Amelia Kaufman, who ran in the Peace Trot in 2013 and had the fastest woman’s time, is an ultra distance runner. Also a student at the University of Vermont, she recently ran in a 100 mile. You’ve heard of the 100 meter dash; that’s not it. The 100 miler was in the mountainous ski resort area of Vermont near Pittsfield. The course was a 10 mile loop that the runners were to complete 10 times. Amelia reports that it was a very difficult course with even the descending trails having steep uphill sections. I’m going to let her give you more of the details, but just one – she and her running partner, Riley, ran for 28 hours, without stopping to sleep. Amelia reports that “I felt like I was going to fall asleep while I was running.” What exactly does it feel like to sleep while you are running?
“I felt like a zombie while running at night. I felt like I was just this body moving around and the only thing in my mind was that I wanted to sleep. I wanted to sleep so badly! All I wanted to do was curl up on the trail and take a nice 12-hour nap. But I had to keep going. My running buddy who I did the race with, Riley, helped in keeping me awake and set on our goal. I couldn't have done it without her and I know she feels the same about me.”
“Amelia, I know that you often run just to get from point A to point B in your daily life. I used to do that too when I lived in a big city. I think that I was just driven to get to where I was going to get on with the next thing in my day/life. What motivates you to run all of the time?”
“I started getting into really long distance running by running from point A to point B. For a whole summer, I ran to work, ran to friends' houses, and ran home. It was my mode of transportation. I realized I could go far, and multiple times a day. It also felt good. A nice run is such a good way to start the day! So I guess what motivates me to run without a practical purpose is that it feels good. I love the feeling of gliding along the trail and looking at the trees and wildlife that surrounds me as I run. It's invigorating. But don't get me wrong, the 70 miler was not all fun and a lot of times it did not feel good. It was very painful at times--I had a blister developing on my right heel, my muscles were spent, and I was just generally sleep deprived and exhausted. What motivates me to do something like that I'm still not entirely sure. I think maybe it is about just putting yourself through a personal challenge. You are running against yourself in many of these ultra-distance races and it becomes a battle between you and the course. I like that aspect of the sport--doing these races is a way to tap deeper into yourself to see what you're really made of. People have all sorts of ways of challenging themselves. For me, it's running.”
“OK, then, when did you start getting running 50 and 100 miles in your brain and what does that thought do to your mind?”
“I guess I started getting into the ultra-distances once I had run a couple marathons. At that point I knew I liked running and I knew I could go further. The idea of running 50 miles was just intriguing. Everyone knows what a marathon is and that it's a long way, but I was intrigued by this subculture of ultra-runners that took running beyond the marathon. The idea of running two marathons at once instead of just one was captivating and I wanted to do it. It seemed like such a great challenge and of course, a great accomplishment. Once I have in my mind that I'm going to do one of these ultra events, I just accept that it's going to be hard but that I can do it. I try not to over think it because thinking can sometimes get you into trouble. I try to have a "just go for it!" mentality.
“You've talked about the Vermont 100 miler as uninteresting in that it was just repeating a loop. What type of run are you aspiring to do?”
“The race I did was actually called the Peak Race 100 miler. The Vermont 100 is an entirely different race that I aspire to do next summer as long as it doesn't conflict with Grassroots festival (fingers crossed!). Yes, running the same 10-mile loop 7 times (or 10 times if we had completed it) was rather uninteresting. I mean, it was a beautiful course through the mountains of Vermont, but it just felt silly going around and around and around. I'd rather do a race that is either one giant 100-mile loop or a point A to point B course. I aspire to one day do some of the most well known ultras out there, like Leadville 100 and Western States 100. These are exciting events with hundreds of people!”
“Do you run short races and are you going to run in the Peace Trot?”
“Yes, I still love running short races! They offer something different than the long races but that's good! I like how the local 5ks, 10ks, and half marathons bring people together! There is music and people and food and excitement! I love it. The 100/70 mile race I did was not very exciting. There were six people total entered into the 100 miler and there was no energy in the air. That race was all about the personal challenge and not at all about having a community event. I love races that are community events, it makes me so happy.”
