What got you out running/walking for the first time? I joined the cross country team as a freshman in high school. What’s a song that helps pick up your pace? The theme song from "Rocky". What is the race medal you are most proud of and why? The medal from the Rome Marathon. I had my best time and it was a great experience. What is your dream race or location for a run? No dream race, but I want to run as long as I am able to do so. Perhaps my best race will be getting to "Heaven"! What is your favorite trail to run? I like running in the Arizona desert. What’s your favorite race distance? I like whatever distance I am training for at the time. Who are your running heroes? I do not have any, but I admire all the DB runners because they are so dedicated - and crazy for doing what they do!! Who inspires you? I am inspired by "God" in everything I do. Describe the moment you realized you were a “runner”. I don't remember. I do often question why I am out there when I am completing a long run! What are your goals? I hope to maintain good health by continuing to exercise (run and weight lift), and follow my daughter Laura's nutritional advice. What’s your favorite beer (or other drink if you don’t drink beer)? I don't like beer! Am I still allowed to be a member of DB???? I prefer wine.

What got you out running/walking for the first time? I found that I had a few things in my life I needed to run from, Ha! And looking for something healthy and positive to do after my kids graduated . What’s a song that helps pick up your pace? The song I blasted in my car when I first started training” I love the Way You Lie Eminem/Rihanna What is the race medal you are most proud of and why? I have to pick my first Modesto Marathon Medal. Even though it was a run, walk and if I have to crawl kind of a run for me. The emotional and mental healing I over-came from the training and crossing the finish line really set me free from past pain and unhealthy image of myself. Days before my first marathon I thought about not even showing up, quitting. The week prior I was sick with the flu/fever. The comments I received from people who doubted I could do a marathon swarmed my mind. Pain from the past, all the do’s and don'ts advice now overwhelmed me to the point that I almost didn’t show up to the expo. I had so much fear of failing... thankfully I had a kairos moment (kairos- defining moment-that changes you) that still touches me today. I ran into, pun intended... lol... ok, so I ran into Shane and Jaynee Jones at the expo- and told them how I was feeling of not doing it or lowering my miles... blah blah blah, blah blah, blah, blah... :-) They both listened and then encouraged me. Shane with excitement, positive energy and had belief I could do it, sharing his running journey. Jaynee asked me how I’d feel the day after the marathon? She said, think of all the time you spent training, she lead me right to where my thoughts needed to go. It was hard. Early mornings in the rain, long hot miles that make you feel like stripping and jumping into the canals to cool off, times when you’d run anywhere just to find a bathroom, days I missed because I didn’t think I was good enough, misery that turns into laughter with people you don’t recognize dressed in their normal daily wear. Swearing like a sailor - what the f***, I paid to do this. Crying like a baby and acting like a toddler, until you see the oasis of a snack bar, GO Jerry!, it all looks so gourmet, I meant, aide station. Honestly, can you believe the volunteers! Total Rock-stars in my book! This was “the moment “that completely boosted my spirits and braved me to stick with my plan like I had all training season. Just show up Heidi, don’t think, just do. One minute, one mile one step at a time. Overcome the BS. Treat yourself like you treat your children. After crossing the finish line and receiving the medal, I felt Redeemed. What is your dream race or location for a run? Dipsea, Skyline 50, Maui 1⁄2, Monterey, Big Sur, CIM Full What is your favorite trail to run? Currently - Auburn K-2 What’s your favorite race distance? Currently- 13.1 What’s the funniest thing that has happened to you or that you have seen on the trail? Has to be, in the bushes moments: When coach J said “What happens on the trail stays on the trail”, as he climbs out of the bushes. My pee bonding moment in the bushes with L J. That sure felt good, oh yes it did! As we walked out from behind the bushes. Awkward. What do you enjoy doing when you’re not running? Family time with my amazing adult babies- , hiking, finding new areas to explore, concerts, museums, wine tasting, the after the run social time with all of cool running peeps. Adventures with JG. Who are your running heroes? Shane and Jaynee Jones- AND Jerry. Who inspires you? Look around you, thats who! YOU! Watching everyone- show up, train and strive reaching their individual goals. A running club really has a place for everyone. So awesome. Incredible stories, everyone has their hard and everyone has a moment of feeling accomplished “badass moment.” Showing up to a race and seeing people twice my age kick my ass! Even though for a “brief moment” it can feel a little defeating that I’m not running as fast-it’s still so inspiring! I laugh at my thoughts. Seriously, Bob walked right past me while I was running. LOL! The last person to cross the finish line. Describe the moment you realized you were a “runner”. When I heard about the Chabot trail run on a Thursday, signed up on Friday ran it on a Sunday. And when I said “only” Claus and back... sweet! What are your goals? I t would be pretty awesome to become an Ultra runner. What’s your favorite beer (or other drink if you don’t drink beer)? Shock Top or Blue Moon with an abundance of orange slices

