You may not have heard of Kerrie Bruxvoort before, but you will now. This up-and-coming long-distance Colorado runner has been climbing the podium for the past couple of years, and plans to keep on climbing in the future. She finished third overall and first female at the Mesquite Canyon 50K in Arizona in a women’s course record time of 4:24. Other notable podium finishes include 2nd place at the 2007 Creck Crest Mountain Marathon, 1st Place at the 2011 XTERRA Cheyenne Mountain Marathon and 2nd place at the 2011 Tucson Marathon.
You can catch Kerrie at Colorado Runner’s Greenland Trail 50K on May 5th, in addition to the Mt. Evan’s Ascent, Leadville Trail Marathon, Pike’s Peak Ascent, Run Rabbit Run 50, Breck Crest Marathon, XTERRA Cheyenne Mountain Marathon and the Javelina Jundred. Learn more about this rising runner in our exclusive athlete interview below!
Quick Stats
Name: Kerrie Bruxvoort
Age: 35
Hometown & Current: Grew up in Omaha, NE, Currently live in Broomfield, CO
Professional & Educational background: Graduated from Oklahoma State University in 1998- Currently stay-at-home mom to two daughters (ages 4 & 7)
Sports participated in: Running (obviously!), I play indoor Soccer year-round and love to Snowboard
Years in current sport: I started running in Junior High and never stopped. It’s been an integral part of my life and a passion of mine for over 20 years… However, I’ve made the leap to more serious trail racing and ultras over the past year-and-a-half and I’m having an absolute blast with it!
The Long Run
What are some of the biggest highlights in your racing career?
Although I’ve been a runner for a long time, I feel like I’m just getting started. Having success in the last few races I’ve run makes me excited to think about what’s possible for me in the future. This past October, I won the XTERRA Cheyenne Mountain Marathon (in a surprise blizzard). I finished 2nd female overall in the Tucson Marathon this past December in 2:55, which was a personal best for me. And more recently, I took first place at the Mesquite Canyon 50K in Arizona (3rd overall) in 4:24. That was exciting because I beat the women’s course record by over 50 minutes and I wasn’t far behind the top two men. It was my first 50K, and I didn’t know what to expect, so it was gratifying to see my training really pay off! I feel like I still have a lot of uncovered potential, so that’s motivating.
What are your long-term goals? What do you want to achieve as an athlete?
I love to run so much that I hope to be able to do it for a really long time to come. I have lots of great trail and ultra races on my to-do list. It’ll take me years to do all of them. For now, I’m putting in lots of hard, solid, smart training. I want to continue to improve my strength and speed, and spend as much time as I can out on the trails. I feel energized and enthusiastic about the races I have coming up, and I want those feelings to continue throughout the season. I feel so lucky to be a part of the Colorado running community and I hope to become more involved, meet more people, and who knows? Maybe I can win some more races this year!
Why Colorado? What makes Colorado so special for endurance athletes? What makes Colorado special to YOU?
Colorado is magnificent. It’s beauty is simply unmatched, and it’s the ultimate training playground for an enthusiastic athlete like me. Every time I hit the trails in the Boulder Foothills, I feel so happy and so lucky to live in such a beautiful place. It has such a great energy.
Our family just moved back to Colorado last summer after living in Phoenix, Arizona for 5 years. I don’t think I realized just how much I missed Colorado until I took my first run on one of my favorite trails. I cried like a baby when I crested a hill and took in a full view of the Rocky Mountains. They’re simply amazing. Colorado is definitely home for me.
Middle Distance
Take us through a “day in the life,” what type of training regimen do you follow?
I’m not super-strict when it comes to my training. I don’t want to take the fun out of my running by pounding out miles at this or that pace. However, I’m certainly dedicated, consistent and smart about the miles I put in. I average about 80-90 miles a week with a mix of road, trail and a lot of climbing (my favorite). I also hit the stair machine at the gym and do weights and core exercises a couple times a week.
What are one or two things you currently do in your training that are keys to your success?
Being consistent is definitely crucial for me. My training has been building upon itself over the past couple of years. I’ve been steadily increasing my mileage and the intensity of my training and it’s given me a good solid base of fitness to draw from.
One specific thing I do that really helps me maximize my training is back-to-back runs on the weekends. Saturdays I usually run long on roads or flat, easy trails between 25-30 miles at a comfortable pace. Then Sundays I put in a fairly long and hard effort on technical trails with lots of steep climbing/descending. My legs are somewhat fatigued from the day before, but trail running involves so many more muscle groups that I’m still able to put forth a hard effort and enjoy it.
