Tim Bergsten

City: Colorado Springs State: Co

Favorite Shoe: Brooks Cascadia Size: 10

Age: 61.8 years old

Marital Status: Married

Family members:
Wife Elise
Daughter Laurel, 16

What I do for work:
I am the owner and site manager for the website PikesPeakSports.us, a social network for runners, riders, hiker and climbers in the Pikes Peak Region

Places I’ve called home and why I like where I am now:
Born in Shenandoah, Iowa
Early childhood in Garden Grove, Calif.
Calhan, Colorado for most of my school years
Jackson, Wyo.
Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
But most of my life I've lived within sight of Pikes Peak. I wouldn't have it any other way.

When I started running and what got me started:
Junior high track and field. I ran the 440-yard dash every season through my sophomore year in college.

What does running mean to me:
I'm going to change the question. Why do I run? Because when I run I am 16 again and the world shines with possibility in every stride.

Running accomplishments: View my Pikes Peak Ascent/Marathon results
I love running. That, I think, is the ultimate accomplishment.

What I like about trail/mountain running:
I like to run where I once walked. The feeling of accomplishment I get when I run to a high elevation and check out the view. Working to get up the hill, having fun flying down it.

Favorite running trail and why:
Garden of the Gods. Because it is beautiful, contains plenty of challenging trails and it's close to home.

Favorite trail/mountain race and why:
I've only raced on a trail twice, 2009 Summer Roundup and the Pikes Peak Ascent. So they're my favorites.

Best running experience:
There are many. Here is one. Two good friends and I climbed the Manitou Incline and as we hit the top the clouds opened up and it poured rain on us. We ran down Barr Trail laughing and splashing in puddles as if we were 10 years old. It was a blast.

Worst running experience:
Those college workouts at the end of my not-so-glorious track career really got to be a grind.

Neatest thing found on a run:
My sanity

Running related bathroom stop story:
I'd tell you, but the visual that I might leave you with ... not worth it. Trust me.

Running pet peeves:
People who bring plastic bags for dog poop, then leave the bag on the trail with the freaking poop in it.

Something non running related that no one would guess about me:
I'm an artist and I spend several hours a week drawing and painting the human figure - you know, naked people. Some day I want to do a series of paintings of local runners jamming down the trail. I'll be sure to paint them with their clothes on. Then again ... hmmm...

Other hobbies and interests:
Fly fishing. Guitar.

Page last modified: 12/22/2010