image: Chris Wright
Why I’m A Runner: I’m a runner mostly because it just feels so good to run. Even when it’s not epic, it still feels good to get outside, to move, to stay fit, to explore new places, to have some time by myself or with friends, to be out in the world, and it’s just so simple. So many of the other sports I do like climbing, skiing or riding bikes all have so much equipment and faffing involved, but running – even if I complicate it with heart rate monitors and watches and backpacks and whatever, is just so simple in the end. You put on shoes, you run around, maybe for a while, then you come home. It’s like the simplest form of playing outside, and it still feels that way to me whenever I’m up high on some ridgeline or exploring some quiet trail or road or checking out some idea on a map where I saw something shiny. Maybe one day when my knees hurt too much or I stop getting the little butterflies when I’m out in some drop-dead gorgeous place wishing someone else was there to see the light hit just right on the hills or the water or whatever I’ll quit, but fingers crossed that’s not coming anytime soon.
I’m Pretty Awesome At: I’m pretty awesome at still finding the simplest, most strangely enduring satisfaction in running, and that makes it feel like a gift. Even after living the internal debate on whether or not to get out the door for over twenty years now, I’m still glad almost every single time to just be out, to be moving and to feel free being a human running around. I’m also okay at staying out for a while and going uphill rather slowly, but as an alpinist/mountain guide that’s pretty much what I do anyway.
Future Goals: To keep at it and to stay away from injuries. I don’t really have any big running goals, but there are a few things here and there that I’ve always wanted to. One day I should run an actual race I guess, but I kinda like just going out and running by myself a lot too. Maybe if it melts out early I’ll finally get around to the thing I’ve wanted to do here in Bend, which is stash a bike at Tumalo Falls, and then run from my house all the way up Mrazek then down North Fork to grab the bike and ride home. I think that’d be about 25 miles and 3,500’ of climbing, which isn’t that serious, but I’ve just never quite gotten around to it. Things like that get me excited.
Random Fun Fact: It’s not that fun really, but I haven’t run in almost a month because I came home from a climbing trip jet lagged and missed a step coming down my stairs in the middle of the night and thought I broke my ankle or something. I didn’t (I had x-rays), but man that felt like it was going to be the dumbest season-ender imaginable until I thought I broke my thumb trying to learn to surf a week or two later. That wasn’t broken either but man was it swollen and bruised up and it still hurts actually. New sports are hard and dangerous, apparently. Even up against walking down the stairs running is doing pretty well I’d say.
Instagram: @now_climbing
image: Chris Wright
