Five Things I’ve Learned: Nikki Kimball

August 30th, 2012 • BY

Montana-based ultrarunner Nikki Kimball recently returned to her home state of Vermont to tackle the Long Trail’s 273 miles of rocks, roots, and mud that undulate through the beautiful and brutal Green Mountains. Kimball completed the route in five days, seven hours, and 42 minutes, setting a new supported women’s speed record. With an already impressive array of trail, snowshoe, and ultra-running wins under her belt (from the Western States Endurance Run to the Ultra-Trail Du Mont Blanc), Kimball embarked upon this journey to inspire female athletes of all ages and raise money for Girls on the Run Vermont, a non-profit organization with the goal of teaching eight- to 13-year-old girls life skills and running exercises through training for a 5k running event.

1. What did you learn about the Long Trail on your recent quest? I learned that I needed perfect weather to break the record, and that’s tough to get. Next time, I’ll plan to take a couple weeks, so I can set off in the best weather window possible. In addition, when we got to the end of the trail, I found out that 2,500 girls from Girls On The Run Vermont were following our progress online. It was then that I completely realized this journey wasn’t simply about me breaking records—it was about these girls and inspiring other female athletes.

2. What did you learn about yourself? I learned that I need to be a better communicator, not just with my support crew and pacers, but also in life. I’m not always good about letting people know what I want or need. To me, it seems like I’m being nice, until I get mad because those around me didn’t know what I wanted.

3. What have you learned about what it takes to be a successful ultrarunner? Beyond preparation, flexibility is absolutely the most important aspect. A 100-mile race will never go smoothly from beginning to end. Your body, the course, and variable weather—all affect the race experience. Having the flexibility to look at things in a different light and turn situations to your advantage is key to making it to the finish line.

4. How do lessons in ultrarunning translate to life off the trail? Doing any sport at a higher level makes you better at all you do because you have to focus, find balance and be a good time manager to train, work and have a life. Plus, running 100-mile races makes most else I do look easy—it certainly puts things in perspective.

5. What have you learned from what you call ultrarunning’s “series of humbling moments?” We had one stretch on the Long Trail we called the “Death March Night”—it was 11 miles, which seemed to take absolutely forever. I was despondent, cold, wet, and tired. My best friend and training partner, Jenny Pierce, was pacing me. When she went to check on a trail juncture, I simply laid down in the mud. She turned around, picked me up by my armpits, and said, “You will not do this here!” I basically had to give up and let her take over because she was in a better headspace. It was too dangerous to stop because we were at risk for hypothermia. She wasn’t going to let me put us both in danger, and she wasn’t going to let me quit.

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