about your group, Flatlanders. From simple observation, it seems like an enjoyable collection of people with no egos and a strong support system. It’s fantastic having a group of people I can turn to for advice and support. They make ultrarunning fun, and they feel like a family to me. Most people not familiar with ultras just call us “crazy.” I like having a group of crazies as my friends. 4) As a follow up question, what attribute would you borrow from someone in the group to make you an even better runner? Conversely, what do you consider to be your greatest strength that you could lend to someone? I wish I could borrow Vicki Brassil’s discipline, which I need in order to become better about nutrition and strength work. I can always get myself out the door for a run, but I don’t do a very good job of eating right and strengthening exercises. I’m not particularly fast or strong, but I know I am tough. I will fight through difficulties with every last ounce of my being. If anyone wants to borrow my mental fortitude, let me know! 5) Would you rather: Run in the heat or cold? Definitely heat. Badwater is on my bucket list. But so is Frozen Otter. Use gels or eat regular food during a race? I prefer regular food. I wish my stomach agreed. Use a pacer or run in solitude? I like both! Handheld or hydration pack? Hydration pack due to weak arms (see I told you I need strength work). 6) Just in the time period that you’ve been involved, what kind of growth or increased interest have you witnessed in ultra running in the Chicagoland area? I have no idea! I’ve only been doing this for one year. 7) What has been the most important discovery you’ve made about yourself since running ultras? I have learned that I have a craving for adventure, and I don’t shy away from difficult, maybe even dangerous situations. I like to test my limits. This sport seems so different to me than just running. It’s about the journey and the experiences along the way. I want to see the world through my ultrarunning odysseys. 8) What brings you to the Indiana Trail 100 next April? Do you plan on joining us for any training runs prior to the race? I heard really good things about it from people who ran it last year. They told me about the beautiful trail, the great support, and the overall fantastic atmosphere. Oh, and I couldn’t pass up a Salomon jacket! I definitely look forward to joining you for a training run before the race. 9) You completed the Bear 100 in September, which makes you eligible for the Hardrock 100 lottery. Is Hardrock one of your bucket list races? Absolutely! I won’t pretend that I’m ready for it, but if I get in I will definitely try my hardest. The beauty of that area is breathtaking even in photos; I can’t imagine what it must be like in real life. It seems like the ultimate challenge to me. 10) What’s the best advice you were given when you ran your first 50 or 100 miler? Would you give the same advice to someone running our race? I can’t remember who told me this, but the best advice I was given was to expect the unexpected. I think it’s really important to not give up or get riled up when things go wrong. In addition, I like the advice that was given to me by another runner at the Bear. He told me to focus on enjoying the process rather than worrying about the outcome. I was panicking about whether or not I’d make the cutoff, and those words of wisdom have stuck with me as an important reminder about why I am participating in ultras.
Posted on: Sun, 23 Nov 2014 20:12:48 +0000
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