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Member Highlight – Kelly Fuson

June 1, 2022 by Steve Woo Leave a Comment

Intro by Steve Woo

Some people try to avoid obstacles, while others see them as a challenge but only something they need to take on once, and never to do again. Then there’s those who choose to face the same obstacles over and over again – that’s Kelly Fuson and one of the first things I learned about her. Yes, she’s into OCR (obstacle course racing) – big time. 

While it seems like Kelly has been a part of DPMR for longer, it was only about a year ago that she showed up at the first DPMR newbies run of the season looking to get more running in, but also to connect and immerse herself in the community. Over the past year, she’s done just that, and has been among the most active first year members with her presence at DPMR events from runs to races to volunteering. I’ve had the pleasure to get to know her over this past year not just as an athlete/runner but the person she is.

As you will quickly find, running is just a part of what Kelly does to stay active. While she will drop in on anything from a 5K to 50K trail race, her primary focus is OCR and specifically Spartan series racing of which she is a seasoned veteran having competed in 36 races and counting (she plans to do 8 this year!). She’s also all in as an avid climber and snowboarder (who put me to shame for number of days we put on our passes!). 

Inside the athlete, is a genuine and giving person with a good heart who is loyal to her friends and the causes she believes in. What sticks in my memory is DPMR’s first trail clean up day last year on Brockway Summit, where Kelly was noticeably one of the few, if only newbie members to show up and volunteer. She actually reminded me about it that morning and got me to go just as I was heading out for a run!  That morning we watched her pull a giant object out of the forest – an old discarded TV!  We joked it was just OCR training for her! (google Atlas Ball or Bucket Carry). We laughed about it over lunch and then she was off to fulfill another commitment to meet up with a friend at Palisades! 

Beyond the running community and trails, you’ll see Kelly supporting other great causes and contributing to other areas within our community as well, including the Humane Society along with her pup Pixel.

When she’s not conquering obstacle courses, running, climbing, or chasing pow, Kelly’s juggling time zones as a global marketer for one of the largest companies in the world, and rallying friends for theme parties and trivia nights.

If you’re considering jumping into a Spartan race, Kelly’s our resident expert. But be careful – if you bring it up, she’ll rope you in! I had the pleasure of spectating her at the Palisades Spartan race. It was inspirational to watch her run, climb things, throw spears, and carry massive weighted objects!  (Yes, she’s holding me to my commitment to do one.)

A well balanced, dedicated, and determined individual, it is such a great pleasure to have Kelly as part of DPMR and as a friend.

Kelly doing the Bucket Carry in the Hawaii Spartan Race

Where are you from and where do you live now?

I was born and raised in Sacramento, CA and I feel so lucky to now be living in Truckee which was always a fun place to visit growing up.

When did you begin running and/or long-distance running, if that applies? Why?

I’ve been a runner for as long as I can remember. I loved doing the mile run in school and I was always faster than the other girls so when I was in 8th grade my PE teacher let me run the mile with the boys, which of course was an opportunity for other kids to tease me, but it didn’t stop me from loving the sport. I started running competitively in high school when I joined the XC team and specialized in the 800 meter race in track and field. I took a break from running in college but picked it back up in my twenties which is when I decided to try my hand at half and full marathons.

Do you race? Does racing motivate you? If not racing, what motivates you?

Yes I love to race! I’ve never been the fastest but I’m always the most reliable. I often have other racers tell me at the end that they were unofficially using me as their pacer. I like challenging myself and inspiring others.

Kelly on her way to clearing the Tyrolean Traverse at the 2021 North Lake Tahoe Spartan race at Palisades. Photo credit: Steve Woo

Do you have any dream races (either hoping to qualify for or get selected for)?

I would like to do more races in Europe. I’ve done the Prague and Vienna half marathons and aside from making sure I don’t trip on the cobblestone I really loved the passion that Europeans bring to the sport and the scenery that you get to run through.

Do you have a favorite on-trail food or nutrition strategy and favorite post-run meal or beverage?

