Megan Kimmel tragically handed away this previous week, on the age of 46.
A beloved off-road runner, backcountry skier, hiker, canine mother, entrepreneur, free spirit, member of the family, and pal, Megan introduced pleasure to the lives of so many. Her loss is felt all through the world, from these she raced with within the far reaches of the globe to these she shared her residence with within the San Juan Mountains of Colorado. Whereas most individuals will know Megan as a world-class runner, she was way more than that.
Megan Kimmel: off-road runner, backcountry skier, hiker, canine mother, entrepreneur, free spirit, member of the family, and pal. Photograph: iRunFar/Meghan Hicks
Racing and Journey
For Megan, racing and journey went hand in hand. She started path racing round 2003 and located fast success in national-level mountain races, and later in worldwide mountain operating, path operating, skyrunning, and ultrarunning.
Megan ran professionally for each ASICS and Salomon throughout her profession, which enabled her to journey internationally and compete. As was true to her free however extremely pushed spirit, she traveled to and competed in a few of the world’s best races, in addition to a few of the most adventurous — together with the 2017 and 2019 Yading Skyrun in western China, which she gained each occasions. When racing in Europe — together with lining up for the enduring Swiss mountain race Sierre-Zinal no less than twice and inserting second in 2015 — she was identified for tenting her means across the European Alps, and even establishing store at a campsite within the Chamonix valley of France for a few weeks at a time to coach. It was each racing and a grand journey.
Megan on her approach to successful the 2019 Yading Skyrun. Photograph: Skyrunner World Collection
Megan raced exhausting, however she additionally knew tips on how to have enjoyable. She ran the Zegama Marathon in Spain no less than 5 occasions, getting as excessive as second place in 2016, and was additionally a champion of the notorious Zegama after-party of her period.
Stateside, Megan thrived on the La Sportiva Mountain Cup, an early mountain operating circuit within the U.S. Circa 2009 to 2014, she gained the annual collection greater than as soon as. She gained each the Pikes Peak Marathon and Pikes Peak Ascent in Colorado, setting a then-course report within the Marathon in 2018. She additionally gained The Rut 28k in Montana in 2016.
Megan Kimmel within the wind and the mud and the crowds of Sancti Spiritu on the 2017 Zegama Marathon. Photograph: iRunFar/Bryon Powell
Although she principally ran shorter distances, she sometimes experimented with ultrarunning. In 2015, she gained The North Face Endurance Problem 50 Mile Championships in San Francisco, California, and podiumed on the Transvulcania Ultramarathon in 2019 in Spain’s Canary Islands throughout her closing 12 months of aggressive racing. She’s a two-time champion of California’s Damaged Arrow Skyrace 52k, which has now been up to date to the 46k occasion.
She wore the Crew USA jersey on the World Mountain Operating Championships no less than thrice and was part of the bronze medal-earning USA ladies’s crew in 2009.
Megan Kimmel operating the Jupiter Peak Steeplechase in Utah, 2012. The race was a part of the La Sportiva Mountain Cup. Photograph: Asics
Dwelling in Southwest Colorado
Megan cherished Southwest Colorado, making the high-altitude mining city of Silverton her residence beginning round 2002, and changing into a home-owner in 2007. She moved to and away from Silverton a number of occasions over time, having made the San Juan Mountains foothills city of Ridgway residence for many of her latest years.
Round 15 years in the past, Megan opened Cafe Möbius, the espresso store that may change into the center of tiny Silverton. Finally, Megan yielded possession, and the enterprise has since morphed into the Espresso Bear, nonetheless the beating coronary heart of Silverton and holding true to Megan’s perception that the tiny city wanted a spot to assemble individuals for espresso and dialog.
Megan after the 2017 The North Face 50 Mile. Photograph: iRunFar/Bryon Powell
She operated Cafe Möbius within the period when provide vehicles wouldn’t make deliveries to Silverton for such a small enterprise, so she commuted the espresso store’s provides from the foothills cities herself. The store was identified for its selfmade breakfast burritos, heated in a press and able to seize on the way in which out to any morning journey. It was additionally a spot the place Megan would chat with anybody about her adventures, their adventures, and extra.
She did all this whereas nonetheless operating professionally.
Megan retired from skilled racing throughout and maybe on account of the COVID-19 pandemic. As her operating profession waned, she moved to her subsequent skilled endeavor: opening a whole-foods co-op in Ridgway with pal and enterprise associate, Honga Im. A couple of years in the past, she moved away from that endeavor as nicely and returned to highschool so as to add abilities to her therapeutic massage remedy observe, which had lengthy been a part-time job and keenness. She added a certification in structural integration, and her clientele expanded from there.
Megan at her co-op, Ridgway Pure Meals, in Ridgway, Colorado. Photograph courtesy of Megan Kimmel.
The San Juan Mountains of Southwest Colorado, which she’s referred to as residence for thus lengthy, will really feel vacant with out the larger-than-life, straight-talking, takes-no-bullshit Megan Kimmel.
Megan was cherished by so many, and we’re so sorry for the big loss you are feeling. We’d like to host remembrances of her within the feedback part. Might Megan run in peace.
Megan all smiles after the 2019 Transvulcania Extremely. Photograph: iRunFar/Meghan Hicks
