Mountain running with a smile on her face

Brandy Erholtz traveled the rugged road to stardom — literally. A road that takes the shape of a rocky trail filled with large obstacles, sharp elevation changes and treacherous terrain. Altitudes at over 8,000 feet and a training regime that begins before the Boise Inc. overnight shift ends. A road where mountain lions effect training schedules and entire races travel uphill.

Erholtz didn’t begin her long-distance running career with the hopes of one day becoming a 2-time U.S. Mountain Runner of the Year. She just wanted to get out of class.

“It’s been pretty incredible,” Brandy said. “I never in a million years thought of mountain running. ... I didn’t even know what it was five years ago.”

The Bronco Years

A lot can happen in five years for the strong-willed 1995 Falls High graduate.

Erholtz, formerly Griffith, spent six seasons apiece on the highly-touted Bronco cross country and track and field teams of the early 1990s.

The track and field team won Region 7AA in her seventh-grade season (1989), and continued the success with an Iron Range Conference title in 1990, a runner-up finish at True Team State in ’91, a Section 7A championship in ’92, a runner-up finish at state in ’93, another Section 7A championship in ’94 and a third-place finish at state her senior season when she was one of three captains.

In cross country, the biggest highlight was the Broncos winning the state championship during her sophomore season.

“We really had a strong team pretty much the whole time I was there,” Brandy said. “It was fun.”

The Broncos only missed state once in cross country during Brandy’s career. On the track, she qualified for state as an individual four times.

“We dominated,” said former Bronco girls track and field coach Paul Hjelle, who ran the show from 1990-98, and currently runs the boys program. “That was like no other girls high school sport here. We had just moved from double A to single A and those single A schools absolutely hated us. But we liked it.”

Ray Wood was the Broncos cross country coach at the time, and his 15-minute presentation in 1988 to a group of sixth-graders — which got them out of class — proved decisive in recruiting one of the more decorated girls athletes in Bronco history.

“I started running by accident,” Brandy said.

Brandy’s mom also played a small role by making her seventh-grade daughter actually show up to cross country practice the first week — to justify signing up and getting out of class for 15 minutes the previous year. Erholtz quickly realized she had more endurance than the other girls and legs started churning. Wood entered Brandy into the junior varsity meet at the Swain Invitational in Duluth that season, and the rest they say, is history.

Struggles turn into remarkable gains

Erholtz continued her running career at the University of Minnesota Duluth. She never achieved superstar status — failing to ever finish higher than 15th at the region and never qualifying for the Division II nationals — but she learned more about herself from having what she called “moderate to above-average success.”

“Having the young success was good, but it also created a lot of pressure,” Brandy said, noting she would occasionally cry at the starting line in high school due to all the self-inflicted pressure.

There was even a time she walked off the track during a race at the section meet in ninth grade.

“It wasn’t a highlight, that’s for sure,” she said.

She walked off the track once in college, as well, but looks back on those two moments as character-builders, not as character issues.

“In hind sight, what I learned is if you can persevere you will be stronger in the end,” she said. “And to learn to make sure I was having a good time.”

John Fulkrod, Brandy’s coach at UMD, wasn’t surprised at all when he first heard his former Bulldog was excelling in the mountains.

“She was good here at UMD,” he said, “but you know, she’s worked her tail off and proves the old adage that you’re not going to peak in your distance running until somewhere in your 30s.”

At 32, Brandy is in the prime of her running career. She just needed to catch a break to get to where she is today.

‘Who is this gal?’

In 2006, in the midst of moving with her husband, Matt, to Bailey, Colo., a town 45 minutes southwest of Denver, Brandy was locked in on training for marathons. Her No. 1 goal was to qualify for the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials.

She missed qualifying by a matter of minutes in a race that takes nearly three grueling hours.

Not to be denied, however (again), she looked into a mountain race she read about in an article on the U.S. Mountain Running Team in Colorado Runner magazine. Her focus was still on marathons, but her location gave her an opportunity to try something different. Besides, she always preferred running “through the mud with the trees and nature.”

Matt and Brandy traveled to Vail for the Teva Mountain Games 10K. It turned into the hardest race she’s ever participated in. A power-hiker passed her. But she recovered and finished third — behind two members of the U.S. squad.

Cue Nancy Hobbs.

“We were like, ‘Who is this gal?’” said Hobbs, the executive director of the American Trail Running Association and a mountain running supporter since 1995.

While still attempting to qualify for the Olympic trials, Brandy accepted an invitation from Hobbs to run in the North American Central American Championship (NACAC) Canmore Challenge 12K race in Canada.

It was a life-altering invite.

Brandy finished last among the Americans in the race, but Hobbs knew she found something.

Brandy, who failed to qualify for the Olympic trials twice in 2007, returned to Vail to the Teva Mountain Games 10K in 2008 and finished back in the top three.

“You could see an absolute change in the way she raced,” Hobbs said. “She had confidence before, but didn’t really feel she was a mountain runner.”