For ultra running I try my best to eat “real” food and my go-to trail snack is a rolled up tortilla with peanut butter. I’ve never had any trouble eating while running thankfully, let’s be honest, food is why I run! My favorite post-run beverage is milk chocolate and you can’t go wrong with a good cheeseburger. My nutrition strategy depends on the length of the race, the terrain, and the weather, but in general I try to consume calories every 3 miles or 45 minutes. I have done a few races where I didn’t bring enough calories and there’s nothing worse than hearing your stomach growl and getting a little lightheaded when you’re just a few miles from the finish.

Do you have a favorite recipe to share?

I’m not much of a cook, I like to stick with the basics, and my favorite pre-race breakfast is hot oatmeal with a heaping spoonful of peanut butter and a dash of honey.

What was your favorite running experience this past year? 

I managed to make it back to Oahu, Hawaii for the Spartan race in August and it’s the most stunning race venue I’ve been to. It takes place at the Kualoa Ranch where they’ve filmed a bunch of movies including Jurassic Park and you run by a lot of the movie props throughout the course, including giant dinosaur bones!

What was your most challenging/ character-building experience this past year?

The Broken Arrow Skyrace is always a humbling experience. I thought that living in Truckee full time would give me an advantage, and I suppose on a small scale it did, but the course never fails to test your willpower and risk tolerance. Downhill is where I shine, but with the new course that took us down the rocky single track, I spent almost as much time on the downhill as the uphill for fear of tripping. I’ve seen people trip and split open their heads on that trail before and it’s hard to keep that visual out of my mind.

What are your upcoming racing/adventure plans?

I’m headed back to Montana in early May to do the Spartan Beast in Big Fork. It takes place on an Elk preserve and it’s very rugged terrain (I got lost the last time I did it in 2019). I’m also doing the back-to-back Super/Sprint Spartan races in Monterey in early June, which is always a favorite in California that the pros usually show up for. That should all prepare me well for a regularly-scheduled Broken Arrow 26k in mid-June, followed by a brief break before fall races.

What do you do for a living? Is it hard to fit in time for training?

I work in the field of channel marketing for Nest smart home products. It historically involved a lot of travel across the globe which made training difficult. Thankfully I’m able to bring my full self to work and my colleagues know that I’m an athletic person and are understanding when I block off a long lunch or late afternoon to get in a run before it gets dark outside. Every now and then I’m able to convince them to take a HIIT class with me as well.

What led you to join DPMR? 

I first learned about DPMR when I did the Racing Gnome Snowshoe Race several years ago. They seemed like a really fun and seasoned group that took running seriously but was also open to welcoming newcomers. It’s been really fun to be a bigger contributor to the group since moving to Truckee full time in 2020.

What has been your favorite DPMR experience so far?

The newbie runs have been my favorite experience so far because it has been a chance to meet new people and check out trails that I haven’t been to before. I also appreciate that it caters to all levels and isn’t intimidating.

Favorite local trail?

I really like the section of the PCT after Mt Lincoln, especially in June when the wildflowers are growing and you pass by all of the backpackers who have been on the trail for days. It’s fun to know that you made it that far on your own two feet and a hydration vest while they are carrying 35 lbs+ backpacks.

Do you have a mental training technique, mantra, or similar that you rely on to combat the mentally trying times of a longer run? 

When I get hit with mental fatigue or boredom I try to focus really hard on form and I pick a spot and tell myself I’m going to run to that spot, and then when I get to that spot I say, that wasn’t hard, let’s pick a new spot! And I keep that up until it passes and I’m able to take a nutrition break or catch a new view.

Do you listen to audio while you run and if so, what have you been enjoying lately?

I am hardcore about needing some form of audio while on a training run, although I’m fine without it during an actual race. I tend to listen to music on longer runs but stick with podcasts for shorter runs. For a quick afternoon ~3 mile run I’ll listen to the WSJ daily news which the morning and evening sessions are the perfect duration for that distance.

Recovery technique(s) that you swear by? 

Ice baths! I take ice baths religiously anytime I run farther than 13 miles. The only catch now is that my bathroom is on the third floor of my house and it’s a lot of stairs to haul bags of ice, in which case a quick dip in Donner Lake will suffice.

Do you have a favorite piece of running gear (sports bra, shoe, layer, sock, etc.)? 

