Recently we caught up with Wright Training athlete Emilee Walker. Emilee competed in the Idaho Mountain Trail Ultra Festival. The race is a 102.9 mile loop course in the Salmon River Mountains near McCall, ID. Expect some very steep climbs and descents with beautiful summits and ridges, deep canyons with pristine rivers and lots of wildlife. There is lots of steep climbing totaling over 20,000′ feet of ascent. Check out what Emilee had to say about her experience.
Q: What/Where was the venue?
A: It was an 8 1/2 hour drive to the middle of nowhere in Northern Idaho in the beautiful Payette National Forest!
Q: Do you think the training at Wright Training benefited you?
A: Definitely! This was a challenging course that required a great deal of strength, both physically and mentally. I don’t think that running alone could have prepared me for the difficulty of this race.
Q: What kind of preparation did you do for the prior to the event?
A: 100 mile races require all kinds of preparation. As far as training, I do at least one race of 50 miles or more. I also feel that if I have a few really long days in the mountains where I feel absolutely terrible and cry a little, then I’m maybe ready for a 100…
Q: Do you have a pre race routine to get you ready for a 100 mile run?
A: All my races are different. I have found that rather than stress about a particular routine that involves food, stretching, visualizing that it won’t suck at some point (because it will) or whatever, I just relax and go with the flow. Except I guess I always drink IPA and take 1/2 an Ambian so I can sleep.
Q: What was the most difficult part of the event?
A: Not loosing it at mile 100 because it was actually 105 miles.
Q: What was your favorite part of the event?
A: It was my first time not having a pacer through the night, and I really enjoyed it. I was especially entertained when every time I would pass someone they would ask me “where is your Pacer?” and I would come up with some new hilarious(at least to me) response. And finishing, of course, finishing feels nice.
