Vasque USA Running Team.
Trains and lives in: Seattle, WA.
Competing since: Ultras since 2001.
The Reason I Run: I have been running since I was in the seventh grade – track, cross-country and road races. When I found trail running, I feel I found a type of running that spoke most closely to my heart. Being out on a trail run feeds my soul.
Trail running beats road running because: period!
My biggest inspiration is: Those who endure. The individuals, who may not be having the best day, but endure to the finish.
Goals for this year: Top 3 females at World 100k, MiWok100, and GORE-TEX TransRockies Run.
What shoes are you running in now?: The Mindbenders.
Trains and lives in: Gunnison, CO.
Competing since: Trail/ Ultra runs 2006
The Reason I Run: To enjoy creation; to breathe and clear my head. To push my limits.
Trail Running beats road running because: Of views and variations and difficulty.
My biggest inspiration: My family and my wife
My greatest achievement thus far: Leadville 100 2008 – 1st place.
What shoes are you running in now? Transistor FS, Velocity VST and Blur SL
Competing since: Trail Running since 2003
The Reason I Run: Is the simplicity and enjoyment of the outdoors.
Trail Running beats road running because: Of the adventure and challenge.
My biggest inspiration: Is all those crazy ultra athletes out there pushing the limits.
My greatest achievement thus far: Improving my Pikes Peak Marathon by 2 Hours!.
What shoes are you running in now? Transistor FS.
Train and live in: Boulder, CO
Competing since: 2001
The Reason I Run: I run because I love it. It is my daily cup of coffee and I take it every day sometimes dark and bitter and sometimes sweet and easy. It is my daily free Prozac! I have been running as long as I can remember. Trail running beats road running because: It’s easier on your brain and body
My biggest inspiration: My son, my family
My greatest achievement thus far: my 2 national championships
Coolest thing I’ve seen on a run: Small Moroccan children chasing me down a dirt road in North Africa
What are you running in now?: Transistor FS
Train and live in: Asheville, NC.
Competing since 1994.
The Reason I Run: I watched the shut-in trail run when I was younger, it was mesmerizing.
Trail running beats road running because: Fun
My biggest inspiration: Mountains
What shoes are you running in now? I like the Blur SL for slower runs and the Transistor FS for faster paced training
Trains and lives in Bolton, CT.
Competing since: 1999
Trail running beats road running because: Nature is healing.
The Reason I Run: My love for the outdoor and passion for pushing my body got me out on the trails. I also love running downhill on very rocket steep terrain!
My biggest inspiration is: My family, husband Scott, son Shepard, and Dahlia.
My greatest achievement thus far is: Winning the VT50k outright in 2005
Goals for this year: to train and race all through my pregnancy and inspire other moms.
Favorite Vasque shoes of the moment: Velocity VST
Trains and lives in: Marquette, MI.
Competing since: 2004.
Trail running beats road running because: life begins when pavement ends.
Favorite post race meal and beverage: Gummi orange slices and a beer
My biggest inspiration: My wife
My greatest achievement thus far is: Course record @ Freestate 100k
Favorite Vasque shoes of the moment: Transistors FS
Trains and lives in: Westfield,MA.
Competing since: 2007
The Reason I Run: To reconnect with nature, challenge myself, stay fit, blow off steam, work towards a goal, feel tired and make comforts feel better.
Trail Running beats road running because: You can go places and see things most people don't bother to visit.
My biggest inspiration: To continue to improve and challenge myself.
My greatest achievement thus far: Setting the course record at Pineland Farms Trail Challenge, 50M in 6:02.
What shoes are you running in now? Blur SL
Vasque Japan Running Team.
Train and live in: Kichijoji, a hip and cool town 15km west of central Tokyo.
Competing since: 2003
The Reason I Run: The only activity that I do just for fun.
Trail running beats road running because: Trail running gives me more visual, hearing and smelling senses of nature
Favorite post race meal and beverage: Beer and meals that go with beer…
My biggest inspiration: My son who is my trail running buddy
My greatest achievement thus far: Winning the 1st trail running series in Japan in ’08.
My goal for 2009: Finish Tour de Mont Blanc
The most important feature in a trail running shoe: Durability, as I cannot imagine myself going down the mountain safely if my shoes broke.
Pre-race ritual: Have my wife, daughter and son paint messages and pictures on my race jersey. My wife, who is very talented, paints beautiful race scenes and my kids keep me going with energetic messages. My son once wrote “you are injured, but it doesn’t hurt”.
Favorite Vasque shoe right now: The Celerator
Train and live in: Nagano.
Competing since: 1995
The Reason I Run: FUN Trail running beats road running because: You never get bored and you fully enjoy nature. My biggest inspiration: when I run ridgeline of higher elevations, more than 3000m.
