Name: Kristin Gablehouse Age: 42 Hometown: Lafayette, Colorado
Which Aspire Trip(s) have you participated in?
Wonderland Traverse 2018
Describe your experience, background, and enthusiasm for running and/or wilderness and backcountry experiences?
I grew up backpacking with my family. As soon as I could walk I carried my own diapers in a backpack. High school cross country is when I first found a love for running, and it wasn’t until my late 20s when I began trail running. Back in 2011, I started running ultramarathons, and have since run several 100 mile trail ultramarathons. For me the races are just an excuse to put in hours of training and spend all weekend roaming through the mountains.
What questions, concerns, or unknowns did you have going into your trip? How were they resolved?
My biggest concern going into the trip were the water crossings. I sustained a traumatic brain injury in 2015 and still have a lot of vertigo. Crossing a log bridge with water rushing underneath is far more daunting than standing at the starting line of a 100 mile ultramarathon.
How did you prepare for your trip? Given your experience would you prepare differently, if so how?
The trip was part of a big training week for a fall 100 miler, so I really didn’t change anything. I was already doing 60-70 mile training weeks at that point.
What story or description would you give to represent the group dynamic on your trip?
Everyone was out there for different reasons, and we had a variety of fitness levels and speeds. Some folks were more social than others, but everyone was supportive.
What was the most difficult moment from your trip?
The suspension bridge on day 1 was very difficult for me. I had to stop for 10 minutes once I got across so I could stop shaking and get my heart rate back down.
What advice or thoughts would you offer to someone considering signing up for an Aspire trip?
I would recommend training and preparing like you would for a race, so you can enjoy the trip as much as possible. You can get by with less training, but if you want less suffering and more vacation, train more. The heated dining tent, hot showers, and amazing food was far beyond anything I had expected.