Abby Mitchell
Melia: I’m Melia Coury here with Abby Mitchell and you just won our Silverton Alpine 50K today, congratulations.
Abby: Thanks so much it was a really fun morning.
M: So had you done a lot of 50Ks prior to this?
A: I hadn’t. This was actually my second 50K and my third ultra overall. I did my first 50 miler last month and my first 50K in June. So it’s been a busy summer.
M: Just packed ‘em right in.
A: Yeah totally.
M: What sparked your interest recently in getting into ultras?
A: I actually recently moved from California to Bolder (Colorado) and so one of the reasons I wanted to move there is to just be able to be in the mountains more and you know the trails here are more of a natural part of blending in that lifestyle here. So it has been really fun digging into and having as much fun in the mountains as possible.
M: Did you have a favorite part of the course today?
A: Oh man, you know it was so, coming over those passes it was so, as difficult as it was, it was so beautiful. And leaving one side and going over to another and seeing a whole new terrain was cool. Passing through all of the mining towns was awesome. It was great.
M: So had you been to Silverton prior to this?
A: Only in the wintertime. I actually have some friends down in Durango and when I moved to Bolder I actually stopped and visited them. And they actually just came and surprised me at the finish so that’s fun. But yeah, I love coming through here; it’s fun.
M: So now that it seems you have caught the ultra bug is there a race you are looking to next after this?
A: I’m actually looking to do a fastest attempt at the John Muir trail next month. Actually I’m not looking I am doing it. I leave in like a month, I need to stop using such hypothetical language.
M: It’s happening.
A: Yes, it’s happening. The permit is done. It’s in motion.
M: And are you doing it aided?
A: Yes, I’m going to do it supported. So yeah it’s going to be a fun experience. That’s why I have been squeezing the races in this summer, just kind of building up millage and getting out as much as I can. So yeah, and then after that taking some time off and who knows.
M: See where life takes you.
A: Totally yeah, maybe a 100 this year. Who knows.
M: Would you prefer to do more of a mountainous 100 then?
A: Yeah, probably. I think so, the more vert the better.
M: Do you train with a lot of vert then?
A: A good amount I would say. I mean the more you dig into the community the less you feel like you are doing. So you have friends that are doing crazy stuff and you’re like I’m not really doing that much but I am doing a decent amount.
M: It’s like my hill is big to most people but it’s tiny compared to the mountain they climbed.
A: Yeah, exactly. So I have been doing a lot up in the Rockies and peaks this summer. So it is good to just disguise the vert among a beautiful route. Like oh yeah it was a hard effort but it was so beautiful I forgot.