My greatest achievement thus far is: Completing Japan Alps Race (420k).
Goals for this year: Finish the Hasegawa Cup within 9 hours, 30 minutes
Coolest thing I’ve seen on a run: Morning glory after running all night on Japan Alps.
The most important feature in a trail running shoe is: Comfort
My dream come true: Complete Tour de Mont Blanc
One thing I can’t run without: Vasque Trail Running Shoes
My Favorite Vasque shoe right now: Blur SL
Train and live in: Train in Kasukabe and Aichi and live in Nagoya, Aichi.
The Reason I Run: I enjoy running with my buddy. When I started, I was not good at running but I enjoyed the process of improvement.
Trail running beats road running because: Good air in the field once you are out there.
My greatest achievement thus far is: That I was in the competition of World Cyclocross twice, won at King of Otaki(MTB/ Trail Run 100k) in ’08 and Shinshiro 32k race in ’07.
Coolest thing I’ve seen on a run is: Rugged scenery of mouth of an active volcano during my training. That was the most exquisite view I’ve even seen.
The most important feature in a trail running shoe is: an ability to catch rugged trail conditions quickly. Also important to have a feature to prevent entry of any debris while running. During the race, lightweight is important too.
Favorite Vasque shoe right now: Aether Tech, Aether Tech SS and Velocity – still perfect stability shoe ever!
Train and live in: Kanagawa
Competing since: 2004
My Favorite Vasque shoe right now: Blur
Train and live in: Train in Hakone & Shonan Beach, Kanagawa & live in Fujisawa, Kanagawa.
The Reason I Run: that I can refresh and enjoy with juvenate my mind
My greatest achievement thus far is: a winner of 08 OSJ Ontake Ultratrail 100K (Series races)
Goals for this year: to win a prize on all races I enter
Coolest thing I’ve seen on a run: having buddies to cheer me up when am having a hard time during trail races
The most important feature in a trail running shoe is: lightweight and fit.
My Favorite Vasque shoe right now: Aether tech SS
Train and live in: Nirasaki City, Yamanashi.
The Reason I Run: because I simply love the mountains
My greatest achievement thus far is: break new record of Hasegawa’s Cup and won the race with new record
Goals for this year: is to enjoy Tour de Mont Blanc
Coolest thing I’ve seen on a run: night view of Kofu-city from my local HAKUSAN peak.
The most important feature in a trail running shoe is: Comfort & Fit
One thing I can’t run without: cheering & boosting
My Favorite Vasque shoe right now: Celerator
Train and live in: Train in Okutama, Tokyo and Live in Chiba-city, Chiba.
Competing since: 2005
The Reason I Run: because I want to run
Goals for this year: revision of my own record on each race.
Coolest thing I’ve seen on a run: a view from on top of Hinode peak near my house.
The most important feature in a trail running shoe is: lightweight & good grip
One thing I can’t run without: support from family
My Favorite Vasque shoe right now: Aether Tech
Vasque UK Running Team.
Train and live in: The Fens.
Competing since: 2006
The Reason I Run: To get out of the Fens
Trail running beats road running: Because you don’t get cars on the trails.
My biggest inspiration: The hills
My greatest achievement thus far is: top 20 in UTMB 2008
Goals for this year: Top 3 in Runfurther series and in West Highland Way Race
Coolest thing I’ve seen on a run: Snow (I spent 3 months last year training in Antarctica).
The most important feature in a trail running shoe is: Comfort – definitely in ultras anyway.
My favorite workout is: In the pub at the end of a race.
Favorite Vasque shoe right now is: My original pair of trail shoes – 4 years old, relegated to wearing at home but still dead comfy!
Train and live in: Peak District UK by East Bay, California for summer 09.
Competing since: 1988 – before the internet, emails, GPS
The Reason I Run: To keep myself sane, get away from the internet, emails, GPS and remember what I love about life.
Trail running beats road running because: It gets you to beautiful places
My biggest inspiration: The big wide world around us and the amazing flora and fauna that inhabit it.
My greatest achievement thus far is: Lakes 24 hour record (UK), Grand Slam (USA).
Goals for this year: Hardrock 100 and possible speed attempt on the John Muir Trail.
The most important feature in a trail running shoe: Stability to give confidence and enable you to run relaxed.
Favorite Vasque shoe right now is: The Blur
Vasque UK RunningTeam.
Trail and live in: Macclesfield, Cheshire.
Competing since: running races for about last 7 years, including first marathon 4 years ago. Started fell running and ultra running in 2008.
The Reason I Run: Love being outdoors.
Trail unning beats road running because: I love being in the hills more
My biggest inspiration: I read an article by Lizzy Hawker in Summit on her a achievements, including winning the Davos 78km race, and that inspired me to give it a go and led me into ultra running.