I’m a huge fan of compression sleeves in lieu of long sleeve shirts. I heat up pretty quickly while running and I love being able to easily peel them off and roll them back up as the conditions change. Everyone should own at least a couple pairs, one thin and one thick, just like socks!

What other outdoor or indoor interests do you have?

Rock climbing is my other passion and how I like to crosstrain. It has a lot of similarties to running in terms of the meditative state you can enter and the flow that happens when your training is paying off. And because my focus over the past 4-5 years has been on OCR (obstacle course racing) it’s really helped me become a more well-rounded athlete with a combination of endurance and strength.

Any interesting facts about yourself you would like to share?

I got a tattoo on my foot of XXVI.II to commemorate my second full marathon. I told myself I had to do at least two before getting it, and thankfully I did three more after that!

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5:45 pm DPMR Weekly Social Run & Hangout... @ Trout Creek Pocket Park
DPMR Weekly Social Run & Hangout... @ Trout Creek Pocket Park
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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[...]
Jul
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6:30 am Morning Speed & Hill Work with P...
Morning Speed & Hill Work with P...
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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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It's #statesmas ! See you at the escarpment tomorr It's #statesmas ! See you at the escarpment tomorrow! 
Meet at the start line at 4am!

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Looking for some training runs for the #pointmaria Looking for some training runs for the #pointmariahtrailmarathon? Check out the Regional Park Fun Run/Walk 5K series from @northtahoerecreation. 

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Tuesday Social tomorrow with @salomonrunning and @ Tuesday Social tomorrow with @salomonrunning and @insidetracker! Come share all the energy from the past weekend or excitement about the coming weekend!

Meet at 5:45pm at the Trout creek pocket lot, run at 6pm, follow up with social time at @alibialeworks. 

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Thanks to our volunteers at the Julia Millon Memor Thanks to our volunteers at the Julia Millon Memorial Aid Station who helped our runners stay hydrated and fed as they went through High Camp and cheered to Julia. See you tomorrow at High Camp and stop by in the Village for pancakes!

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Our President is #unafraid. Send her your cheers f Our President is #unafraid. Send her your cheers for the triple crown at @brokenarrowskyrace this weekend.

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Are you ready for @brokenarrowskyrace fun this wee Are you ready for @brokenarrowskyrace fun this weekend? There is still a chance to fully take on the energy of the event through volunteering: Julia Millon Memorial Aid Station at High Camp for either Saturday’s 52K race or Sunday’s 26K distance (or both!) or at the pancake breakfast in the village Sunday morning. Sign up in bio!

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Double the fun tomorrow! On top of our regular Tue Double the fun tomorrow! On top of our regular Tuesday Alibi social run (meet at 5:45p, run at 6pm), we have a pole clinic co-organized by @leki.trailrunning and @tahoemountainsports at Johnson Canyon at 5pm. We will regroup for social time at Alibi afterwards.

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Ready for the weekend? We are looking forward to s Ready for the weekend? We are looking forward to seeing you at the picnic on Sunday. Learn more about it in the Newsletter! https://bit.ly/dpmrjune22

Besides the picnic, there is a lot of interesting content: join us at the inaugural Point Mariah Trail Marathon, our weekly Tuesday group runs, trail work and aid station volunteering opportunities; get inspiration for where to get vert to get ready for all your summer adventures; meet @kellyfuson and the women running one of the @utmbmontblanc races this summer and pick up your next book: Endure by @sweat_science.
Today is Tuesday which means it's Social Run Day! Today is Tuesday which means it's Social Run Day! Lots of places to explore and people to meet or catch up with. After the run, stay for post run refreshments (and more social time) at @alibialeworks!
See you at 5:45pm, run starts at 6pm from the Trout Creek Pocket Park.

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Summer is here and so is the DPMR Summer Picnic. W Summer is here and so is the DPMR Summer Picnic. We'd love to see you on Sunday June 5th (next weekend) for group runs in the morning followed by a taco bar feast, gear swap, kids events, ... RSVP for this FREE event on Eventbrite. Thanks to @tahoemountainsports for supporting this event. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2022-dpmr-summer-picnic-presented-by-tahoe-mountain-sports-tickets-301196275167

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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.

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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!

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