Beth O'Brien

It's easier to smile once you're finished with the race.

“The answer is always 'no' until you ask.”

City: Colorado Springs State: CO

Favorite Shoe: Saucony Fastwitch Size: 10.5

Age: 32.5 years old

Marital Status: Happy

Family members:
My German Shep Xena - best running partner ever.

What I do for work:
Marketing Coordinator/Graphic Designer for CSHP. Freelance Graphic Designer.

Places I’ve called home and why I like where I am now:
"Upstate from the City" New York - where I grew up. Then Savannah, Georgia, where I went to college and met my ex-husband. Finally here in Colorado Springs - (military transfer w/ the ex) where I can run on beautiful trails again!

When I started running and what got me started:
8th grade. Mom told me I was going to "get involved w/ my high school before I went" so she put me on the JV XC team before I knew what XC was. I found out pretty fast, and loved it! Haven't stopped running since, although now I'm totally immersed in triathlon, so I swim and bike before running...

What does running mean to me:
A stress-reducer. Fitter, more tone body. Pushing limits. Making and meeting higher goals. Meeting new and interesting masochistic people like me.

Running accomplishments: View my Pikes Peak Ascent/Marathon results
MVP both HS and College senior years. A few first places overalls.

What I like about trail/mountain running:
No traffic. Diversity. Being able to go farther faster than most. Enjoying the silence and beauty of being away from the everyday world.

Favorite running trail and why:
Section 16. "Just right" for uphills, downhills and length.

Favorite trail/mountain race and why:
Xterra Buffalo Creek... fast, fun (and did well!)

Best running experience:
Making top 15 in NCAA Regionals in '02...
Staring in Wave 2 of the Ascent in 2008 and not only making the cut off, but finishing in 3:49:34 despite the sideways sleet.
Qualifying for Team USA in Triathlon National Championships to compete in Worlds at London.

Worst running experience:
8 miles completely hung over in 85 degree hot and humid heat with no shade in Savannah, Georgia.
Or the opposite: 20 miles on Santa Fe Trail into a head wind, below zero temps, snow. Frozen water bottles. One pair of sunglasses traded off as we traded drafting positions... ask Jillian Keaveny.

Neatest thing found on a run:
Peace of mind. :-)

Running pet peeves:
Wind that magically seems to blow from every direction, people on Barr Trail with headphones on that don't move out of the way b/c they can't hear you. Smokers on the trail - really?

Something non running related that no one would guess about me:
I'm from New York and play the piano.

Other hobbies and interests:
Horseback riding, hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing, golfing... basically anything outdoors.

Other stuff:
I never look back unless I'm not doing my best - advice I heard a while back and it's always kept me looking and moving forward.

Page last modified: 12/13/2012