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Member Highlight – Christie Jackson

April 26, 2022 by Renee Jacobs Leave a Comment

Interview by Chris Cloyd:

“Christie Jackson is one of the few DPMR members I knew before we connected through running. I’ve been so fortunate to meet so many wonderful friends and acquaintances through trail running in general and DPMR, specifically, and it’s always special to connect via our mutual love of singletrack. That being said, I’m proud to call Christie a friend and (for the most part) we rarely talk running! We met over bikes at the gym, even talked about triathlon (!) for a while, and she also happens to be my (excellent) optometrist! We’ve shared some fantastic miles over the years (the trails were great, but the best part was the company) at our annual 50k beer runs, at social runs at our springtime DPMR picnics, and (when I’m bold enough to join her) at DPMR speedwork sessions. Over the last couple of years, Christie’s put on a lot of speed leading DPMR’s weekly speed sessions while also training for an unfathomable (to me) amount of road marathons. She finds time for all of this while also managing a successful family eyecare practice in Truckee, raising a beautiful family, and contributing to our club in so many ways. From where I’m sitting, Christie’s grace on the trails is only superseded by her grace as a professional, mother and wife, and community member. If you don’t know her yet, read on and come out to our next speedwork session on May 4th, introduce yourself, and try to keep up!”

Christie and her family on a Christmas Family Ski Day 2020 Photo credit: random skier

Where are you from and where do you live now? Born and raised in Irvine, California. I moved to North Lake Tahoe in 2007 to live the “ski bum” lifestyle for a few glorious years before heading down to Berkeley for grad school. I’ve been living in Truckee since 2014.

When did you begin running and/or long-distance running? Why? My introduction to running was watching my grandma run marathons. She is an incredible runner and even in her late eighties still competes in the Senior Olympics. I guess I’ve always felt running is in my genes. I joined the cross country team in high school and later went on to race for UCSB xc and track team, specializing in the steeplechase. Like any long-term relationship I have had my ups and downs with the sport, but it has always been incredibly important to my mental and physical health…I am so grateful to get out in nature and move my body in this way.

Do you race? Does racing motivate you? If not racing, what motivates you? I love racing and it absolutely motivates me. The problem is that I’m very competitive with myself and hate to race if I’m not feeling in shape for it. During grad school I was competing as an Elite in triathlon and really learned how to stop approaching each event in a state of anxiety and instead show up to the start line ready to “thrive”. Those were definitely my most fun years of racing. Then came two kids and now that my youngest is 3 years old I am finally starting to feel some of my competitive spirit kick back in. I’m looking forward to running more in this trail racing community.

Christie on the home stretch at the California International Marathon 2021 Photo credit FlashFrame

Do you have any dream races (either hoping to qualify for or get selected for)? I’m excited to dabble in trail racing and see where it takes me. I’d also love to do an Otillo swimrun.

Do you have a favorite on-trail food or nutrition strategy and favorite post-run meal or beverage? Luckily my stomach can handle a variety of foods when running (I’m guessing that will change if I start running longer distances). During the marathon I alternate between some kind of chew and some version of Gu. I am pretty consistent with drinking a refreshing beer the night before any race! And I highly recommend the Horchata Recovery Drink Mix by Skratch Labs, so tasty!

Do you have a favorite recipe to share? This is seriously delicious veggie lasagna. Don’t let the cottage cheese dissuade you…it’s so good! https://cookieandkate.com/best-vegetable-lasagna-recipe/

What was your favorite running experience this past year? I forced my husband (who typically only runs to advance a ball towards a goal) to train for a trail run together in Kauai. We did an incredible 14 mile loop from the Nu’alolol trailhead.

Christie trail running Nu’alolo Kai, Kauai. Photo by Pat Jackson

What was your most challenging/ character-building experience this past year? I’d have to say the buildup for the CIM marathon. It was the first time in a decade that I’ve done consistent physical and “mental” training. It can be daunting to hold myself accountable for a goal time and I am so happy I did. The race was a success and I’m excited by the progress I made.

