In the "Spotlight" with Rachel

Meet Rachel from San Diego California...She finished Nanny Goat 100 miler in 25:27:12!!!  Rachel made Nanny Goat 100 miler look effortless, fun, and jazzy!  Rachel has a lot of style and she's cute too!

I was the girl who despised the “mile” run in Junior high and some of high school. I was gasping within minutes, although I was quite fit. Doctors blew it off as exercise-induce asthma and gave me an inhaler; it didn’t help. After years of frustration, I was correctly diagnosed, I had vocal chord dysfunction. For part of my therapy, I also began doing what I once feared, running. I remember calling my dad, in tears, the first time I ran a mile straight. I heard about a 15k run in Coronado and knew I had to try.

I came in 10th to last out of over 1,000 people, but I am positive I had one of the biggest smiles crossing the finish line. I continued running. It became spiritual, my time with God, myself, and nature. In January 2006, while I was running the Rock n’ Roll half marathon, my vocal chords closed at mile 4. I nearly passed out, and an ambulance came. My dad met up with me to give me a hug and encouragement. I pressed on and finished. At 16 years old I ran the Rock n’ Roll marathon in 4:57. Months after, I ran the Women’s Nike marathon with my mom ( her first marathon).

 After marathoning for a year, I decided give something new a try; triathlons. After hearing about the “ Ironman” triathlon, I KNEW I had to do it. November,2008, I became one of the youngest girls to ever finish an “official Ironman”. I finished in a wonder woman outifit, and tears rolling down my face. My grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles, and brothers were at the finish line. The first year of college brought on new struggles; room-mates, caf food, hard classes and boys. This is around the time an eating disorder began. I ran less, and was constantly low on energy. I signed up for my first ultra ( PCT 50 mile) near the end of my Freshman year. I was curious to see just how far I could go. The race was a disaster. My camelback was too big I realized, and I often stopped because of stabbing back pain. I was not prepared for the distance. I dropped at mile 32, dehydrated and grumpy.

Two things hit me about this race, the people and the beauty of being out running on trails. I got a picture with Catra Corbett (and talked to her for a while) , and was encouraged by Jakob Herrman. These people are stopping for pictures during a race?? HAHA! I finished my first 50 with Jakob Herrman’s help a few months later. At this time the thought of running a 100, started crossing my mind…. I DNF’d my 1st 100 attempt at Javelina Jundred 2010, but what I learned through that race has helped me grow tremendously as a runner. February 2011, at the age of 20 I ran and finished my first 100 mile run, The Rocky Road 100. With lots of friends help and hugs, I had a blast. My last loop ( 85-100) were miles I will never forget. I realized just how far I came, not just in this race, but how running has changed my life. I can do things I put my mind too!

This past weekend I finished Nanny Goat 100 miler in 25:27:12. Though a few low points occurred, I focused on the finish line the whole time. Attitude is everything during ultras. A friend texted me the day before the race, “ Just stay positive and it will happen!!!!!” Every mile is a gift, every step an accomplishment. I am in my last year studying at Point Loma Nazarene and am looking forward to finishing Javelina Jundred this year. I hope to be a wellness coach/personal trainer and encourage people to find something they are passionate about. There is so much more to life than running, however I often feel most alive when I run. Smile through pain, and celebrate that we are able to participate in these events.

-Rachel-