Barry Oelrich

How to put this experience into words???

“The poor desire riches, the rich desire heaven, but the wise desire tranquility... ”

City: Conifer State: CO

Favorite Shoe: La Sportiva Crosslite Size: 11

Age: 40.5 years old

Marital Status: Married

Family members:
My wife Wendy and our Akita "kids"

What I do for work:
Occupational Safety & Enviromental Health Manager for BLM Colorado

Places I’ve called home and why I like where I am now:
North Dakota - first 18 yrs
US Army: Schweinfurt, FRG & Ft. Carson, CO,
Colorado, SW Virginia, Kentucky, and thankfully back to Colorado (hopefully for good).

When I started running and what got me started:
I've ran off and on for years. Ran consistent from 2001 to 2004. Injury and family turmoil caused an abrupt stop. Now I'm back at it again.

What does running mean to me:
It's a way to get away from day to day life. I like the challenge of seeing a point miles away and many thousands of feet up and knowing I can get myself there and back, unsupported.

Running accomplishments:
2010 - Running and Finishing Hard Rock on my first try
Ran 50 miles of the inagural Grand Mesa 100, but being as it was only two weeks after HR, my ITB said enough, try again next year.
Jemez 50
2009 - Finished three ultra distance races and a trail marathon, including The Bear 100.
Got to run (solo) Four Pass Loop.

What I like about trail/mountain running:
The different types of terrain.
The great people I have met. Running with the "Nannies" during the Bear last year was a blast.

Favorite running trail and why:
Four Pass Loop. You'll have to go and run it yourself to see why.
Mee / Knowles Canyon Loop

Favorite trail/mountain race and why:
bear 100, my first...
Learning the new to me trails around Conifer and Foothills

Best running experience:
The feeling you get when you finish a run others backed out of because it was going to be too tough.
Also a solo night run up Mt. Bierstadt in the fall. There was a new moon and it pitch black up there. The views from the top were so incredible.

Worst running experience:
Lower GI explosions.

Neatest thing found on a run:
Indian arrow head, found at Cumberland Gap National Park, TN.

Running related bathroom stop story:
Log covered w/ pine sap...

Running pet peeves:
Finding somebody elses trash in the middle of pristine wilderness.

Something non running related that no one would guess about me:
My body art.

Other hobbies and interests:
My favorite hobby is raising and showing pure bred dogs. My wife and I raise Akitas. Check us out: www.ZephyrAkitas.com it's a great way to meet people and travel around the country.

Other stuff:
Earn at least one "*" this season... I'm back on the Front Range, hope to make this happen a few times. Run (and Finish) Hard Rock, check. More recently added to my wish list: R2R2R and a few other insane runs in the state I've read about. Consistant Ultra finisher

Page last modified: 1/16/2011