What are your upcoming racing/adventure plans? I am super pumped to race Broken Arrow 26K. I’ve registered for my first 50K at Overlook and really hoping to break the 3-hour barrier in the marathon this year.

What do you do for a living? Is it hard to fit in time for training? I’m an optometrist and business owner of Truckee Family Eyecare. Yup, it is certainly hard to juggle my work hours with family life and running. I don’t put in a ton of mileage, but I enjoy the miles I get. Now that I am no longer chronically sleep deprived from young children I am able to get early morning runs in. I’m constantly trying to tamper down the “mom guilt” when I purposely carve out a couple hours for myself to run – I am sure other parents can relate. It’s a balancing act that I am getting better at.

What led you to join DPMR? I joined DPMR in 2014 when I moved back into town and wanted to learn new trails and meet other runners.

What has been your favorite DPMR experience so far? Love Chris Cloyd’s Pub Runs each fall even though I’ve never completed the entire thing. I’ve also enjoyed kicking off the season by leading the morning track sessions – it’s a great group of people!

Favorite local trail? Probably the Donner Rim Trail/Castle Peak area. I’m also a big fan of running from my house to the Sawtooth trails.

Do you have a mental training technique, mantra, or similar that you rely on to combat the mentally trying times of a longer run? I count my steps to get up a hard hill or difficult patch. I found Deena Kastor’s book “Let Your Mind Run: A Memoir of Thinking My Way to Victory” to be incredibly helpful at learning how to reverse a tiny negative thought into something positive. You have to be diligent about it, but I’ve noticed amazing results from those mental tricks.

Do you listen to audio while you run and if so, what have you been enjoying lately? I listen to podcasts for the first half of my long runs. I’ve been enjoying Laughter Permitted with Julie Foudy. She interviews so many amazing women athletes and shares their incredible stories. Highly recommend!

Recovery technique(s) that you swear by? Well… I’ll admit that I hate stretching, I don’t foam roll and unless there is a nearby creek I don’t ice either. Despite that, I am good at listening to my body and addressing little pains with PT and/or chiropractor before they become something major.

Do you have a favorite piece of running gear? The Thule Urban Glide 2 running stroller. That thing was incredible for running with a baby.

What other outdoor or indoor interests do you have? I sure do enjoy reading, traveling and drinking wine with my girlfriends. I usually take a couple days off of running a week to either swim, bike, ski, climb or skate.

Any interesting facts about yourself you would like to share? I took up the sport of ice hockey this year and absolutely LOVE it.

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May
31
Tue
5:45 pm DPMR Weekly Social Run & Hangout... @ Trout Creek Pocket Park
DPMR Weekly Social Run & Hangout... @ Trout Creek Pocket Park
May 31 @ 5:45 pm – 7:00 pm
DPMR Weekly Social Run & Hangout @ Alibi Public House, Truckee @ Trout Creek Pocket Park
We are excited to create even more opportunity for connections for Tahoe/Truckee mountain runners by kicking off a weekly social run on Tuesday evenings starting on May 17th to go through our 2022 running season until[...]
Jun
1
Wed
6:30 am Morning Speed & Hill Work with P... @ Carpenter Valley
Morning Speed & Hill Work with P... @ Carpenter Valley
Jun 1 @ 6:30 am – 8:00 am
Morning Speed & Hill Work with Peter Fain @ Carpenter Valley
Join Coach Peter Fain Wednesdays at 6:30am sharp for a “no-host unofficial” morning speed & hill work session at various dirt trail  locations. This week’s run will be at Carpenter Valley. Meet at Alder Creek[...]
Jun
5
Sun
8:00 am The Donner Party Mountain Runner... @ West End Beach Pavilion, Truckee CA
The Donner Party Mountain Runner... @ West End Beach Pavilion, Truckee CA
Jun 5 @ 8:00 am – 2:00 pm
The Donner Party Mountain Runners Summer Picnic, presented by Tahoe Mountain Sports @ West End Beach Pavilion, Truckee CA
Calling all running friends to our FREE Summer Picnic, Kids Race, and Group Runs!! All members are invited to join us for our Summer Picnic on June 5, 2022 from 11am – 2pm at the[...]
Jun
7
Tue
5:45 pm DPMR Weekly Social Run & Hangout... @ Trout Creek Pocket Park
DPMR Weekly Social Run & Hangout... @ Trout Creek Pocket Park
Jun 7 @ 5:45 pm – 7:00 pm
DPMR Weekly Social Run & Hangout @ Alibi Public House, Truckee @ Trout Creek Pocket Park
We are excited to create even more opportunity for connections for Tahoe/Truckee mountain runners by kicking off a weekly social run on Tuesday evenings starting on May 17th to go through our 2022 running season until[...]
Jun
8
Wed
6:30 am Morning Speed & Hill Work with P...
Morning Speed & Hill Work with P...
Jun 8 @ 6:30 am – 8:00 am
Morning Speed & Hill Work with Peter Fain LOCATION TBD
Join Coach Peter Fain Wednesdays at 6:30am sharp for a “no-host unofficial” morning speed & hill work session at various dirt trail  locations. Contact Peter Fain for location information and status at runondirt@gmail.com This run[...]
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dpmrunners

