Member Spotlight: Hilary Dinkelspiel Dona
Hilary joined Trail Roots in 2021 after moving to Austin from NYC in 2020. Following having her second kid in early 2021, she was looking for an easy going and welcoming running community to transition back into running - plus friends, having moved to Austin in the middle of the pandemic. You can find her at the early morning 5:30 am runs, as she juggles family, being a lawyer, and running. She does both road and trail racing and always has a great performance, often placing amongst the top females. Hilary was also recently featured in a segment on trail running with Texas Parks and Wildlife. She puts in the work in all areas of her life and we wanted to ask her a few questions about her journey with running.
What inspired you to start running?
I come from a pretty competitive family. I am the third of four children, and we are all relatively athletic. I played a lot of team sports in high school and college (soccer, basketball, track, and rugby), and after college, the availability of team sports disappeared somewhat. My older sister signed up for a marathon and convinced my Dad to join as well. The race was in Orlando, FL, and I went down with my Mom to cheer them on. Unfortunately, my sister got ill the day before the race, so she gave me her bib, running shoes and running clothes to run in her place. I had never run more than 8 miles or so. I started the race, and thought, wow, this is awesome!! At mile 3, I was certain that I could handle all 26.2 on virtually no training. By mile 10, I re-thought that decision and opted to cut my race at 13.1. That was my first half marathon. From that point on for years, my family, who was living in many different parts of the country, would meet for a weekend in different cities to run a marathon together. While not all of us would run each marathon, we loved training and getting to see a city by running the marathon course. I really fell in love with the sport then.
Why did you join Trail Roots?
I joined Trail Roots in 2021 several months after having my second kid. When we moved to Austin in 2020, it was pretty hard to meet people. I want to ease back into running and found Trail Roots to be a welcoming group of runners who ran a range of paces and a variety of distances. Some of my closest friends in Austin are Trail Roots members.
“You will meet some of the most amazing people, who will truly change your life for the better and in ways that you never imagined.”
Has your training changed since joining a group?
I think my training has changed based on the stage of life I am in and what is appealing. After college, I started running because it was simple, and there was no way I was going to be left behind when my siblings were running marathons. Marathons then transitioned into triathlons and Ironmans, once again, because my sibling signed up for an Ironman, and she essentially convinced me to do one as well. Having never swum long distances or biked long distances, I signed up for one. I am noticing that I am VERY susceptible to peer pressure as I write this! Funny enough, though, I met my husband Tucker while we both were training for Ironmans, so you just never know. However, after having two kiddos, my training changed again and returned to the sport that I really enjoy best, which is running. After joining Trail Roots, I then started hanging out with all of these folks who ran ultras, and once again, not wanting to get left behind, I signed up for a 50k in late 2023. I probably never would have considered that distance had it not been for some friendly nudges from several of you!
What do you love about running?
There are so many things! I love the peace and sense of calm it brings. I do some of my best thinking when I go for a run or just run through any frustration I am feeling that day. I find that it really helps me to regain perspective. Even more than that, I love that running offers me the ability to see things I might never experience in my daily life, whether that is new neighborhoods, a cool trail, interesting wildlife, a gorgeous sunrise, fresh snow, cold rain - I have run through it all, and it is during some of those runs that I just have the biggest smile thinking to myself, how amazing is this!
What is your favorite trail to run with Trail Roots?
Ooohhh, that is a tough one! Forest Ridge is a good one.
What was your most recent race and what was the highlight? My most recent race was Salmagundi 50K (actually, I think it is 52K ;)) I had never done that distance before, so that was an exciting milestone. The absolutely best part of the race was all of the Trail Roots volunteers on the course! I came into some of those aid stations questioning my decisions leading me to that point, and TR friends just grabbed my water bottle to refill it and started handing me food to eat. They were AMAZING!!
Do you work with a coach?
Yes, I worked with Rachael! She was awesome, and got me to the start line of both Tunnel Marathon in June 2023 and Salmagundi 50k in November 2023 uninjured and feeling prepared.
What motto do you use when the going gets tough both in a race and in life?
In running, I always think to myself - “I chose this and I am so lucky to get to do this!” I look up and take in my surroundings and think to myself, wow, what a truly spectacular world we live in! Whatever “this” is that feels hard right now is temporary. It will pass. In races, especially longer ones, I have found that whatever I am currently feeling doesn’t last. I may feel amazing, but I know that won’t last. Same when things don’t feel as great - it will pass. I really think the same holds true for life generally in my opinion. Whatever I am feeling right now will pass. Savor it if it is amazing, and if it is not, know that it will pass at some point. Regardless, I try to appreciate the moment for what it is.
As a full time mother and lawyer, how do you balance life and running?
Now that it is a loaded question! :) I am not sure there ever is a “balance.” It is a constant setting and re-setting of priorities, and day by day, they change in terms of what requires my attention. When it comes to running, I know that I am a better and happier person, mother, wife, friend and lawyer when I am able to run on a consistent basis. As a result, I do my best to make this a priority, whether that means getting up early to run or blocking my calendar for a period during the day to get a run in. I also have a spouse who understands and values this as well, which helps make this happen. We trade off running days, stagger run times, hire babysitters very early on Sunday mornings, all so we can go run, as we know how important it is to each of us, especially given all of the other priorities tugging on us.
Do you have any races or goals that you’re working towards in 2024?
Unfortunately, I had to withdraw from Boston earlier this year, as a result of an injury, and I am still deciding on what fall races I want to take on. Right now, I am just trying to maintain a base and have fun running during these increasingly steamy impending summer months.
What advice would you give people who are new to running and want to join a group?
While it may sound cheesy, my experience is that it can be life changing in big ways and small ways. You will be pushed to run faster than you ever thought you could run as you chase down other members on the track or doing 1k repeats. You will never know how far you can run or how you can push yourself until you start hanging around with folks who regularly discuss their marathons, 50Ks, 100Ks, 50 milers, 100 milers, etc., and think, oh, this sounds like fun, so I should sign up for this. An unnamed TR member once told me, oh yeah, ultras are just running on lovely trails and popping out here and there for some snacks. You will have some of the most heartfelt discussions on runs with friends, as no one can spare the extra breath for small talk. And, you will meet some of the most amazing people, who will truly change your life for the better and in ways that you never imagined.