The short version: I’m a 29 year old – ACK, no wait, I’m 30 now!! (denial) – Canadian ultra runner whose love for running often outshines her ability! At the moment, I’m living inside an armed compound in Afghanistan, working as a legal officer for the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA). I’ve competed in a number of RacingThePlanet’s 250 km self-supported footraces (1st in Vietnam, 1st in Nepal, 2nd in Australia, 2nd in the Gobi, China) and been lucky enough to win Vermont’s 100 mile endurance race in 2009. I’ve been training under ultrarunner and world record holder Ray Zahab since 2008 and can’t wait for my next ultramarathon race…
Stephanie Case in Namibia
The not-so-short version: I never used to love running. In fact, I downright dreaded it. I mean, I had done one marathon before for charity, but I used to count down the minutes of every single one of my training runs, ignoring my inner voice every step of the way. (Y’know, that voice that tells you to stop the crazy burning in your legs and get a gargantuan whipped-cream-a-chino at a starbucks instead?).
But then in 2007, instead of studying for finals during my last year of law school, I decided to go climb Kilimanjaro (as any sensible person would). It was literally a life-changing experience. I loved every minute of being out on that mountain for a week, bonding with the other climbers in my group (pretty close to Kumbaya styles), and having nothing to think about other than eating, sleeping, and making it to the top. Needless to say, I was hooked. I immediately wanted to sign up for another adventure, but this time I wanted something that was a bit more challenging.
And in the same way that all great adventures start, I went out one night with friends in the fall of 2007 and had, er, a substantial amount of wine. I told them about this race series I found called “RacingThePlanet”. It consisted of 250 km races over 6 stages (7 days) in which competitors carry all of their own food and gear on their backs. Whoa. I thought it was out of my league, but I couldn’t help but notice my pulse quicken every time I talked about it to someone else…
Guess what happened. Yes, wine + mastercard + late night internet browsing = one impetuous decision. I woke up the next morning and realized that I had paid my deposit for RacingThePlanet’s 250 km race in Northern Vietnam. What had I done??
To make a not-so-short story, er, pretty long, I ended up winning that first ultra race in Vietnam (3rd overall) and that was the beginning of what I hope to be a very long career in ultras! After Vietnam, I got taken on by fellow Canadian ultrarunner and world record holder Ray Zahab, who has been coaching me ever since. We ran in a charity run across Canada (I completed 640 km in 8 days) and he helped coach me to win the Vermont 100 Mile Endurance Race. I have gone on to compete in four more RacingThePlanet races and other international competitions and can’t wait for my next one.
My non-running life? Human rights work. I’m equally as passionate about my work as I am about running. I’ve worked on projects all over the world, from the Amazon jungle in Ecuador to Buddhist monasteries in Thailand. I’ve worked with refugees in Malaysia, observed trials in Ethiopia and negotiated my way through the west bank. Wherever I go, I make sure to bring my running shoes in my carry on bags.
Thanks for visiting my blog and I hope you’ll stick with me on my next adventure!
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I am so excited to have found your blog and added you to my Google Reader. Amazing…all I can say so far!
Thanks, Shannon! Really glad you like the blog – your feedback is totally welcome… Happy reading!
G’day, wondering how you are going in Kabul? I’m an Australian (ex-Fed) negotiating with the UN who have asked me to do an evaluation project for them. I have three sons (grown) and an elderly Mum so probably shouldn’t do stuff that is likely to get me killed. Security advisory notices aren’t too cheery so thought it would be good to touch base with someone on the ground. I’d be grateful if you feel inclined to chat back. IWOM (International Woman of Mystery)
Hi there! I’ll send you an email to take this off the public forum – happy to answer an and all questions. Will email shortly x
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Hi Stephanie,
hope youre well.
i didnt get your email address before we closed up, so drop me a line.
we’re all good this end and just started looking for work again.
take care for now,
alex
Hey Alex! I just dropped by the Itchy Feet store in Bath to show them Orca’s merino and had a chat about you. My email is stephanie.case@yahoo.com. Let me know what you’re looking for… Would love to help if I can!
Hi recently discovered your blog, very inspirational how much zest for life you have.
Very best wishes chris
Can’t believe I didn’t reply to this earlier – I was very touched by your comment! Ha, yes, certainly no lack of zest for life on this end… which sometimes can get the better of me! Hope whatever ‘ultra’ events you have going on in your life (whether running or otherwise) are keeping you busy, happy, and energized
Hi Stephanie,
I read your fantastic interview in Running Fitness mag and loved your story-so-far. Glad to have found your blog now (somehow I missed the link on the first read of it).
Hoping to “do” my first ultra next year.
All the best,
Matt
Hey Matt! How’s the ultra training going? Are you signed up for one this year or have you already completed one? Would love to hear an update!
Hey Stephanie,
I had a question for you. I’ve been training for Desert RATS and lately I have been having issues with the inside of my left knee cap. It has been feeling tender to the touch. Have you ever had that problem? And if so, did you get laid up for a while or adjust your training accordingly? I have 4 weeks until a 50k and 7 weeks until Desert RATS. I’m freaking out because I’m not sure if I should sacrifice more time on my feet by trying to recover and not do anything for a couple weeks (I dropped out of a marathon at mile 22 on April 9th because of my knee hurting), decrease my overall mileage but stay on my feet, or do something else all together. I got a late start with my weight training, but am hoping the weight training will help out my knee and within 7 weeks! Any advice (knowing you are not a physician so I don’t hold you liable) or suggestions on what you would do would really help me out. My morale is dropping at a time when I should be feeling more confident
Hey Maya,
ARG, that is so frustrating! You must be so annoyed – I completely understand. But don’t worry… you’ll get it back!!!