April Newsletter is out! Listen to board members R April Newsletter is out!
Listen to board members Renee, @ycamjack and @aude_hofleitner talk about the club and the great plans for 2022 thanks to the awesome folks from @themile99interview !

Talking about plans for 2022, join us for the Summer Picnic on June 5 and the Newbies on Tuesday, lead by @_buelna_ and co-hosted by @tahoemountainsports 
(also don't forget track on Wednesday mornings!)
And as we're all getting excited about race seasons and the upcoming party at @canyonsenduranceruns , meet our member @armstrong81.denver who will be running the 100k.

We also have the #bookofthemonth featuring A Beautiful Work in Progress from @themirnavator and opportunities to give back to the community by signing up for the @brokenarrowskyrace Elite Housing program.

#unafraid #trailrunning #runningcommunity #runninglife #runningmotivation #donnerpartymountainrunners #tahoe #tahoerunners #mountainrunners #DPMR #TruckeeTahoeTrailRunning #WeRunTrails #ultrarunning #raceseason #trailrace #canyons100k
The Donner Party Mountain Runners is excited to pr The Donner Party Mountain Runners is excited to present the inaugural Pt Mariah Trail Marathon.

Join us on Saturday, August 6th in Truckee / Soda Springs, CA for the Point Mariah Trail Marathon! There is a full marathon option as well as a 2-person "partner" marathon option.

With immense gratitude to @truckeedonnerlandtrust, the course will primarily run through the protected Royal Gorge land near Soda Springs, CA. Special thanks to our other land use partners at @skisodasprings and @tahoenationalforest.

Point Mariah offers expansive views of the Granite Chief Wilderness, the Pacific Crest Trail between Sugar Bowl and Squaw Valley, and the breathtaking Royal Gorge of the North Fork of the American River (one of the deepest canyons in the western US).

All the details for this fun, unique, and challenging trail race can be found on our website: https://donnerpartymountainrunners.com/point-mariah-trail-marathon/

Sign up on UltraSignup: https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=93003

We hope to see you in August -- as a racer or volunteer!

