Leadville’s Timmy Parr is the U.S. Skyrunner Series 2015 “Sky” division champion. That’s hardly all that’s he done though, and it’s this body of work – 21 races this year – that make him our September “The Runner Box” Colorado Runner of the Month.
Timmy, you’re racing a ton this year! What’s the motivation to race so much, and what race has been your favorite so far this year?
Yes, I’m at 21 races for the year, 13 of them in the last 12 weeks. I decided earlier this year to focus on mountainous marathon races, and shy away from the 100s. With this in mind I focused on the U.S. Skyrunner Series, and also all of my favorite local races. I’ve really enjoyed all the Skyrunning races overall: Kendall Mountain, heart of the Rockies in the rugged San Juan’s; Tushar Marathon, the unknown gem in the middle of the Utah desert; and The Rut, jaw-dropping beauty mixed with life perilous cliffs and unstable terrain, a grand combination; as well as the Speedgoat series, and Imogene Pass.
[Colorado Runner note: Parr finished second at the Kendall Mountain Run in Silverton, first at the Tushar Marathon, 10th at The Rut 25k, first, fifth, and first at the three Speedgoat races in Utah, and first at the Imogene Pass Run in Ouray.]
Favorite race: the Speedgoat Vertical Mile.
Earlier I said that, in my opinion, this was the best you were running (racing) since 2009. You won everything that year – the U.S. mountain running championships, the Pikes Peak Ascent, the Leadville 100, and the Imogene Pass Run!
Your 2015 Imogene Pass finish was only 59 seconds slower than in 2009, but I don’t think you could have won this year’s U.S. mountain running championships (as you did in 2009). How has your running and training changed over the last six years?
Well I agree it would have been difficult at the U.S. mountain champs this year, the race was stacked! Andy [Wacker], JP [Donovan], Joe [Gray] and others have been on fire this summer! I still think I had a shot at the top 5. I made the decision to race the Speedgoat series instead this year and have no regrets.
The main difference in training is I now live in Leadville at 10,000 feet, before I lived in Gunnison at 7,700 feet. I make sure most of my runs are in the early morning… this in turn gives me more time at home with my family. I still run about the same, however this summer I replaced all my long runs with races.
As much success as you’ve had this year – back to back wins at the Imogene Pass Run and Run Rabbit Run 50 come to mind – you bombed at Mount Marathon in Alaska, just 64th place. What happened there? I assume you’re as comfortable scrambling as the rest of us, so is it really that hard of terrain that the Alaskans can beat the rest of us so easily?
65th place actually, it was bad.
I had not seen the course and really did not know how to run such a short sprint: 1 ½ miles uphill then 1 ½ miles downhill. The runners can take any route up and down Mount Marathon. The entire race is treacherous and people break their legs or worse every year. Within a ½ mile into the race I was in 30th place, my competitors were running with reckless abandon. I had no desire to break a leg so I just enjoyed myself without risking anything. At one point I accidentally ran towards a towering cliff and had to stop and backtrack. I lost two minutes and many positions there. The race came down to me running and not competing. I compete with calculated risks not reckless abandonment.
For as much as you’ve done over the years – in Colorado and elsewhere, I’m curious, what race(s) haven’t you done that’s still on your bucket list?
There are dozens of races, some I know of now, some I’ll learn about soon enough. In Colorado I want to run the Mt. Evans Ascent. California has Miwok, Way Too Cool, and Lake Sonoma. Add in Zane Grey, Cayuga Trails, the Zermatt Marathon, and the list goes on…
Okay non-running, you live in Leadville. What’s the good and bad of life at 10,000 feet?
It is a small town at 10,000 feet. If you like solitude and mountains then great. Winters can get long! It is great training up here, so long as there is not snow or ice on the ground, which I guess is about five months every year. Half the houses here don’t even have foundations or garages, oh yeah, they are 100+ years old too. I guess you can say they have character. The town is bustling during the summer then sleepy and quiet the rest of the year. Overall, it is similar to many other small towns.
Your local race series seems to be both praised and jeered by locals. For you, as a local, what’s your opinion on the race series and the weekend crowds that it brings in the summer?
I think the race serious does a fine job and are continuously working and improving the race organization and implementation. The crowds dramatically help the economy and many local small business so I can’t complain. If you want to beat the crowds for a more tranquil environment try climbing a 13er.
Thanks Timmy, one last question. What’s your favorite thing in The Runner Box?
All the terrific Timmy treats are tantalizing and tasteful, but my favorite item is the RunnerBox Massager. It has been working overtime to get my muscles feeling refreshed and up to Parr!
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