1st-Laura Haefeli,2nd-Megan Kimmel,3rd-Brandy Erholtz,4-Rachel Cueller

It had been an incredible winter in Silverton. So good, that there was no reason to leave the small town that was chock-full of powder skiing all winter and then long spring corn tours except to break it up with running and biking which was a nice contrast to wearing heavy ski gear and a pack for touring.

By June though, all of that time did finally result in a bit of ‘cabin fever’ and I was looking for a way to get out of town.

I admit that the winter was more lucrative in powder turns than it was in paychecks and within this I stumbled upon a running race that had money going to the top 5 finishers. The race was in Steamboat Springs where I had an aunt and uncle I could stay with so I decided it was worth the gamble. If nothing else, I could see how I stacked up in what was being called a USATF Trail Championship.

I finished 2nd in this race and Nancy Hobbs encouraged me to come to the Berry Picker in a few weeks time as it was the qualifier for the years World Mountain Running Championship being held in Switzerland.

This was my beginning.