What got you out running/walking for the first time? I’d say tired of being overweight and looking for a lifestyle change along with boxing they kind of go hand in hand. What’s a song that helps pick up your pace? I listen to so many different kinds of music but mostly “Sick” by Ceremony or “Ramble On” by Led Zeppelin those are my “go fasters”. What is the race medal you are most proud of and why? That’s a toss up between My first marathon medal from C.I.M this past year for being my first big race I’ve ever really trained for or even though I didn’t get a trophy winning the ultra beer mile was one I’ll never forget. What is your dream race or location for a run? Javelina would be the dream race and just running a race in another state. What is your favorite trail to run? Lake Chabot and Brushy Peak will take the win for me every time. Anywhere with steep hills is always fun for me. I’m also starting to like long single track trails. What’s your favorite race distance? I’m still really new to trail running but I feel 50k will be my favorite hard enough to suffer a little bit but definitely do-able. What’s the funniest thing that has happened to you or that you have seen on the trail? Getting lost at Lake Chabot the first time waiting for Heather and us not even running the same direction. Also anytime you run La Loma trail early in the morning. What do you enjoy doing when you’re not running? I enjoy playing guitar and anything outside. Having a beer and laugh with friends is always a good time. Who are your running heroes? Who inspires you? This list could go on forever but definitely Jon Swisegood, Jeff Rowe, Gary Hayward, Sukhy Gil, Christina Stromeyer the whole Javelina crew from this past year. Most importantly Heather Forrest for always pushing me to be my best. Describe the moment you realized you were a “runner”. I don’t feel as if I’m a “Runner” yet. Maybe one day? What are your goals? My goals are to just go out and run everywhere I can and have the most fun I possibly can while trying my hardest. What’s your favorite beer (or other drink if you don’t drink beer)? I’m really into hazy IPA’s right now with a little splash of orange juice. Or a good ol’ gallon of water! Note: Thank you to everyone that has helped me along my journey so far. I’m proud to say I belong to the best running club/race team in the world. GO D.B.!!!