The light bulb finally went off at the Mt. Washington Road Race later in 2008.

“I really didn’t know what to expect,” Brandy said, “and a couple miles in I was leading this mountain race.”

She won the race — with the 5th-fastest women’s time in course history — earned the title of national mountain champion, and adjusted her goals.

“From there, it’s just been going straight up,” Hobbs said.

Brandy had found her niche.

“I was ecstatic,” she said. “I finally felt all that hard work paid off.”

Two dogs, three cats and a husband

Brandy is obviously on her own during her races, but she’s far from alone when it comes to her biggest supporters at home.

Five can’t speak English, because two are dogs and three are cats, but the most important supporter completely understands what his wife has to do to perform at a peak level.

“Not that many people are willing to put that much work into it,” said Littlefork-Big Falls graduate Matt Erholtz, who married Brandy in 2002 at Tettegouche State Park in Silver Bay. “The dedication that she has ... I’d question if anyone was ever more dedicated.”

The duo met at a party in high school and began dating the summer after graduation, but going separate ways for college — Matt went to the University of North Dakota — resulted in a breakup that spring.

However, 5 1/2 years later, the couple reunited.

“Finally he smartened up and decided to get back with me,” Brandy joked.

Matt is a teacher at Evergreen High School and coaches the junior varsity baseball team. Brandy also teaches, but is able to work from home. The recent schedule change has allowed the former Bronco to avoid 4:30 a.m. training runs, which she had to fit in before commuting to school with her old schedule.

She trains about 12-14 hours a week (roughly 100 miles).

Duluth Denfeld distance coach Gary Lepisto has been her trainer for four years, and although most of their communication is through e-mail, Brandy has continued to see improvements the past five years.

“She trains extremely hard,” said Lepisto, noting one of his toughest jobs is getting her to run her easy runs easier. “It’s probably what helped her the most — was getting her to rest and relax, to recover from all the hard work we do.”

Her dogs occasionally join her, but only during the day. There’s no running in Bailey at night with the absence of street lights and presence of mountain lions.

“I guess from an athletic standpoint, I can understand the time commitment,” Matt said. “I’m more appreciative and understanding of it as opposed to other spouses. To see and to know what it takes to be competitive at that level is something that I even try to instill in my baseball players.”

Until summer hits and Matt ditches the coaching duties for travel duties.

“I basically tell the varsity coach I can’t coach during the summer,” Matt said.

Opportunities to travel to Switzerland and to Italy can make that an easy decision.

‘One of those

dreams almost

every athlete has’

The doors that opened for the Erholtzs when Brandy cruised to the 5th-fastest women’s time in course history at Mt. Washington made the next two years unforgettable.

“It was kind of a blessing in disguise,” Matt said about Brandy’s first mountain race. “She failed so many times at reaching that qualifying time in the marathon, it allowed her to race a mountain race at a certain time in her life that connected to her.”

The first trip in 2008 was to Switzerland, where all Brandy did was finish 11th overall and first among her American teammates in the Mountain Running World Championships.

“Getting to go to Switzerland and wear that U.S. jersey was a phenomenal experience,” she said. “... One of those dreams that every athlete has.”

The world championships were in Italy in 2009 (after Brandy recorded the 4th-fastest women’s time ever at Mt. Washington), and she finished first again among Americans and 10th overall.

Known as one of the strongest runners physically in each competition she enters, Brandy’s next big root in the trail is a race she’s conquered two summers in a row.

Mt. Washington is the setting for this year’s U.S. Mountain Running Team qualifier, and the top four finishers advance to the world championships in Slovenia. As the sport becomes more popular and more competitive, it doesn’t take a former coach, a current trainer or even a husband to explain how Brandy will respond to tougher competition.

She’s one of the hardest workers they’ve ever known, “and she always ran with a smile on her face,” said Fulkrod AND Hjelle, in two completely separate interviews without a clue on what the other coach said.

Brandy is that kind of runner.

“She’s certainly an asset to our program and a great ambassador to the sport,” said Hobbs, who’s become good friends with the family.

“You just don’t know Brandy the runner,” Hobbs said. “You know Brandy the teacher, the wife. That makes her very enjoyable. She’s just a delight to be around and she’s really giving back to the sport.”

And mountain running has given a ton to Brandy.

“I think a lot of people would’ve given up a long time ago,” she said. “I definitely had some natural ability, but it’s definitely been a lot of hard work and a lot of prayer and not giving up your goals.”