#unafraid #trailrunning #runningcommunity #runninglife #runningmotivation #donnerpartymountainrunners #tahoe #tahoerunners #mountainrunners #DPMR #TruckeeTahoeTrailRunning #WeRunTrails #ultrarunning #trailrace #trailmarathon #sodasprings #royalgorge
The March Newsletter is out with the most amazing The March Newsletter is out with the most amazing content. You don't want to miss it! https://tinyurl.com/dpmrmarch

The New Point Mariah Trail Marathon organized by DPMR. 
Newbies runs and Track workouts returning in the spring. 
Volunteer Opportunities. 
Tips for backpacking with kids. 
The Book of The Month presenting Mental Training for Ultrarunning by Addie Bracy.
A highlight of Angela Stark who recently joined the board. 
Discussion about the best traction devices. 
A race report of Racing Gnome '22

#unafraid #trailrunning #runningcommunity #runninglife #runningmotivation #donnerpartymountainrunners #tahoe #tahoerunners #mountainrunners #DPMR #TruckeeTahoeTrailRunning #WeRunTrails #ultrarunning #bookofthemonth #racereport #pointmariah #trailrace #trailmarathon
Racing Gnome was back this weekend. Congrats to al Racing Gnome was back this weekend. Congrats to all the runners and thanks to the volunteers who made this possible. And who knows, maybe a snow race also called for a short break in the dry streak...?

📸: @travelwoo @ispyfred 

#unafraid #trailrunning #runningcommunity #runninglife #runningmotivation #donnerpartymountainrunners #tahoe #tahoerunners #mountainrunners #DPMR #TruckeeTahoeTrailRunning #WeRunTrails #ultrarunning #snowshoe #racing #flurries
The DPMR February newsletter is out (link in bio)! The DPMR February newsletter is out (link in bio)! Dive into some great info on our snowshoe race, ultra crewing advice, 2022 goals talk, weather musings, the book of the month, a COVID 2022 Q&A with Dr. Andy Pasternak @tubadrew, and get to know @kimyamauchi!
Add your name to our email newsletter list on the website to make sure you receive it. Enjoy!

#unafraid #trailrunning #runningcommunity #runninglife #runningmotivation #donnerpartymountainrunners #tahoe #tahoerunners #mountainrunners #DPMR #TruckeeTahoeTrailRunning #WeRunTrails #ultrarunning #runninggoals #snowshoe #newsletter #bookofthemonth #runningbook #covid_19 #weather #racecrew #racinggnome
The Racing Gnome Snowshoe Race is Back! Always a The Racing Gnome Snowshoe Race is Back! 

Always a fun and challenging event– join us for the return of the Racing Gnome Snowshoe on February 13th! There will be two events- a 5K and a 10K distance race. All experience levels are encouraged to race!

As a benefit of membership- this event is FREE for DPMR members and just $10 for non-members.

Thanks to a generous donation by Alpenglow Sports, as another benefit of membership we have a limited number of snowshoes that are available for use. These will be available on a first-come-first-served basis and we cannot guarantee they will be available for your race. Several local Truckee-Tahoe shops also rent snowshoes if you don’t already own a pair.

Check out details 
https://donnerpartymountainrunners.com/snowshoe-races/

📸: Helen Pelster

#unafraid #trailrunning #runningcommunity #runninglife #runningmotivation #donnerpartymountainrunners #tahoe #tahoerunners #mountainrunners #DPMR #TruckeeTahoeTrailRunning #WeRunTrails #ultrarunning #snowshoe #snowshoerunning #snoeshoeracing #racing #racinggnome
The snow is here... Time to get out the snowshoes The snow is here... Time to get out the snowshoes and enjoy winter Wonderland! Perfect day on the Donner lake rim trail and humans and our furry friend had a blast! Join us for our next snowshoe group run (or hike depending on conditions !). And thanks to @alpenglowsports members can borrow a pair of @atlassnowshoes for free!!

#unafraid #trailrunning #runningcommunity #runninglife #runningmotivation #donnerpartymountainrunners #tahoe #tahoerunners #mountainrunners #DPMR #TruckeeTahoeTrailRunning #WeRunTrails #ultrarunning #snowshoe #winterwonderland
Our member appréciation picnic was a blast : beau Our member appréciation picnic was a blast : beautiful trails, great company and tasty tacos from Golden Rotisserie... What else should we ask for? Even the dogs enjoyed the party!!

