Timmy Parr
Melia: I’m here with Timmy Parr or Tim Parr?
Timmy: Timmy.
M: You prefer Timmy?
T: Well Timmy is kind of my race name as well as my good friends call me Timmy.
M: And, you ran Kendall (Mountain Run) last year?
T: I did last year.
M: Do you feel pretty good going into it, similar to last year’s shape and things like that?
T: I do. I feel it will be a good day. There’s some competition out there but it should be a solid race with all of us and we will see how it goes.
M: Is there a particular section you are looking forward to the most?
T: Probably once we get above tree line, so mile four to six or so in there.
M: Yeah, when you get out into the basin area.
T: Yes, it’s beautiful and it’s in altitude. And I run better in altitude. Down in Silverton there is too much air I need it real thin. It will be perfect at that altitude. Around 11,000 to 12,000 feet right in there.
M: I know back in 2009 when you won Leadville in like 17:30 or so and then you came out to Javelina (Jundred) in 2014 but now it seems like you are focusing more on shorter races. Do you enjoy them more or do you think you will do some longer ones again?
T: I do enjoy them more. But then again I also do better at them so maybe that’s why I enjoy them more. I’ve kind of made mountains and marathons my focus. And anything in between. So Kendall Mountain falls into that category with high altitude, and hour forty race. I have just found that I am better at altitude. I’m better at some of the shorter races or at least I have been running better. Doesn’t mean I won’t go back to 100’s. Last year I decided to take a year off from 100’s and focus strictly on the Sky Running series.
M: It worked really well, you won it.
T: Yeah, won the Sky Running series, so it worked out well focusing on it. This year I have a similar goal.
M: Yes I noticed that you were also signed up for our Flagstaff Sky Race. So you get to do the (Silverton) Colorado and Flagstaff.
T: And also the Rut 25K. So hopefully with those few I will be able to podium again at the Sky Running Series.
M: That would be awesome. What is it about the Sky Running races that kind of keeps you coming back?
T: The toughness of it. The mental toughness, the toughness of the races, the scenery. How extreme they are and how different they are. The Rut a lot of tailless and shale. Here tomorrow in Silverton we are running on a road for a while but then get close to 13,000 feet and then its off road, off trail you are just scrambling to the top of the peak, not easy.
M: Yeah, almost on all fours sometimes.
T: Little bit.
M: Just depends on the day maybe.
T: And where you are at.
M: Do you have any pre-race stuff that you normally do? Or just relax into it?
T: Take it easy. I plan on going and eating a nice good dinner later on and getting some good sleep. Normally that helps before races. Providing you can sleep. Sometimes it can be difficult to actually fall asleep.
M: Well and you have your family with you this time around. Does that ever change your routine?
T: Well it will. I often just like to sleep in the back of my truck. With the family up here we decided to get a nice hotel room instead and just make it a fun vacation. It will change the routine up a little but not too much. I’m a big believer in preparing for the race weeks and months in advance and not the day before and the day of.
M: That’s a good moto there.
T: Yeah good philosophy.
M: So since you have been to Silverton before do you have a favorite place? I’m kind of getting everyone’s favorite destinations.
T: Let’s see, favorite destination here, well I love coming to Silverton just to get up into the mountains. So a lot of people might say coffee shop but normally I come to Silverton and I love the town. But I also love getting up into the Alpine Loop area and Island Lake that might be my most favorite beautiful place around here.
M: Not bad to look at.
T: No.
M: Awesome. Well I hope you have a great day tomorrow and have fun on that mountain.
T: Thank you it’s going to be a great day and should be a good race.