Nikki Kimball

My name is Nikki and I love all sports. That’s a pretty simple sentence, but it covers a lot of my passion.

I grew up in a wonderfully active family in Vermont, cross-country skiing and hiking from times before my memories begin. I ran, skied, biked, played soccer and built tree forts throughout my early life. That part of me has not changed much. I’ve added more sports, taken some away. I’ve added a lot of education, broadened my field of passions and hopefully learned to seek out joy a bit more. But basically my physicality is the one constant in my life. Aerobic exercise is medicine for me. It structures my social life, stabilizes my mental health, and never gets old.

I added ultramarathons to my competitive repertoire in 1999 and have since accrued three Ultra Runner of the Year titles from both Ultra Running Magazine and USA Track and Field Association. I’ve won Western States 100, White River 50 Mile National Championships and UTMB inside of 10 weeks (2007). I’ve won Marathon des Sables (2013), Run Rabbit Run (2013), and earned eight national championship titles in ultra running and snowshoe racing. I’ve been named to 14 US National teams across three running disciplines. I’ve written articles appearing in magazines in three countries, starred in the internationally award-winning documentary, Finding Traction, and spoken to audiences on 4 separate continents.

I treasure my racing memories and accomplishments and I continue to add to them. However, as I enter my 17th year of competitive ultra running, I receive a much deeper satisfaction from walking through the doors running has opened for me. My focus has shifted somewhat away from strict adherence to the massive time commitment required to be one of the world’s top runners. I now fill that time by using my running to help decrease the stigma surrounding mental illness. I contribute to podcasts and write frequently on the topic. I speak at races, camps, mental health advocacy events and medical conferences. My running and racing has given me a platform from which to do social good, and I intend to use it to do the best I can for others suffering from mental illness.

Hometown: Bozeman, MT

Footwear: Hoka One One

Social: 
  

Favorite Beer: Sorry, I prefer wine

Best recovery meal: Scrambled eggs

Guilty Pleasure: Coke Zero

Other Hobbies: Skiing (all type imaginable) cooking, hunting, hanging with my dog

Best thing about VFuel: I feel good, consistent energy without nausea when using Vfuel gels in training and racing.

Film Appearances: Finding Traction, The Wind Drinkers, Horse and Tea

Running Accomplishments:

Women’s FKT of The Long Trail in VT
2016 American River 50, 3rd place
2015 Chimera 100, 1st place
2015 Bridger Ridge Run, 1st place
2015 Western States 100, 10th place
2015 Silver State 50, 1st place
2014 Run Rabbit Run 100, 1st place
2014 Bridger Ridge Run, 1st place
2014 Western States 100, 5th place
2014 Silver State 50, 1st place
2013 Run Rabbit Run 100, 2nd place
2013 Angels Staircase 50K, 2nd place
2013 Western States 100, 2nd place
2013 North Face Endurance Challenge 50-New York, 2nd place
2013 North Face Endurance Challenge 50-Atlanta, 1st place
2012 Western States 100, 5th place
2012 Spokane River Run 50K, 2nd place
2011 North Face Endurance Challenge 50-Atlanta, 1st place
2011 The Bear 100, 1st place
2011 Bridger Ridge Run, 1st place
2011 Western States 100, 3rd place
2011 North Face Endurance Challenge-New York, 2nd place
2011 Antelope Island Buffalo Run 50K, 1st place
2010 North Face Endurance Challenge 50-Atlanta, 1st place
2010 Blue Mountain Trail Race 30K, 1st place
2010 Bridger Ridge Run, 1st place
2010 Western States 100, 3rd place
2010 Comrades Marathon (South Africa), 2nd place
2010 North Face Endurance Challenge-New York, 1st place
2010 Antelope Island Buffalo Run 50K, 1st place
2009 Bridger Ridge Run, 1st place
2009 Western States 100, 4th place
2009 Pittsfield Peaks 50, 1st place
2009 North Face Endurance Challenge-New York, 1st place
2009 Zane Grey 50, 1st place
2009 Antelope Island Buffalo Run 50K, 1st place
2008 North Face Endurance Challenge-San Francisco, 4th place
2008 UltraCentric Gold Rush 24 Hours, 15th place
2008 North Face Endurance Challenge-Madison, 1st place
2008 Tahoe Rim Trail 100, 1st place
2008 North Face Endurance Challenge 50-Bellingham, 1st place
2008 Way Too Cool 50K, 5th place
2007 Mountain Masochist 50, 1st place
2007 Ultra Tour Du Mont Blance, 1st place
2007 White River 50, 1st place
2007 Westewrn States 100, 1st place
2007 Miwok 100K, 2nd place
2007 Spokane River Run 50K, 1st place
2006 Mountain Masochist 50, 1st place
2006 Tamalpa Headlands 50K, 2nd place
2006 White River 50, 1st place
2006 Western States 100, 1st place
2006 Miwok 100K, 1st place
2006 Chuckanut 50K, 1st place
2005 Sunmart Texas Trails 50, 1st place
2005 Tussey Mountainback 50, 1st place
2005 Leadville Trail 100, 1st place
2005 White River 50, 1st place
2005 Zane Grey 50, 1st place
2005 Way Too Cool 50K, 1st place
2004 Mountain Masochist 50, 1st place
2004 White River 50, 1st place
2004 Western States 100, 1st place
2004 Soapstone Trai Races 24K, 1st place
2004 Ice Age 50K, 1st place
2004 Zane Grey 50, 1st place
2004 Chuckanut 50K, 1st place
2003 White River 50, 1st place
2003 American River 50, 1st place
2001 Finger Lakes 50, 1st place
2001 GNC 100K, 2nd place
2001 GNC 50K, 5th place
2000 Pisgah Mountain Trail Race 50K, 1st place
2000 Escarpment Trail Run 30K, 1st place