Growing up in the small town of Bend Oregon fostered my passion for the outdoors.  Spending all of my youth downhill skiing and preparing for the downhill ski season led me to running.  I would run to stay in shape.  I fell in love with the ease of movement that running offered and as an adult it became my prime athletic outlet.  Starting with shorter events, 10K and half marathons I jumped to marathons in my 20’s.  Training and racing marathons became my passion and after finishing well over 25 marathons I craved the next step. 

 I fell into trail running in my 30’s.  I would use the trails to train for marathons. Trail races began to pop up on the running scene but they were longer than 26.2 miles and that became my next challenge. I dove in with both feet.  The feeling of running on dirt up and over mountains is the most amazing adventure and offers such a sense of accomplishment.  After one ultra-marathon I was hooked.  The Columbia River Gorge and Mount Hood Wilderness are my training grounds along with Forest Park during the winter months.  I do however keep my speed by racing several road races every year