My greatest achievement thus far is: London marathon 2007 in 3 hr, 9 minutes and in trail/ ultra running 25th lady in 2008 Davos (Switzerland) 78km (3rd British).
Goals for this year: Aim to win Vasque ladies series, in top 3 ladies in Fellsman, complete elite LAMM course as mixed pair with my husband.
The most important feature in a trail running shoe: Good grip.
Favorite Vasque shoe right now: Blur
Train and live in: Macclesfield.
Competing since: as a runner since 1998. Started off-road running in 2000.
The Reason I Run: To chill out, empty my mind of work and just to be out there.
Trail running beats road running because: of the hills, the scenery, the wildlife, the change of the seasons and the big spaces.
My greatest achievement thus far is: 3rd FV in the 2007 UTMB race and then winning a medal at the world masters rowing a week later.
Goals for this year: Good finish in Lakeland 100 and TDS race in France. Complete a few new Vasque series races.
Coolest thing I’ve seen on a run: A lamb being born.
The most important feature in a trail running shoe is: Good fit and good grip.
Train and live in: Live in Bristol, but I do a lot of training in Chippenham area.
Competing since: my first KIMM in 1998, but I really got serious about trail running after the Long Mynd Hike in 2006 (I came in 5th and realized I could do this!)
The Reason I Run: the exhilaration of flying over the hills. It’s also great to be able to cross some really wild terrain and see the scenery change. I also like competing.
Trail running beats road running because: You’re out there experiencing the outdoors. You might see the outdoors from the road, but why not run in the outdoors too? Who needs man made surfaces? I also think that I’m less likely to get injured trail running.
My biggest inspiration: The competition. I just want to do well when I’m in a race. Sometimes, it’s the records and the history of the races that inspires me.
My greatest achievement thus far is: winning the Old County Tops race three years in a row. It’s the first race I won and was a real breakthrough for me. It gave me so much confidence in myself. One thing people don’t know about me: I love baking!
The most important feature in a trail running shoe: There are two important features: bounce and grip. If you only want grip, get a fell running shoe. If you only want bounce, get a road running shoe. If you want both, go for a trail shoe.
Favorite Vasque shoe right now: Velocity VST: Bounce and grip!
Train and Live in: Chapel-en-le-Frith, High Peak.
Competing since: 1987
The Reason I Run: General fitness.
Trail Running beats road running because: I just can’t run on roads
The last place you’ll find me: Cricket match.
My greatest achievement thus far: Winning my first mountain marathon in 1998 as a novice.
Goals for this year: Always the next race.
The most important feature in a trail running shoe is: Weight
My pre-race ritual is: Pasta and lentil sauce the night before a long race.
Favorite Vasque shoe right now: The Blur
Train and live in: Edinburgh, Scotland
Competing since: I took up running about 6 years ago when I moved back to Edinburgh.
My main running companion: My dog – he’s accompanied me on most of my long runs and on regular training routes but is now becoming more selective. I.e. if it’s not a nice hill or beach run with the prospect of chasing some grouse/ pheasant/ rabbit he won’t come.
Favorite training run: In terms of running preferences, I fall into a slightly odd category of ‘trial runner with a love of tarmac’. I love running on trails and tracks through the hills, but also really enjoy the comparative speed of the flat road. I hate steep descents and am somewhat ‘navigationally challenged’.
My greatest achievements: West Highland Way female record holder (2007), Highland Fling female record holder and winner, Lairig Ghru female record holder, My marathon PB is 2:51 at London in 2006.
My Favorite Vasque Shoe of the moment: I love the lightweight material of the tops and they are well fitted and designed. Very good grip, clean easily and are comfortable.
Trains and lives in: Between Spain and Italy.
Competing since: 2003 in Trail Running.
The Reason I Run: Because I love it.
Trail Running beats road running because: We run in the middle of nature, we come from nature, so it is coming back to the origin. Everything else is artificial.
My biggest inspiration: Marco Olmo, the best world trail runner (age 60)
My greatest achievement thus far: The 4 Deserts, 4x250 Km races in the hardest environments in the world. It seems that I could be the third person in the world to finish them in time (17 months).
What shoes are you running in now? Velocity
Vasque China Running Team.
Train and live in: Kunming, a beautiful capital city in Yunnan province, China
Competing since: 2008
The Reason I Run: for the dream of endless race to release the body of energy.
Trail running beats road running because: Trail running could firm up our muscles.
My biggest inspiration: everything is unknown before meeting the end of the road which is not far from here.
The most important feature in a trail running shoe: cushioning and solid to protect my feet away from harm.
Favorite Vasque shoe right now: Velocity VST 7626
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