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January 2019-Sandy Burns

Sandy Burns

Q: Tell me a little bit about yourself. (Where you’re from, what you’re doing now…etc)

A:  I was born in Belle Fourche but grew up in Rapid City. I attended Steven’s High School and the SDSM&T for 2 years and then graduated from the Colorado School of Mines. I lived in the Boulder area for awhile and moved back to Rapid about 25 years ago.

Q: How long have you been running and how did you get started?

A:  I never really ran when I was younger. At my 50th birthday party, a group of my women friends were sitting around the fire pit having a cocktail or two and decided we should do something big for our birthdays that year. After several suggestions of jumping out of a plane and other crazy ideas, we decided that we should run a half marathon. We choose the Deadwood Mickelson half. Soon after that, I found a training for the half by the Runner’s Club and signed up. A few others from the group signed up too. I could barely run more than a minute. I was so happy to find out that it was okay to run and walk. Tim Raben was so patient with me and kept running with me even when I was complaining about the hills. Out of my friends, I was the only one that finished the training and ran in the DMM half. I wasn’t very fast but I was learning to like it. I’ve continued running for 9 years now.

Q: Would you rather run with a group or alone?

A:  Definitely with a group. Even though I can’t talk when I run, I really enjoy the others that can keep the conversation going. I have a great group of friends known as the “Wild Bunch”. We’re all at different levels but we encourage each other and really enjoy the post run get togethers.

Q: Do you prefer roads or trails?  

A: Love the trails. Lesley Warren introduced me to most of the trails. They help keep me sane!

Q: What is your favorite distance or race?

A:  My favorite distance is 5-8 miles. It doesn’t take all day and I feel like I really accomplished something when I’m done.

Q: How do you stay motivated when you don’t want to run?

A: That is a problem. I depend on my friends.

Q: If I didn’t run I’d ………..

A:  Hike but it feels slow now that I usually run the trails.

Q: What do you find to be the most rewarding thing about running?

A:  It clears my mind and I feel great when I’m done.

Q: What is your favorite running memory?

A:  Coming over the mountains and seeing the view of the valley at the Big Horn 30k. . I may have hated that Lesley Warren made me run that far but it was an incredible run.

Q: Do you have a pre-race ritual?

A:  Coffee and a protein drink. Anything else and there will be consequences.

Q: What’s the most valuable lesson you have learned from running?

A:  That I can still be called a runner even if I run/walk most of the trail runs.

Q: What are your running goals for the future?

A: We’re talking about doing a ragnar.

Q: What advice do you have for new runners?

A:  Do what feels right for you. There are no wrong ways to be a runner.