The iMichelle
The Run Down’s elite runner of the week.
Name: Michelle Barton
(photo by Mark Haymond)
Favorite cartoon character: Tasmanian Devil
Healthy eater or whatever? I've been a vegetarian for 18 years. I inhale lots of couscous and Starbucks.
Lima beans, soy beans, pinto beans or couscous? Trader Joe’s couscous salad and Recover-EASE are my secret weapons.
Pizza topping? Anything that is not dead. No tortured souls, any veggies.
You find a diamond ring on the trail, what do you do? Post a sign and wait a couple of weeks. If no owner found then sell the diamond and pay for race entries and anything Sierra wants. Race entries are a girl's best friend, not diamonds.
Clean or messy car? Clean car, but usually a disaster after a race. See SJT50k therundown re-cap, Chaz knows what I am talking about.
Who has the best looking legs? Top male legs Karno (Dean Karnazes), hands down. Top female legs Keira Henninger & Krissy Moehl. Age sixty something, Hwa Ja Andrade has the legs of a woman in her 20’s; incredible. My Dad has awesome legs, must be all the trail running.
PC or Mac? I have only used a PC.
Hometown: Beautiful Laguna Niguel , California.
Family (spouse, kids, etc.): My sweet daughter Speedy Sierra the rock star runner top of her class. No spouse or boyfriend and I like it that way.
Running motto/quote: Run when you can, walk when you have to, crawl if you must: just never give up ~ Karno. Always remember to keep it fun. Don’t take any of this too seriously ~ Gordy Ainsleigh.
Running PRs: 5K: 20:20 ; 10K 42:00; 26.2 Miles: 4:10 ; 50km: 3:57 ; 50 miles: 8:42; 100 km: 10:24 ; 100 Miles: 19:42 ; 24 hours: Never done it.
Average miles per week: 60-70, I run in the morning, afternoon or night? I love the transition from night to day, that’s why I run at 5:00 a.m. I mountain bike and swim laps every day, sometimes even after a 50k race I squeeze in a bike and a swim.
Favorite place to train: Yosemite and the Western States trail.
Ultras per year: Lots, as many as possible. It’s hard to pass up a good race.
Number of completed ultras: I don’t keep count, maybe 40 or 50, maybe more.
Can you sleep the night before a race? Yes, I sleep like a baby the night before a race. I always sleep well.
Most memorable ultra performance: Javalina Jundred 2006. I wanted to run a solid hundred miler and I accomplished all of my goals.
How many times have you DNFd? 3x. Not fun. I don’t recommend DNFing. Western States June 2005 – That DNF was like a dagger through my heart. Ankle break (broke my left fibula on a training run in the Cleveland National Forest only 1 week after I got selected in the Western States lottery. I got in a car accident 1 week before the race. 80 year old lady in a Cadillac ran a red light and crashed into me. I wasn’t 100% going into that race. Neck and back and head hurt. I did not have enough sodium or protein during the run. Threw up at mile 70 and felt much better, but too late because my pacer pulled off my official race wristband and called it a day. It was a heart breaker. I took it hard for months. Javalina Jundred October 2005 – Not tough enough to take the pain, Wore the wrong shoes and my feet felt like the arches were ripping and pulling apart. I didn’t want to risk a real injury. I was freezing and shaking inside the Javalina headquarters, I couldn’t get up and force myself to run 24 more miles. Javalina is 101 miles because Javalina’s can’t count. PCT 50 miler May 2006 – Peeing blood. DNF mile 44. Dehydrated, bladder lining rubbing together and bleeding, most likely due to the Prednisone pills from the systemic poison oak I got at a 100k race the week prior. Mother’s Day was the next day and I wanted to stick around for my Sierra.
Favorite food/drink during an ultra: Lemon-Lime Hammer HEED, Vanilla or Chocolate Hammer gel, NUUN, GU, Trader Joe’s Protein with P’zazz Protein Smoothie, Strawberry Clif Blox.
What’s in your iPod: Everything from Alice N Chains, Ozzy, Guns N Roses, Red Hot Chili Peppers, 2 Pac, Soundgarden, No Doubt, Justin Timberlake, Ciara, White Zombie, Eminem, Chris Daughtry, Duran Duran, Shakira, Aaliyah, Pride and Glory, INXS, Avril Lavine, Kelly Clarkson, Maroon 5, Blind Melon, Madonna, Fergie, Beyonce, Any CD that my pal Turbo burns for me is great.
Pet peeve: Smokers and big unleashed dogs that jump on me on the trail with clueless owners.
Favorite web sites: www.therundown.net - www.canosoarus.com (my Dad's invention site) www.ultramarathonman.com - www.OCtrailrunners.org - www.run100s.com
Favorite ultra: My first ultra has a special place in my heart – the San Juan Trail 50k in 2003.
I run because: I get to see so many beautiful places that less than .01% of the population gets to see. The people, the challenge, the mountains, the dirt, the feelings and the FUN.
If I couldn’t run anymore, I would: When I broke my ankle December 0f 2004, I would hike my trail with my cast and crutches just to be out there. I couldn’t run for nearly 3 months. If that happened now, I would do cartwheels, dance and jump rope with Sierra, I would swim, mountain bike and be in the mountains as much as possible.
The running world needs to: Push the limits. People are capable of so much more than they are aware of.
More than her considerable achievements, I respect Michelle for the kind of class that you simply don't see in athletes of other disciplines that are at the top of their respective games. As long as I run, and even afterwards, I will remember 3 things:
1. My first ultra. Lake Hodges 2005. I'm nervous already, I don't know a soul, and the RD overslept. We started over an hour late and, afterwards, I vowed never to do another ultra again. Throughout the race, this stunning dynamo of energy was riding around the course, cheering like a one-person crowd for all the runners. Believe me when I say that you heard her before you saw her. Michelle was that dynamo, and she helped lift my sagging spirits.
2. I have never seen her without a smile on her face during a race. So many serious folks seem to forget their smiles when they're packing their gear for a race.
3. Javelina Jundred 2006. My first 100 miler and my first DNF. I got up and left the tent at Javelina Jeadquarters to watch Michelle finish 1st female. Instead of sitting back and basking in the glory of her accomplishment, I saw her gently encourage a gentleman who was hungry and having trouble finding the motivation to head out and finish his race. Now, that's a true champion!
Posted by: Kirk Fortini | June 26, 2007 at 07:50 PM
Nice interview. One question -- what's an iMichelle? I'm guessing there's some reference to Apple.
Posted by: AK | June 29, 2007 at 09:44 PM
I have known Michelle, Sierra and her Father for many many years. They are great family friends and Michelle is a true inspiration.
No question Michelle's attitude lifts her off the ground and is a joy to watch, run with and to know.
Michelle was a champion runner before she ever pinned a bib to her body.
Lots of lessons to be learned from running with people like Michelle. The pure joy of running is an experience that is hard to replicate and in my lifetime I have yet to find an activity that energizes your soul like it. Well, save one other....
Posted by: Greg Houlgate | July 17, 2007 at 12:30 PM
What an incredibly beautiful person/soul -- though I have virtually no exchange with ultra circles I would consider it a distinct honor to cross paths with this lovely person anytime.
Posted by: Andrew Armiger | July 20, 2007 at 08:33 PM
I had never heard of Michelle until I heard an interview she did on "The Final Sprint" and I was so impressed that I am now a big fan. Her spirit and enthusiasm has really motivated me. Thanks to Michelle and keep up the GREAT work.
Posted by: MichaelBowers | November 03, 2007 at 07:28 AM