Briana Ferguson

"Nothing in life is to be feared. It is only to be understood." -Marie Slodowska-Curie

City: Colorado Springs State: Co

Favorite Shoe: Brooks Adrenaline ASR 7 Size: 7.5

Age: 36.6 years old

What I do for work:
I am a Mechanical Engineer -emphases in thermo, fluid dynamics, and flight.

Places I’ve called home and why I like where I am now:
I am a native of CO -I have gone many places with my previous work, but CO is home.

When I started running and what got me started:
I started running in 2005 and 2006 to support my friend for the Leadville 100 mi., which I have not completed or fully trained for. I have always been athletic and I continued to run just for personal well being, but began running races and training more etc. around 2008.

What does running mean to me:
A chance to gain a little more self knowledge and to learn to endure a little more.

Running accomplishments: View my Pikes Peak Ascent/Marathon results
The link below leads to some of my running experiences.
http://www.mccarriedesign.com/csrunner/runner-results2.php?fname=Briana&lname=Ferguson

My furthest running distance in one outing is ~38 miles.

In 2010, I ran the 5K Run for the Cure (Susan Komen) and the Heart & Sole Half Marathon in Boulder. I completed the 2011 Palmer Park Hellacious Trail Challenge on a rocky stomach; it was very tough trail, but excellent and I highly recommend it!

What I like about trail/mountain running:
The challenge and the hard work. The beauty of mother nature and how humbling it can be.

Favorite running trail and why:
Seven Bridges Trail and St. Mary's Trail -being close to the water is my favorite!

Favorite trail/mountain race and why:
Undecided -there are so many good challenges out there and each trail is so beautiful. I also need more experience under my belt.

Best running experience:
Although I had injured my knee during the ADT Marathon somewhere near Rockrimmon (~18th/19th mile), I had completed the marathon (my first) in 2009 right before the cutoff... I did not want to give up no matter how much my knee hurt.

Worst running experience:
I took my friends' dog with me on a trail run and she rolled around in a dear carcass -completely covered in ummmm stuff and smelled terrible. Really sweet dog though... and fast. She did not want to get cleaned up very badly.

Neatest thing found on a run:
I was traveling for my old work and decided to go out for a quick run somewhere in Safford, AZ one evening where I found a raw piece of turquoise (very intense hue) with copper in it.

Running related bathroom stop story:
I certainly have appreciated the trees and rocks for their shelter... be careful of what plant you choose to use as TP -I will spare the rashy details.

Something non running related that no one would guess about me:
I am an artist (www.art-mark.biz). I love to sing the blues and rock n' roll. I really like physics, fluid dynamics (a.k.a. aerodynamics), and the energy sciences.

Other hobbies and interests:
I love to swim, do yoga, mountain bike, martial arts, and to bake.

Other stuff:
Keep safely training and learning to do a little better in each effort. My foremost goal is to finish the 2011 Ascent, which will be my first. If all goes well (considering work, school, etc.), hopefully I will get the chance to try the ADT Marathon again (without injury). My only advice is to keep safely pressing forward, eat simply, and to know yourself. When I go to hotels, The History and Discovery channels are my favorites. Movies... I love them, but there are so many that I do not have a favorite right now. My favorite books are my old 5th Edition Physics textbook by Serway and Beichner and my old Fluid Mechanics Fundamentals and Applications textbook by Yunus A. Cengel and John M. Cimbala.

Page last modified: 9/13/2011