Hey everyone! I'm Lisa from NC (technically from AL but now living in NC) - WAR EAGLE! I've only been running for about 4-5 years. I ran my first marathon in 2005 and my first ultra (50-miler) in December 2007 - Sunmart! My first ultra was my favorite run so far. The people that volunteer and participate in ultras are some of the nicest people you will ever meet. I'm now training for my first 100-miler - Umstead 100 - which is only 95 days away. In the mean time, I've got the Goofy Challenge in January, Myrtle Beach Marathon in February and the Umstead Marathon in March to look forward too. Happy New Year!!!

Hello, I'm Leslie from Humboldt County in Northern California, the real Northern California: 6 hours north of San Fran/1 1/2 hours south of the CA/OR state line. At the encouragement of my friend and now running partner, I began running in 2006 and soon transitioned to trails. I've only participated in 2 organized trail runs so far, but she and I spend almost every Saturday on them. Our best "run for fun" was in August in the Trinity Alps in Trinity County, CA. Stunningly beautiful place, and we're very eager to go back - - although this time of year I'm sure there's well over 14 feet of snow up there. I will be attempting my first ultra at the Forest Park 50k in Portland, OR, in May through Pacific Coast Trai Runs. I'm excited, but also very nervous - and it's only January! I began running 'cause I was getting very bored with my living room aerobics DVDs. Who would've guessed that at age 40 I'd find that I like running and I'm actually pretty darn good at it?!? Not me, and definitely nobody else who knows me. The trail running world is comprised of so many welcoming, helpful, and encouraging people. I can't imagine my life without this now. Thanks to all the RA people who have been gracious and welcoming during the onslaught of CR people.

I made that same realization :-) And his wife designed the shirt last year, I think. Small world :-)

Deb actually painted the artwork for the finisher's print, which was on the back of the volunteer's shirts. Hardrock is tough and is why I go back every year. Wasatch, MMT, Vermont, Bighorn, OD100 and the Barkley fun run I finished my first time. Some I went back and did it again....but Hardrock always finds something to get me. I finished in 2001 (Deb and I were engaged on top of Virginius during the race) and have started every year since and still have not gotten #2. Deb dropped in 01, finished in 03 and hasn't finished since. Last year I was sure that living at 8100' would make it possible, but i still got sick on Handies at 14K, never recovered and dropped. Deb tripped on a clump of grass hidden under the snow coming into Engineer's, twisting her knee and had to drop at Ouray. Our entries for the lottery go in the mail tomorrow. Deb will enter another piece of artwork for the finisher's print. To me Hardrock is the epitome of what extreme endurance running is. Steve

I'm another coolrunning expat. I've a handful of 50ks beneath my belt, one 50 miler, and my first shot at a 100M was in October, but I was forced to drop at mile 56 due to an injured ITB. Um, and I like beer. But that's a given. Right?

I might as well just go ahead and introduce myself too. It's great getting everybody else knowing on this group. My name is Jakob, grew up in Switzerland but now living in the US since 1995. I'm a senior web programmer for Disney right now and also run my own website, penpalworld.com. Back in April 05 I was 195# (I'm 5'10") and didn't do any kind of sports on a regular basis for over 20 years. I thought it would be cool to run 10 miles which I did. I never looked back from there on. Within 2 months I ran my first half marathon and 1.5 months later my first marathon. Four months later I did the JFK 50 miler and in Sept 06 the Rio del Lago 100 miler. Today I'm 170#. I now have participated in 39 running events including 15 marathons, seven 31 miler, three 50 miler, one 61 miler and one 100 miler. This march I'll do the Coyote 2 Moon 100 miler, in June the San Diego 100 miler and in November the Mother Road 100 miler. My ultimate race goal is doing Badwater 135 which I've paced a running buddy of mine who completed that race 5 times in a row. I just love to go and see how much I can push my limits. Whenever I hear comments of how bad all this running is to me I ignore it because I'm just too stubborn. It's just too much fun crossing a finisher line after going through great struggle and all. That's all about me.