“Tell us why you want to run in the Peace Trot.”
“I am running the Peace Trot for all the reasons stated in my last response! It is such a fun environment and I know I'll see all sorts of friends and community members there. It's about bringing people together and engaging in a healthy activity and what can be better than that?!”
“I felt like a zombie while running at night. I felt like I was just this body moving around and the only thing in my mind was that I wanted to sleep. I wanted to sleep so badly! All I wanted to do was curl up on the trail and take a nice 12-hour nap. But I had to keep going. My running buddy who I did the race with, Riley, helped in keeping me awake and set on our goal. I couldn't have done it without her and I know she feels the same about me.”
“Amelia, I know that you often run just to get from point A to point B in your daily life. I used to do that too when I lived in a big city. I think that I was just driven to get to where I was going to get on with the next thing in my day/life. What motivates you to run all of the time?”
“I started getting into really long distance running by running from point A to point B. For a whole summer, I ran to work, ran to friends' houses, and ran home. It was my mode of transportation. I realized I could go far, and multiple times a day. It also felt good. A nice run is such a good way to start the day! So I guess what motivates me to run without a practical purpose is that it feels good. I love the feeling of gliding along the trail and looking at the trees and wildlife that surrounds me as I run. It's invigorating. But don't get me wrong, the 70 miler was not all fun and a lot of times it did not feel good. It was very painful at times--I had a blister developing on my right heel, my muscles were spent, and I was just generally sleep deprived and exhausted. What motivates me to do something like that I'm still not entirely sure. I think maybe it is about just putting yourself through a personal challenge. You are running against yourself in many of these ultra-distance races and it becomes a battle between you and the course. I like that aspect of the sport--doing these races is a way to tap deeper into yourself to see what you're really made of. People have all sorts of ways of challenging themselves. For me, it's running.”
“OK, then, when did you start getting running 50 and 100 miles in your brain and what does that thought do to your mind?”
“I guess I started getting into the ultra-distances once I had run a couple marathons. At that point I knew I liked running and I knew I could go further. The idea of running 50 miles was just intriguing. Everyone knows what a marathon is and that it's a long way, but I was intrigued by this subculture of ultra-runners that took running beyond the marathon. The idea of running two marathons at once instead of just one was captivating and I wanted to do it. It seemed like such a great challenge and of course, a great accomplishment. Once I have in my mind that I'm going to do one of these ultra events, I just accept that it's going to be hard but that I can do it. I try not to over think it because thinking can sometimes get you into trouble. I try to have a "just go for it!" mentality.
“You've talked about the Vermont 100 miler as uninteresting in that it was just repeating a loop. What type of run are you aspiring to do?”
“The race I did was actually called the Peak Race 100 miler. The Vermont 100 is an entirely different race that I aspire to do next summer as long as it doesn't conflict with Grassroots festival (fingers crossed!). Yes, running the same 10-mile loop 7 times (or 10 times if we had completed it) was rather uninteresting. I mean, it was a beautiful course through the mountains of Vermont, but it just felt silly going around and around and around. I'd rather do a race that is either one giant 100-mile loop or a point A to point B course. I aspire to one day do some of the most well known ultras out there, like Leadville 100 and Western States 100. These are exciting events with hundreds of people!”
“Do you run short races and are you going to run in the Peace Trot?”
“Yes, I still love running short races! They offer something different than the long races but that's good! I like how the local 5ks, 10ks, and half marathons bring people together! There is music and people and food and excitement! I love it. The 100/70 mile race I did was not very exciting. There were six people total entered into the 100 miler and there was no energy in the air. That race was all about the personal challenge and not at all about having a community event. I love races that are community events, it makes me so happy.”
“Tell us why you want to run in the Peace Trot.”
“I am running the Peace Trot for all the reasons stated in my last response! It is such a fun environment and I know I'll see all sorts of friends and community members there. It's about bringing people together and engaging in a healthy activity and what can be better than that?!”
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