New Mexico professor sets women's course record in 200-mile ultramarathon

For many, a 5K is enough of a challenge. For Aztec’s Karen Krob, 43, it’s a warmup.

On July 28, Krob made history at the Summit 200 Trail Race in Colorado by completing the punishing 200-mile mountain loop in 78 hours, 56 minutes — breaking the previous women’s course record by nearly 14 hours and finishing almost 10 hours faster than last year’s overall winner.

Held at altitudes ranging from 9,000 to 13,000 feet, and featuring over 40,000 feet of elevation gain, the Summit 200 is considered one of the most brutal — and scenic — ultramarathons in the country. With 12 aid stations, four sleep stations, long stretches without crew access, and a 110-hour cutoff, it’s billed as a “multi-day adventure race,” not just a run.

Krob said closing in on the finish line is full of suspense.

“When I was doing the final stretch, that 14 miles, I started getting choked up,” Krob said. “By the time I got to the end of the finish line, I think it was relief … I was so happy to see the finish line.”

Krob’s running story starts at age 12 in the northwest part of Washington. What began as bike rides alongside her father eventually led to long-distance running, and it’s been part of her life since.

She ran track and cross country in high school, but by the time she was attending theUniversity of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington, the pressure had taken its toll.

“It was getting pretty mentally unhealthy for me; too competitive and it was stressing me out too much,” she said.

It wasn’t until she attended graduate school at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, that Krob found her stride again — this time for the benefit of her mental health — but it wasn’t long before she was sidelined with serious back issues.

Krob says her recovery became a turning point.

“(The physical therapist) worked with me and eventually got me back to where I was walking,” she said. “I remember when I could run a whole mile again. It was very exciting. … I think my physical therapist would be floored to know I’m doing 200 miles now.”

In 2018, Krob moved to Aztec, in northwest New Mexico, for work. It was also the same year her father passed away from Parkinson’s disease.

“That’s when I said I need to do something big,” Krob said. “I started with the Ironman triathlon idea, and I got a coach … I raised money for the Michael J. Fox Parkinson’s Foundation.”

The Ironman triathlon includes a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride and a 26.2-mile run. Krob’s competitive spirit eventually launched her into the world of ultra-endurance racing.

Krob, a psychology professor at San Juan College, credits both physical training and mental conditioning for her record-breaking Summit 200 run. She draws heavily from her academic knowledge, especially in performance and motivation psychology.

“I love psychology because it is applicable to everything we do, all the time,” she said. “One of my biggest interest areas is motivation. I feel like it kind of gives me a leg up because I know tricks to keeping yourself motivated and the importance of … trying to stay positive. … You can’t feel pain as much if you stay positive.”

Krob carried that mindset into training for the Summit 200, working remotely with a Colorado-based coach to develop a race strategy.

“We try to make the training harder than the race is going to be, which pays off. That was the biggest strategy,” she said.

Some weeks, training may include 70 to 100 miles on foot, plus a mix of hiking, running and even tending to her animals. Other weeks, she logs 25 miles just walking and hiking.

But Krob said it’s not just about miles.

“I’ve learned over the years … that you cannot shortchange the strength training,” she said. “It turns out that is one of the most important pieces. So, I have a lot of strength training and biometrics. Everything counts.”

Krob took a “type-A” approach to her Summit 200 strategy. In addition to physical preparation, she created a spreadsheet .

“I have a whole (spreadsheet) of eight stations and the distances, my goal time, the cutoff time,” she said. “(Plus) what I need to make sure I do at each aid station — like if I need to change my shoes or use my inhaler. I think that helped a lot, too.”

So, what’s next?

The Javelina Jundred, a 100-mile race in Scottsdale, Arizona, this October.

For anyone thinking about beginning their own journey in endurance sports, Krob offers a reminder that big things often start small.

“My teaching in college, running, and even in the community ... I like to be an encouraging cheerleader,” she said. “At some point, there are going to be struggles. But how can we overcome those? ... (Overcoming those struggles) is a good feeling. I also really try to reinforce (that) it starts one step at a time. Maybe for someone it starts with a walk around the block.”