Kelly Wolf
Melia: Is this the first time you are running Kendall (Mountain Runs)?
Kelly: This is the first time I’m running Kendall and this summer is the first time I’ve been to Silverton.
M: And you recently moved up here after college right?
K: Yeah, I graduated middle of May and moved up here with my friend Erica, about a week or two after that. So I’ve been here for a few months now.
M: What attracted you to Silverton, that San Jauns maybe?
K: The San Juans definetly, 100%. Just seeing pictures of the mountains, mountain running I just knew it was a magical area. And living at elevation is like a really good training opportunity. So yeah I just moved out here for however long I feel like it.
M: And then I have to say congratulations on Speedgoat, you got second there and then Born to Run 30 mile and Crown King Scramble.
K: Yeah second place curse, seems like.
M: So you have been doing a lot more of the mountain runs and this is a Sky Race. What was it? Just wanted to try something new, what attracted you to this Sky Race?
K: Yeah, I’ve never really done a Sky Race before um, I guess what attacked me is that it is literally my backyard so, home turf. And I’ve definitely gone up that mountain a few times. So I feel like I could do pretty well at the race, yeah. I’m running out here with most of my runs have been just mountain runs like that. At that intensity just running straight up basically; I’ve been doing the right training for it.
M: Is there any pre-race traditions or superstitions you have started doing as you have been racing this year?
K: Well, I always do this pretty long warm up. I guess that like track kids would do. People at trail races probably think I’m really silly doing it just because it is like 10 minutes of just bouncing around doing skips , tuck jumps and stuff. I don’t know, stuff like that. But other than that just eat some dried fruit in the morning and drink a cup of coffee. And do my little leg routine and yeah be good to go.
M: Do you have any, because you have done the road before, where you like to stop and look out (when climbing Kendall Mountain)?
K: There is this one spot where its’ like the first time. So when you are going up your back is, well you are facing the mountain the whole time so far. Then you hit this switchback where you turn out and finally see how far you have climbed. So I love getting to that spot. Um, I feel like it is probably half way or something. And then I actually haven’t done the scramble part so I don’t exactly know where the course goes up. So I am really interested to see and get up there.
M: So you’ve been living in Silverton for a few months. Is there a favorite place that if someone is visiting Silverton for the race they could go check out?
K: As like a hike or run?
M: Yeah, anything.
K: Let’s see. Some of my favorites. Obviously Ice Lakes and Island Lake but everyone goes there so it’s probably going to be really busy. But it is super beautiful, that’s why. Columbine Lake, totally beautiful when I went up there I thought it was the prettiest place I have been yet. Really I feel like you can’t go wrong if you just look at the map, just find a lake and get up to it. They are all beautiful.
M: Did you have anything else you wanted to share?
E: Just excited for tomorrow. Excited to see, I don’t know, the Silverton runners to come out and then also people from Phoenix, from Aravaipa and just everyone. It will be cool.
M: Awesome. Best of luck, hope you enjoy it.