What got you out running/walking for the first time? Our warm-up in high school for the tennis team was to run. My downhill ski coach used to make us run up the mountain with our skis as endurance conditioning. Our swim team dryland training was running. All the other guys and gals thought it was torture, just to be endured to get back to their prefered sport. I decided I liked to be tortured! Countless miles later, here I am! What’s a song that helps pick up your pace? “I’m Shipping up to Boston” by the Dropkick Murphys. What is the race medal you are most proud of and why? My Ironman Cozumel race medal. It was a miserable race that broke me down mentally to a place I had never been. Luckily my husband was on course and walked for miles to allow me to catch up. We crossed the line together. It reminds me that with him, I can do anything. With that said, I’ll stick to running trails. If nothing else, that race convinced me that I need dirt to be in my happy place. What is your dream race or location for a run beside the Red Hills Ramble? Someday I’d love to run UTMB. What is your favorite trail to run? With the Army, we’ve lived all over the world, so I have so many favorites. I LOVE the Buttermilk Trail in Richmond, VA. It’s a trail on an island in the middle of the James River. Plus it’s running distance to a few breweries. It ranks up there with all of the amazing trails at Red Hills! What’s your favorite race distance? 50K. Just long enough to feel like you are working hard, not long enough to make it feel like a chore. What’s the funniest thing that has happened to you or that you have seen on the trail? Every day I run over lunch at work in Livingston. A couple of weeks ago when it was super rainy, I was coming off of one of the canal trails and decided I really had to pee. I stepped off the side of the road/trail intersection and proceeded to take care of business. Unbeknownst to me, the shoulder of the path was super soft because of the rain. My foot sunk down which caused me to tumble down the small embankment. This caused me not only to pee on myself, but thoroughly expose my rear end to a couple of cars speeding by. To this day, I am really hoping none of them were my co-workers. Needless to say, I needed a shower before returning to work. What do you enjoy doing when you aren’t running? Drinking wine and beer, riding/racing my bikes, reading with the hubby, hiking with my cute kid, and snuggling my four cats. Who are your running heroes? Who inspires you? Kara Goucher and Stephanie Rothstein Bruce inspire me to be a better “mother runner.” Their devotion to clean sport and being vocal about gender equality really gets me excited about being a runner in a time like now. My real running heros though are all the amazing DB runners! Describe the moment you realized you were a “runner”. After transitioning from a collegiate cyclist after graduation, I was having trouble finding my identity as an athlete. When I started to enter running races I started to find that identity again. It was after completing my first half marathon that I really felt like I was a runner. What are your goals? Keep chipping away at my time from the San Francisco North Face Endurance Challenge 50-miler. I’ve run it twice and would like to come in sub 10:00 hours. That course is a beast. I finished in 10:30 in 2016, so I’ve got some work to put in. I’m also still chasing the elusive 100-miler. What’s your favorite beer (or other drink if you don’t drink beer)? That’s like asking who is your favorite child! I would chop off my left leg for Russian River Brewing Company’s Sanctification.

Name? Robert Root What got you out running/walking for the first time? I just wanted to feel better about myself. What’s a song that helps pick up your pace? No particular song. I do like to listen to Gaelic Storm and other Celtic groups when training at Brushy. What is the race medal you are most proud of and why? 99% of my medals are in a shoebox, but I like the last three Double Dipsea medals, because they can be used as coasters. What is your dream race or location for a run? No dream races and I am happy running in the mountains on the coast or training at Pleasanton Ridge or Brushy Peak, or running in the Sierras, as long as the trail is single track. What is your favorite trail to run? Dipsea Trail What’s your favorite race distance? 30K What’s the funniest thing that has happened to you or that you have seen on the trail? When Daren Short and I were climbing Diamond Peak Ski Resort during the 2014 Tahoe Rim Trail 50 Miler in a thunderstorm. We were both trying to see how short we could be. What do you enjoy doing when you aren’t running? Napping Who are your running heroes? Who inspires you? All of these 100k and 100 mile runners. Describe the moment you realized you were a “runner” It was not a sudden realization, more like a slow awareness. What are your goals? I would eventually like to run a 100K What’s your favorite beer (or other drink if you don’t drink beer)? I guess I would have to say an ice-cold Coke after a long hot run.

Chad Johnson, Author at Dusty Bottoms Trail Runners • Page 2 of 6

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So far Chad Johnson has created 51 blog entries.

Roman Salazar
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Roman Salazar

By Chad Johnson|2019-02-27T11:53:38-08:00March 1st, 2019|ROTM|

What got you out running/walking for the first time? I joined the cross country team as a freshman in high school. What’s a song that [...]

Heidi Broker
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Heidi Broker

By Chad Johnson|2019-02-06T07:28:11-08:00February 6th, 2019|ROTM|

What got you out running/walking for the first time? I found that I had a few things in my life I needed to run from, [...]

Dan Von Berckefeldt
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Dan Von Berckefeldt

By Chad Johnson|2019-01-07T11:47:20-08:00January 7th, 2019|ROTM|

What got you out running/walking for the first time? I’d say tired of being overweight and looking for a lifestyle change along with boxing they [...]