Carl Olson

Before the 2009 PPA

““Adults are just obsolete children and the hell with them.””

City: Colorado Springs State: CO

Favorite Shoe: NIKE Size: 12.5

Age: 51.2 years old

Marital Status: Married

Family members:
SUSAN -- SPOUSE FOR 28 YEARS; SELF-EMPLOYED & NOT A RUNNER :(
DAVID -- 27, COLORADO 4A STATE 1600M RECORD HOLDER, SPOUSE CASSIE (TRIATHLETE)
JOHN -- 25, PSYCH MAJOR AT WEBER STATE, SPOUSE TINA (VIOLIST)
MATT -- 21, RECENT COLLEGE GRADUATE, WELDER, SPOUSE SHAWNA (ARTIST)
CHRISTIAN -- 20, ATTENDING PPCC, WORKS AS A MOVER
AARON -- 18, JUNIOR AT RAMPART HS, SINGER, MARINE RECRUIT
BUCKY -- 10, POUND MUTT
SCOOTER -- 5, ONLY WEINER DOG I'VE SEEN ON THE INCLINE OR A 14ER
PADFOOT -- 2, VERY INDEPENDENT CAT
EMILY -- 17 MONTHS, GRAND-DAUGHTER (MATT'S)

What I do for work:
TEACH & COACH TRACK AT CHEYENNE MOUNTAIN HIGH SCHOOL

Places I’ve called home and why I like where I am now:
ILLINOIS (CHICAGO AREA), MILWAUKEE, IOWA, UTAH, NORTH DAKOTA, AND CS. THE INCLINE, OF COURSE!!

When I started running and what got me started:
RAN XC & TRACK IN HIGH SCHOOL. WAS OUT OF RUNNING FOR MANY YEARS DUE TO CAREER HOURS. STARTED RUNNING AGAIN IN 1995, GOT SERIOUS ABOUT IT IN 2001, RAN FIRST PPA IN 2002 & FIRST MARATHON IN 2005. HEALTH & COMPETITION.

What does running mean to me:
IT IS MY PRIMARY HOBBY. I LIKE THE SOLITUDE OF TRAIL RUNNING, IT IS WHEN I AM HAPPIEST MOST DAYS.

Running accomplishments: View my Pikes Peak Ascent/Marathon results
9 CONSECUTIVE PPA'S, 3:33 PR.; DOUBLED IN 2010, MT. EVANS ASCENT. 13 MARATHONS, INCLUDING LEADVILLE & THE INAUGURAL XTERRA AT CHEYENNE MTN. STATE PARK (I GOT 15TH). IN HIGH SCHOOL, I WAS A STATE 800M PLACER & SCHOOL RECORD HOLDER (WE STILL HAVE THE SCHOOL 4X800M RELAY RECORD SET IN 1980, 7:53!)

What I like about trail/mountain running:
SOLITUDE (SEE ABOVE). EASIER ON AGING BODY, SCENERY, WILDLIFE, WILD-FLOWERS, COLORADO SKIES, COOLER, PRAYER IN THE MOUNTAINS.

Favorite running trail and why:
CURRENTLY THE TRAILS ABOVE PALMER LAKE -- ACCESS FROM THE GATED ROAD ON THE SW SIDE OF TOWN (THE LAKES). MILES OF SOLITUDE AND THE BEST WILDFLOWERS.

Favorite trail/mountain race and why:
I LOVE THEM ALL. THOUGH PROBABLY LEADVILLE -- NO MILE MARKERS.

Best running experience:
2010 PPM -- no falls & ran a lot faster than I thought I would!

Worst running experience:
THE WEATHER ABOVE TREELINE DURING THE 2008 PPA -- I WAS ON PACE TO BREAK 3:30 (MY LONG STANDING GOAL) BUT WAS IN BAD SHAPE WHEN I FINISHED IN 3:40 -- I BLACKED OUT FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES NEAR THE TOP WHILE I WAS HIKING (I HAVE NO MEMORY OF THE LAST 5-6 SWITCHBACKS)

Neatest thing found on a run:
I LOVE FINDING AMAZONITE, I HAVE A JAR FULL. I OFTEN DON'T LOOK UP AS MUCH AS I SHOULD WHEN AROUND BARR CAMP :O)

Running related bathroom stop story:
"CARL, YOU'RE GOING TO BE GOING TO THE BATHROOM HERE IN ABOUT 30 SECONDS AND WHETHER YOU'RE SHORTS ARE DOWN IS IRRELEVANT"

Running pet peeves:
PEOPLE WHO DON'T SHARE TRAILS; UNFRIENDLY PEOPLE; AGGRESSIVE DOGS; HEAT

Something non running related that no one would guess about me:
I DO ALL MY OWN CAR WORK & WORK ON FRIENDS' CARS

Other hobbies and interests:
CAMPING, HUNTING, CHURCH

Other stuff:
I HAVE BEEN TRAINING & RUNNING MORE RACES WITHOUT A WATCH. IT HELPS ME RELAX, AND I OFTEN END UP RUNNING FASTER.

Page last modified: 3/1/2011