Brandy Erholtz: An athletic running resume

PERSONAL BESTS

• 5K 17:29 (2007)

• 8K 28:41 (2006)

• 10K 36:11 (2009)

• 10-mile 58:55 (2008)

• Half-marathon 1:19:31 (2007)

• Marathon 2:49:16 (2007)

SPONSORSHIPS

• New Balance Ambassador 2009

• Atlas Snowshoe Team 2009

INTERNATIONAL RACING EXPERIENCE

• 2009 — 10th place Mountain Running World

Championships Italy; first American

• 2009 — Team Bronze medal Mountain Running World

Championships

• 2009 — 5th place Sierre-Zinal Switzerland 31K (3:14)

• 2009 — 3rd place Thyon-Dixence Switzerland 16K (1:29)

• 2008 — 11th place Mountain Running World Trophy

Switzerland; first American

• 2007 — 4th place NACAC Canmore Challenge 12K Canada

MOUNTAIN & TRAIL RUNNING NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

• 2009 — 2nd place Continental Divide 10K Trail Race

(U.S. Trail Championships)

• 2009 — 2nd place Cranmore Hill Climb

(U.S. Mountain Championships & NACAC)

• 2008 & 2009 U.S. Mountain Runner of the Year

• 2008 — 3rd place Steamboat Springs 8K

(Trail Championships)

• 2008 — 1st place Mt. Washington Road Race,

National Mountain Champion 1:11:08

(5th fastest women’s time in course history)

TRAIL & MOUNTAIN RUNNING HIGHLIGHTS

• 2009 — 1st place Barr Trail Race 1:49:08

New Course Record

• 1st place Mt. Washington Road Race 1:10:53

(4th fastest women’s time in course history)

• 2009 — 1st place Teva Mountain Games 10K

• 2008 & 09 — 1st place Black Canyon Ascent

New Course Record 45:06

• 2008 — 1st place La Sportiva Trophy Race - Vail;

3rd place in La Sportiva Series

• 2008 — 1st place Pike’s Peak Ascent 2:41:26

• 2008 — 3rd place Vail Berry Picker Selection race

• 2008 & 07 — 3rd place Teva Mountain Games Vail 10K

• 2007 — 4th place Mt. Tam Trophy Race 12K Selection Race

• 2007 — 1st place Greenland 25K Trail Race

• 2007 & 06 — 1st place Chatfield 10-mile Trail Race

WINTER RUNNING & SNOWSHOEING

• 2009 — 1st place Mt. Hood

U.S. National Snowshoe Champion

• 2009 — 2nd place America’s Uphill Aspen, Colo.

(2.5 miles, over 3,000 feet vertical gain)

• 2009 — 1st place Vail Winter Uphill

New Course Record 35:30 (2 miles, 2,000 feet vertical gain)

• 2009 — 2nd place Beaver Creek 10K Snowshoe Race

ROAD RUNNING HIGHLIGHTS

• 2009 — 4th place Bolder Boulder 36:11 (36:17 net)

• 2008 — 9th place Twin Cities 10-mile 58:55

(U.S. Women’s 10-mile National Championship)

• 2008 — 4th place Shamrock Marathon 2:51:26

• 2007 — 1st place Tucson Marathon 2:49:16

• 2007 — 1st place U.S. Marine Corps Memorial 5K 17:29

• 2007 — 2nd place Aetna 10-mile Denver 61:03

• 2007 — 6th place Bolder Boulder 10K 36:47

• 2007 — 2nd place Cherry Creek Sneak 5-mile 30:07

• 2007 — 12th place Houston Marathon 2:53:06

• 2008, 07 & 06 — 1st place Freedom 4th of July Race

Evergreen, Colo., 18:03, 18:13, 18:22

• 2006 — 9th best in Minnesota Open Women’s Runners of

the Year

• 2007 & 06 — 2nd place United Way Turkey Trot 4-mile

23:16, 23:38

• 2006 — 3rd place Denver Marathon 2:58:46

• 2006 — 2nd place Georgetown to Idaho Springs

Half-Marathon 1:22:06

• 2006 & 05 — 1st place Earth Day Half-Marathon

1:21:51, 1:21:25

• 2006 & 05 — 7th and 6th place Get In Gear 10K

36:32, 36:34

• 2006, 05 & 04 — 7th, 6th, 15th place Human Race 8K

28:41, 29:29, 30:18

• 2005 — 2nd place Thunder Bay 10-mile 59:45

• 2005 & 04 — 1st place Aqua-Fina Hayward Half-Marathon

1:22:21, 1:25:42

• 2005 & 04 — 3rd and 1st place New Prague Half-Marathon

1:20:58, 1:21:30

• 2005 & 04 — 11th best in Minnesota Open Women’s

Runners of the Year

• 2004 — 5th place Twin Cities 10-mile

(State Age Group Record) 60:05

FUTURE GOALS

• Qualify for the 2010 World Championship Mountain

Running Team

• Place in the top 3 at World Mountain Championship 2010

• Qualify for 2012 Olympic Marathon Trials

• Set faster P.R.’s at all distances from 5K-marathon

• Set Pike’s Peak Ascent course record

• Set course record at Mt. Washington Road Race

• Win 2010 Snowshoe Nationals and

North American Championships

• Run an ultramarathon (long-term future)

• Continue to enjoy running and stay healthy!

• Coach and find other ways to give back to the sport