Thanks to board member Kathy @justimaginemktg for putting the event together and everyone who volunteered and helped. 
Thanks to Helen Pelster for capturing the moment 📸. 
We also got to celebrate one special member : our president and #unafraid leader Diane @ispyfred 
Thanks @keeptruckeegreen for the reusable plates. 

#trailrunning #runningcommunity #runninglife #runningmotivation #donnerpartymountainrunners #tahoe #tahoerunners #mountainrunners #DPMR #TruckeeTahoeTrailRunning #WeRunTrails #ultrarunning #picnic #runningparty #memberappreciation #legacytrail #truckeeriver
**End of Year Member Picnic & Run This Sunday!** **End of Year Member Picnic & Run This Sunday!**

Yeah, it's last minute but that's how we roll (and run) these days! The weather forecast looks great and we'd love to see you this Sunday for some good old-fashioned DPMR socializing.

We'll meet for a group run of up to 10 miles: out and back from Truckee Regional Park - along the Legacy Trail and onto the dirt road along South River Street or maybe the Sawtooth Trail.

Catered picnic starts at noon. Look for us along the river at the Lower River BBQ site. Special thanks to Keep Truckee Green for providing the reusable dishware for this event!

**Date: Sunday, Nov 21st
Time: Group run at 10am, Picnic 12pm-3pm
Location: Lower River BBQ/Picnic Area, Truckee River Regional Park**

This event is FREE for members and their families! No one goes hungry ... so please RSVP to help us get a count for food and drink.

RSVP Here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/dpmr-end-of-season-picnic-extravaganza-tickets-34187454597

#unafraid #trailrunning #runningcommunity #runninglife #runningmotivation #donnerpartymountainrunners #tahoe #tahoerunners #mountainrunners #DPMR #TruckeeTahoeTrailRunning #WeRunTrails #ultrarunning #picnic #party
October News Letter is out. Check out the new arti October News Letter is out. Check out the new articles on the website. 
Hear from DPMR Board Member Steve about the Strategic Planning session he lead to determine our strategy and goals for the next 2-3 years, and to identify the underlying values and principles that will guide us in our decisions and activities
Meet Mike Turner (@ canyonbagger) through his Member highlight
If you are looking for treats, the Cowboy Cookies recipe is here for your, courtesy of Renee.
We also have an inspiring race report of the Castle Peak 100K showing that Meggie is #unafraid
And for our book of the month, see the notes from @aude_hofleitner about Chasing Twilight @bestrunningjournal with a special interview of one of the author, who you likely already know… our own @adamkimble818 

#unafraid #trailrunning #runningcommunity #runninglife #runningmotivation #donnerpartymountainrunners #tahoe #tahoerunners #mountainrunners #DPMR #TruckeeTahoeTrailRunning #WeRunTrails #ultrarunning #bookofthemonth #castlepeak100k #cookies #fueling #trailrace #racereport
Happy snow day... Hilloween is upon us!! Join DPMR Happy snow day... Hilloween is upon us!! Join DPMR for its Halloween hill climb Sunday October 31st!! 

See website and Facebook event for details. 

#unafraid #trailrunning #runningcommunity #runninglife #runningmotivation #donnerpartymountainrunners #tahoe #tahoerunners #mountainrunners #DPMR #TruckeeTahoeTrailRunning #WeRunTrails #ultrarunning #hilloween #halloween #hillrunning #vert
Run, friends, 🍁🍂 and 🍻! It's time for the Run, friends, 🍁🍂 and 🍻! It's time for the 2021 DPMR Pub to pub run. See you at the brewery and barrel house of @alibialeworks in incline Sunday October 17th at 8am. 
Check out the post on Facebook or on the website. 

#unafraid #trailrunning #runningcommunity #runninglife #runningmotivation #donnerpartymountainrunners #tahoe #tahoerunners #mountainrunners #DPMR #TruckeeTahoeTrailRunning #WeRunTrails #ultrarunning #runandbrunch #runandbeer #alibialeworks #inclinevillage #pubrun
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