Roxanna Renee Strine (Trail name "Riverdawg") age 58, hails from Wrightsville, PA, where she currently coaches Cross Country at Eastern York H.S. A retired postal worker, Roxanna has spent nearly her entire life on river hills, and has been an avid trail runner since 1994. This is her story.
"I have been on river hills all my life. Being on a trail is so peaceful and therapeutic; I can never have a bad day on a trail. As a kid growing up in a river town, we hiked along the river daily! Each time was an adventure. I guess I never outgrew that sense of adventure.
I began trail running in 1994. My first trail run was the Conestoga 10-Miler. From there, I have completed the Escarpment in upstate NY, Bull Run Trail Run, Hat Run, Megatransact, the End to End Ultra Hike, and more. When I saw the first KTA Super Hike advertised five years ago, I knew I had to sign up! First of all, it was right in my backyard, so I did not have to travel. Secondly, I am on these trails a lot, whether it is Thursday trail maintenance with" the boys" of the York Hiking Club, running with my dog, or doing a training run with the Trail Dawgs!
I have completed KTA's Susquehanna Super Hike and Ultra Trail Run every year so far (even the year it was cancelled due to severe flooding, a small group of us went and completed a section of the course that day anyway!).
Because I live so close I can train right on the course, often with others already on the trail. Although I know a lot of folks who are participating in the 2013 Super Hike, I will complete the actual event on my own, mostly because I am neither a runner nor a hiker all the time -- I like to mix it up!
If you are new to this kind of challenge event, please look up a running and/or hiking club in your area. Most running clubs are also hiker-friendly and you can get out with others and push yourself!
I am looking forward to joining 499 other hikers on September 7, at the fifth annual Super Hike. Have fun out there, and good luck to all you crazy people!"
Do you want to join Roxanna and the rest of the 'crazy people' participating in this extreme challenge event on September 7? Click here to learn more about participating or volunteering!