Member Spotlight: Christy Kuehn
Photo by Tristan Brown
Christy came to Trail Roots by way of our Discovery Program, an intro to trail running group, and in just over a year competed in her first 50k at Bandera, placing among the top females. It has been inspiring to watch her blossom from her first days on the trail to where she is now, often making the top of our team leaderboard on Strava. She committed to running every day for her brother, a Marine, and that commitment has kept her grounded and consistent during the pandemic. We wanted to ask Christy a few questions about her running journey with Trail Roots.
What inspired you to start running and how did you find out about the Discovery program?
For as long as I can remember, I loved running, but ran inconsistently for years. My first job was actually at a running store warehouse! After recovering from a back injury and barely being able to walk for months, I realized how much I valued the use of my legs. Around the same time, there were several people close to me who passed away. Running has always provided me a way to process and work through things, so all of this made me want to run even more. After my back healed, and with the help of a running group on the west coast, I started running consistently and ran several road races.
Finding Trail Roots was sort of serendipitous. After moving to Austin, I got a dog and started hiking more and running less. But I knew I wanted to find a running group to get into a routine again and meet new people. While on a hike at Reimers Ranch, I came across the Salmagundi race. Everyone looked like they were having a great time and that’s when I knew I wanted to try trail running. Months later I saw the Discovery group was being offered, and it seemed like the best way to dive in. Since Discovery and joining Trail Roots, I've been able to get to know Austin's trails, I've made tons of progress and have gotten to know some incredible and inspiring people.
What’s your dream run?
A run that has unexpected beauty, or involves novelty or travel, is what I love the most. But I’ve also learned I like exploring my limits. That’s why I’m so captivated by running the Grand Canyon.
Do you have a race ritual or Saturday morning run ritual?
Simplicity and preparation help me stay calm before a big run. The only thing I consistently do is lay everything out the night before. That way I can sleep better at night and reduce the mental clutter in the morning. If everything is ready to go, gear, nutrition, water, clothes, shoes, race day timeline, etc., then I don't have to do as much in the morning except get ready and be on time.
What was your experience like at your first 50k?
While training for my first 50k I felt really strong right up until I injured my ankle a couple months before the race. Thankfully, it wasn't bad enough to completely derail my training. Instead, I took a week off, got some physical therapy and dialed back the intensity. This is where an effective PT and thoughtful guidance from a good coach helped a lot! Moving forward, I focused on staying healthy, enjoying the remainder of my training and getting to the starting line.
It was still a bit nerve-wracking before the race because it was the longest distance I'd ever run, and the course is known to be rugged, hilly, and rocky. The first half went smoothly, but then my foot started cramping. This made running up and down hills and over uneven terrain difficult. Then on the last steep hill, my quads felt so exhausted that I almost fell while trying to quickly navigate over loose rocks. In the toughest moments, my best mental strategies were to take it mile by mile, or aid station by aid station. I also spotted people to chase, including friends who were also running. And, it was crucial to keep uplifting thoughts in mind while keeping negative ones at bay. One thing I’m so grateful for is the amazing support I received from my crew, my husband and dog. It gave me something to look forward to knowing I’d see them cheering me on at aid stations and at the finish line.
Do you have any advice for anyone who is nervous to start trail running with a group?
You might like it more than you think! There are so many benefits to running trails with people. It's a great way to build friendships, learn new routes, and getting lost is less likely, or at least it feels more like exploring than being lost. It's also helpful to have trail buddies when you need to challenge yourself, or to chill out and enjoy a gorgeous day. Who knows, the initial hesitation of getting sweaty and running around with a group of strangers might just turn into the best part of your week!
What’s your favorite trail with Trail Roots?
I don't have a favorite trail, but I've been told (by non-runners) that I talk about hilly trails a lot. Probably because they're hard! But they're also rewarding, and really, it's all about the view!
How did you motivate yourself to keep training during 2020? You committed to running every day for your brother, can you share that with us?
Originally, my plan for 2020 was to get stronger, establish a solid running routine and run trail races. Then the pandemic hit. Group runs stopped and races were cancelled, and it was hard to motivate myself. In the middle of 2020, I rethought the year. 2020 was the worst year, but I didn’t want it to be my worst year. I needed a reason to run, and that reason became my brother. My brother is a Marine Raider, a Special Operations Marine, and in July he was sent on his 9th deployment. In previous deployments he’s been sent all over the Middle East during severe conflicts. He’s encountered more difficult things in his life than I'll ever know about and has been through more hardship than most. I decided to run every day that he was gone as a way to focus less on myself and to remember that running is not so hard. What he does is hard. Each week I sent him an e-mail with updates and photos of where I ran. I kept running for 151 days straight and only stopped because of an ankle injury. At that point I had committed to training for a 50k, so instead of running every day, the new goal became crossing the finish line for him. It encouraged me to continue running, and knowing he’d gone through harder things gave me motivation to finish the race. Coincidentally, the 50k happened the same week he returned home.
“With the group I'm more consistent and I've run more miles than I thought I could. I'm challenged when I need it, and am given so much encouragement on tough training days.”
How has training with a group helped you? How did your running change after beginning to train with Trail Roots?
Trail Roots has shown me how much I really appreciate training with people. It's just better. With the group I'm more consistent and I've run more miles than I thought I could. I'm challenged when I need it, and am given so much encouragement on tough training days. Running before sunrise, through the heat of summer, and in the rain weren’t things I did before either, but now I do and love it.
Do you think the group or your tribe has been helpful for you right now during the pandemic to keep consistent and provide structure?
Absolutely. During the pandemic having this community has made it easier to maintain a running schedule and even more importantly, it has provided a sense of normalcy and connection during this unbelievable year. At the beginning of Covid, for the first time running solo didn’t make me feel better, it just made me feel isolated. The small group runs have been a lifesaver! And, the tribe leaders, or Kodas, of the group deserve extra praise for stepping up so much to rally the group, lead runs, and keep us motivated and connected!
What’s next for you?
The Grand Canyon is my next big endeavor. Running R2R2R will be a huge, crazy challenge, but I'm excited about it and can’t wait!