The trail to victory isn’t linear. There are winding switchbacks full of roots and rocks; big climbs, and gnarly descents. The trail is unpredictable and always dirty. Six years ago, Kathryn Drew ran her second 50K trail race at Chuckanut 50K in the respectable time of 5:34:42. Yesterday, she won the female race in 4:26:54, placing 18th overall. Experience and humility are necessities when seeking success in trail and ultrarunning. Drew is in it for the long haul, and her hard work is paying off. Whether it’s a six-, 10-, or 20-year plan, ultrarunning favours experience, patience, and humility.
