4 Qs with Ultra Leader Mindy Coolman

Current Trophy Series standings and a quick Q&A with our female ultra category leader

Mindy Coolman, 32, of Missouri Valley, Iowa, has more points so far in the 2014 Trail Runner Trophy Series than any other competitor, male or female. She has competed in the Psycho Psummer Trail Run (50K), Rock on Lake Perry (50K), Freestate Trail Run (100K) and Kettle Moraine (100K), placing 6th, 1st, 2nd and 1st, respectively.

(See the next page for current Trophy Series leaderboard standings.)

Mindy Coolman during the 2014 Rock on Lake Perry 50K. Photo by Rick Mayo, Mile 90 Photography.

1. How did you get started trail running?
I started out as a marathon road runner. Then decided to race the Run Toto Run 20 miler in February of 2010. Prior to the race, I fully believed I could run it in 3 hours, as I was doing monthly marathons leading up to it. It ended up taking me over 4 hours and 20 minutes, and I was incredibly sore the next day. From that point on I craved trails. A year later I returned and ran my first 50K at that same race and became an ultrarunner.

2. What is your standard training week?
This year has been a little different for me. Due to the high number of races I’ve competed in, I’ve cut back my weekly training miles to around 30, with anywhere from 20-50 miles of biking per week. I also lift a couple days a week, simply to work on otherwise neglected muscle groups. I usually average 50-60 miles per week of running, which I will return to when my race season slows down.

3. Were you confident you could win the Kettle Moraine 100K?
I actually never knew I was winning until the finish. I slowed down in the heat of the day and assumed there were females in front of me. Upon reaching the finish line, the race director announced I was the first place 100K female. I actually stopped and told him that couldn’t be right. He told me to go ahead and cross the finish line and we could talk about it then.

4. What is your favorite distance to race?
My favorite is the 100K. I’ve learned to pace myself well for this distance and tend to stay strong to the end. I recover well from this distance too, which enables me to do multiple races at this distance fairly close together.

2014 Trophy Series Leaderboard, as of August 2014

(May be missing some results that race directors have not yet submitted to us)

Male Ultra

1. Kyle Curtin, 27, Clarksville, TN, 2 races, 150 miles, 550 points

2. (Tied) Chris Downie, 43, Vancouver, BC, 1 race, 100 miles, 400 points

2. (Tied) Gerardo Ramirez, 41, Fort Worth, TX, 1 race, 100 miles, 400 points

2. (Tied) Tim Newcome, 39, Aiken, SC, 1 race, 100 miles, 400 points

Female Ultra

1. Mindy Coolman, 32, Missouri Valley, IA, 4 races, 186 Miles, 589 points

2. Traci Falbo, 42, Charleston, IN, 2 races, 150 miles, 550 points

3. (Tied) Jennifer Hughes, 35, Issaquah, WA, 1 race, 100 miles, 400 points

3. (Tied) Allison Moore, 44, Seattle, WA, 2 races, 150 miles, 400 points

3. (Tied) Lauren Cortjens, 30, Cumming, GA, 2 races, 100 miles, 400 points

Male Non-Ultra

10-19 Jacob Brown, 13, Omaha, NE, 3 races, 31.7 miles, 91 points

20-29 Alex Francisco, 24, Kansas City, MO, 3 races, 76.1 miles, 119.3 points

30-39 Adam Russel, 35, Rome, PA, 5 races, 68.22 miles, 217.14 points

40-49 Jeff Smucker,48, Woodward, PA, 2 races, 29.7 miles, 105.7 points

50+ Llew Williams, 56, Sinking Spring, PA, 4 races, 51 miles, 139.2 points

Female Non-Ultra

10-19 Bonnie Hartman, 15, Thornton, CO, 1 race, 25 miles, 100 points

20-29 Megan Truelove, 23, Scott Depot, WV, 2 races, 28.6 miles, 114.4 points

30-39 Hayley Weyhe, 38, State College, PA, 2 races, 26.2 miles, 104.8 points

40-49 Anita Ortiz, 49, Eagle ,CO, 1 race, 25 miles, 100 points

50+ Randi Young, 62, South Fork CO, 2 race, 38.1 miles, 114.3 points

Miles Mogul (Most Series Miles Run)

Male

Larry Hall, 60, Chicago, IL, 200 miles

Female

Anastasia Andrychowski, 34, Lake in the Hills, IL, 200 miles

Trail Fiend (Most Series Races Run)

Male

(Tied) Adam Russell, 35, Rome, PA, 5 races

(Tied) Michael Haffley, 47, Lock Haven, PA, 5 races

Female

(Tied) Heather Morrison, 34, Topeka, KS, 4 races

(Tied) Mindy Coolman, 32, Missouri Valley, IA, 4 races

See here for complete standings, or check out the Trophy Series Calendar to find a race near you.