Member Highlight- Kathy Slocum

I had no idea what my new friend looked like. I met her somewhere between the Cal2 and Cal1 Aid Stations as the climbing becomes relentless on the way back out of the Canyon. She was chipper and chatty I was just thankful for someone else to do the talking and keep my mind off of the final miles. She peeled away on Main Street, finishing strong. Thankfully she found me at the finish and introduced herself and we’ve shared a lot of trail miles since then. She’s still always chipper and I’m still always chasing but if you have a chance to run with her you’ll always finish happy. I’m delighted to introduce you to my friend Kathy and one of DPMR’s newest Board members.

Where are you from and where do you live now?
I was born in Mountain View, CA and moved to the east coast (Connecticut) in 1976, then moved to Tahoe in 1991. I lived in Reno for many years, raised two sons and returned to Incline Village in 2017.

When did you begin running and/or long-distance running, if that applies? Why?
When I was 9 years old I started running around the block near our house. We had weekly runs at nearby Foothill College that I went to with my dad. He was an avid runner and enjoyed marathons. We moved to Connecticut when I was a teenager and I played sports in high school and also supplemented it with running. I have always found solace and often say I like everyone else better after I go running.

Do you race? Does racing motivate you? If not racing, what motivates you?
I enjoyed racing in the PAUSATF long distance series and did for many years both long and short distances. Just to clarify, what I mean as long is marathon and 50k distance. I have signed up for the TRT 55k this summer. It is one of my favorites. I have also enjoyed the Hood to Coast relay for many years with the Tahoe Trail Babes and still participate in RTO.

Do you have any dream races (either hoping to qualify for or get selected for)?
I would like to run the London and Chicago marathons.

What was the best running advice you’ve received?
Listen to your body and put it in writing. Journaling my workouts helps give me the confidence in my training that I am ready and prepared for a big event. Oh- and always remember it is supposed to be fun.

Do you have a favorite on-trail food or nutrition strategy and favorite post-run meal or beverage?
For energy bars I like Tahoe Trail Bars and something a little more substantial. My favorite after a long run is chilled, fresh cut watermelon chunks.

Do you have a favorite recipe to share?
Sweet Potato Bars by Jenny Weisberg
1 ¼ C unsweetened shredded coconut
2 c old fashioned oats
½ c sugar
½ t baking powder
½ c semisweet chocolate chips
¼ c cornstarch
1 ⅓ c sweet potato  (white ones, not orange )
¼ c melted butter
2t vanilla
2 t cinnamon
Combine first six ingredients in food processor and grind about a minute until finely ground. In a separate bowl, combine cornstarch, and puree with butter, vanilla and cinnamon. Add oat mixture to sweet potato mixture (add milk if the batter is difficult to mix)  Place batter into greased 8×8 pan and bake at 350 for 30 minutes.

What was your favorite running experience this past year?
One of my favorite runs is Mt. Rose to Brockway and last summer the day we ran it was a spectacular smoke free day!

What do you do for a living? Is it hard to fit in time for training?
I started my own business, Just Imagine Marketing and Design in 1997. I was a single mom raising two boys and I needed a flexible schedule. I was able to run mid mornings which is my favorite time of the day. During the winter, I am an alpine skiing coach at Northstar.

What led you to join DPMR?
I joined years ago when it first got started because I like meeting fellow runners and supporting a running, active community. In 2021 I look forward to serving on the board.

What has been your favorite DPMR experience so far?
The annual picnic and the morning speed workouts. I don’t know that the speed workouts are my favorite but they really help with my running. I was often told if you want to run fast you have to practice running fast. Duh

Favorite local trail?
Incline Flume and TRT. One of the things I love about Tahoe is a familiar trail such as TRT looks completely different in the winter. It transforms into a completely different adventure on snowshoes or skis. I don’t run much in the winter and it is a nice change.

Do you have a favorite piece of running gear?
I have been using the Injinji toe socks the last couple of years and they work well for preventing blisters. I began using them in 2019 while my husband and I thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail, Yep, over 2000 miles of backpacking. It is very different load compared to a hydration pack. After a few days of rain my feet started to blister and our next resupply I bought a pair. I have now completely switched over.

What other outdoor indoor interests?
Camping, exploring, skiing, mountain biking and new this year one wheeling.