Katelyn Rabago

It’s probably one of the more common questions I get, like, “why running or what even got your started in wanting to run fifty miles?” and my honest answer is just that it was something I was told I would never be able to do and then I wanted to prove to myself that I could, or if at least continue to discover what my limits were... But at the end of the day, I just want to use whatever God has given me to tell His story in whatever form that looks like!

I was always a casual runner, since my late teens, I did it to stay moderately in shape and to participate in the occasional 5ks or mini triathlon races. It wasn’t until college that a friend of mine asked me to run across Minnesota that I got passionate about doing running in extreme amounts. I partnered with an organization called Venture and used my running for something beyond myself (which is a dream to have done and continue to do)! It started with a run across MN close to 250 miles in 10 days. In 2015, I partnered with Venture again and biked close to 3500 miles across America! That’s where it all began...

Fast forward (because I have a tendency to also run long with my words), I moved to the mountains and found a love for trail running. I met this crazy runner named John, who our mutual friend had asked if we wanted to run a 24 hour ultra marathon. I said, “that’s crazy... .. . Absolutely!” I finished that race with my pants somehow backwards and ended up running my first 50 mile ultra marathon in Estes Park and doing well.

Hometown: Blaine, MN

Real Job: Children's Therapist

Social Media:

Favorite Beverage: Odell's IPA or Tree Shaker

Guilty Pleasure: A homemade strawberry rhubarb pie!

Other Hobbies: Cycling, climbing, hiking, fishing, hunting, art, long night walks to the fridge (just kidding... maybe)

Pets: My 9lb dachshund, Tilly is the best! She is my little tag-a-long. She loves backcountry hut trips and skiing, she loves to run and rappel with me, paddle boarding and she even submitted her first 14'er last year!

Best thing about VFuel: First, I love that this all started in Estes Park... Having lived there for most of my CO time, this place feels like home. Second, I love the VFuel story... I love that someone saw a need and decided to do something about it and this truly reflects in the product.

Best recovery meal:: During training, usually some charred vegetables on quinoa and maybe turkey kielbasa. Post race I love to dive into some really good seafood or a Cajun boil!

Favorite trail running memory: …

Schedule: With COVID, my last two races were cancelled. I have a potential 50 in August in MN, but with the area being a "hotspot", I'm guessing all my races will be virtual this year... Being a 1st year resident and COVID, this may just be my year off before some big goals next year! In the meantime, I've been working on some Strava segments to steal some QOMs (took one last week-hehe)!

Any advice you want to share with a new athlete?: Your journey is your own. You'll have moments of failure and disappointment and other moments of your greatest success and it will constantly ebb and flow. In all your moments, choose to show up, be present and push yourself to find your limits and finish well knowing you are enough. You'll find your strength there. The times when you'll find weakness are when you compare yourself to others. Reminding yourself in those weak moments; this is not their run, this run is yours... Go find your limit!

Running Accomplishments:

2012: 2nd in Womens/ 3rd Overall 5k

2013: Ran 245 miles across MN (in 10 days)

2015: Bike 3480 miles across America

2017: 8th in Womens 24 hr Ultra

2017: 1st in Women/ 3rd Overall 50 mi Ultra