The most important part of my training is simple: I feel so happy and at peace when I’m running in the mountains. It’s great to be able to draw energy and excitement from my surroundings so easily and to translate that energy and excitement into solid training. I’m able to train extremely hard and push my limits without feeling like it’s work. I’m genuinely enjoying myself out there, and I think that’s the secret to my recent success in racing… and I hope it continues!
Do you follow any specific nutrition plans? What are you favorite recovery meals, drinks, etc.?
I have to admit, I don’t really follow any specific nutrition plan. I try and eat healthy most of the time. I eat a lot of veggies, fruit and lean protein. However, I can’t live without massive amounts of coffee in the morning and I have a major sweet tooth. I also tend to graze on random things throughout the day, so I probably eat more than I realize.
As far as racing goes, I’ve learned to try and eat as much as I possibly can without developing a gut bomb. It really makes a difference, and I know in the past I’ve bonked hard because I didn’t eat enough. I try to gobble something down every 20 minutes if possible, and of course, keep myself hydrated.
Do you have any recommended resources to share (books, seminars, websites, coaches)?
Hmmm. Books and websites offering advice can certainly be helpful and fun to browse (Irunfar is a favorite of mine). But sometimes I think the more information we gather, the more complicated and confusing we make things. I’ve learned that what works best for me is to keep it simple. I listen to my body and adjust my training accordingly. I don’t have a coach or do time-specific workouts, I just train hard and smart and enjoy it!
What is your biggest challenge, and what do you do to manage this challenge? My biggest challenge is keeping balance in my life. I know a lot of women who have families strive for balance like me. I want to be the best mom I can be and provide a happy home life for my husband and my two beautiful daughters. I also want to be able to put a lot of focused effort into my training so I can continue to improve as a runner. We work together as a family to make it happen. It’s definitely a team effort!
What are your favorite races in Colorado?
I’m really looking forward to the Pikes Peak Ascent this August. Climbing is definitely my strong suit, so I’m up for the challenge. Also, I can’t wait to return to Steamboat for the Run Rabbit Run 50 mile. It got the best of me last year. Steamboat is one of my favorite Colorado towns. The Yampa Valley is beautiful, the people there are amazing, and they sure know how to put on a great race. They’ve added a 100 miler this year, and the races help support local charities. You can’t beat that!
Where do you like to train in Colorado?
I feel lucky that I can run for miles from my front door on the pathways and trails in Broomfield. There are lots of nice rolling hills with gorgeous views of the mountains. On days that I have the extra time, I prefer to head to Boulder to run in the foothills. I like to run repeats on Mt. Sanitas because it’s easily accessible and it’s a steep, technical trail that always makes for a great workout.
Sprints
Favorite running shoe: I love shoes! I have many, and I’m always up for trying something new. Right now, out on the trails, I’m wearing the super lightweight and flexible Innov-8 X-Talon 190. On the road I like the simplicity of the Brooks Green Silence.
Favorite post-run/race beverage: Water, followed by a cold Colorado Beer!
Favorite post-run/race meal: Anything within my reach. I’m not a picky eater when I’m starving.
Role models: My parents told me I could do anything. I believed them.
Day job: Mom
Solo runner, running partner or team/group? Pretty much solo!
Podium
Have you experienced a breakthrough, and if so, what led to it?
I can’t say I’ve had a specific breakthrough moment. I’ve been steadily building mileage and my race times have dropped significantly over the past year. Really, I’ve just been able to hit the trails more often, now that my youngest daughter is in preschool. Putting in more miles on hilly trails has made me a much stronger, faster runner, and I know I still have a lot of room for improvement. It’s exciting!
What was the best advice you were ever given?
I’m not very good at following advice, but I do think that simply doing what you say you’re gonna do is worthy advice. Being willing to commit to something and follow through to the end is such a great attribute to have. There’s nothing worse than wishy-washy.
Do you have a saying or motto that you live your life by? That you train by?
Dig deep and have fun!
What keeps you motivated? Where do you draw your inspiration from?
I’ve always been pretty self-motivated when it comes to running. I have a real passion for it, and that drives me out the door each day with my running shoes on my feet and a smile on my face. I draw inspiration from my family. I know I’m setting a good example for my two daughters, and that’s important to me.
Upcoming race schedule:
June 16 – Mt. Evans Ascent
June 30 – Leadville Trail Marathon
July 28 – Speedgoat 50K, Snowbird UT
August 18 – Pikes Peak Ascent
September 2 – Breck Crest Mountain Marathon, Breckenridge
September 15 – Run Rabbit Run 50 Mile, Steamboat Springs
October 6 – XTERRA Cheyenne Mountain Marathon
October 27 – Javelina Jundred – Arizona