It is hard for me to say what it might be, BUT you might want to look up patellofemoral syndrome (PFS). It is also commonly called runner’s knee! I got PFS back in 2008 when I was training for Racing The Planet Vietnam. I was experiencing quite a bit of pain around my kneecap and it eventually got so bad I couldn’t run at all anymore. Like you, I was completely freaking out! PFS is basically when your kneecap doesn’t track properly so it starts to irritate the cartilage under the patella. For me, it was due to muscle imbalance issues (which is common in runners). The outside quad muscle (vastus lateralus) was strong than the inside one (vastus medialus or VMO) and so the kneecap was being pulled out of line. My IT bands were also super tight, which wasn’t helping the situation.
I did go to physio for ultrasound and electric stim, but IF this is what you have you can also try a number of things at home. There are exercises that can strengthen the VMO such as one-legged quarter squats (only go down a little bit, not all the way). You can also try to loosen up the IT bands by getting a foam roller (let me know if you aren’t sure what I’m talking about).
I also did a lot of deep water running. If you are near a pool, you can do either deep water running with a flotation belt on or shallow water running where your feet actually touch the ground if it doesn’t hurt too much. This will help keep the right ‘running’ muscles engaged during your recovery.
Do some googling to see if your symptoms fit — but ultimately I would just pop in to see a physio if you can. You don’t want to misdiagnose and then lose potential recovery time.
You’ve got time!! I’ll be thinking about you and hoping for a very speedy recovery. I know it is tough to think positively, but you’ll get there!! Will you keep me posted? Feel free to reach out anytime.
Ultra Runner Girl
Hey Stephanie,
I just wanted to say that I think your blog is awesome and I love that you are such a good runner but still have fun with it!
I’ve just entered my first ultra (50 miles) which will be August this year – I’m really nervous/excited but actually enjoying the training (am I mental?!)
Looking forward to hearing your updates – they are really inspirational!
Mike.
Hi Mike!! Thanks for following! Hey, and congrats on entering your first ultra – woot woot!!! The answer is yes, you are mental, but in great company
Keep me posting on how your training is going. I would love to hear any suggestions for blog topics. Any burning questions as you get your feet wet in the ultra world? Thanks again!
Hey.
What was supposed to be a quick squizz at your blog has resulted in an hour’s reading: travelling with you, running with you, sharing in the pain, joy and happiness that oozes from your writings. Most of all the happiness. It is tangible. Thanks for sharing that with the rest of the world.
Thanks so much for your message!! I’m really glad you like my blog. Especially now, living in Afghanistan, it helps to know that people out there are reading it!! x
Really enjoying your blog Stephanie. I met your folks last night at a Queen’s Alumni function and they mentioned your passion for running and world travel. You are an inspiration! Also – Happy Birthday!
Hey Stephanie,
I was living in Vancouver the past 3 years and knew your brother Ben, which is how I got to your blog. Every time I look a little farther into the ultra world, the circles seem to get smaller and smaller – I hung out with your coach Ray for a little bit as he was running the West Coast Trail a few years ago. I’ve been following Jill Homer for awhile, who ran in Racing the Planet Nepal, and is signed up for UTMB as well… I just thought it was funny how many connections I made even on the first page of your blog.
Anyways – it sounds like you are doing incredible things, both running and in Afghanistan. The blog is great to read as well. Keep up the good work.
Hey Stephanie,
I stumbled across your blog after doing a search for female ultra runners and I have truly enjoyed your posts and videos. I am a beginner in the distance arena (only one marathon and at least fifty 5k races under my belt) but I am training for one half and two full marathons this year in prep for an ultra early next year. Your drive as a runner and the adventures you blog about are motivational. RaceTheWorld is in my future thanks to you! By the way, I’m a tad jealous that you are geographically closer to my husband than I am. I understand you are in Kabul, he is deployed west of Kandahar. Stay safe and thanks!
Hi Stephanie,
Thanks for the not-so-short-version. It is truly inspiring. I am preparing for Kili, maybe there is hope for me to run an ultra one day (-:
Cheers!
Doreen
Hi Stephanie,
..
Like your blog … running my first multi day in Nepal, Manaslu mountain foot race, in November ..then the Gobi March next June, was actually toying with the G2G after the Gobi which is how I came about your site so looking forward to your account of the race
Have a trail group in Dubai so if you ever passing the sand pit itself let me know and I’d love to show you some of what Dubai has to offer Trail wise …hope the UTMB was awesome
LEE
Hi Stephanie:
Love your blog! I am a long distance runner myself– and I have been pondering trying out an ultramarathon for a few years now. I know I just need to sign up and do one and try it out instead of thinking about it any longer!
I am also a freelance writer and I am interested in writing an article on your ultramarathon experiences thus far. If you’re interested in being interviewed via email for this article- I would love to hear from you.
Happy Holidays!
-Stacey
Hi Stacey! Happy holidays to you too
Thanks for getting in touch. I love that you are thinking about your first ultra… I may be biased, but I think you should just sign up for one and jump in! Happy to talk through any potential race ideas if you’d like! I would be happy to do an interview, thanks for asking. Email me at stephanie.case@yahoo.com and we’ll take it from there. Cheers!
Steph
Hi Stephanie.
I just read about you in the Queen’s Alumni Review. I’m really interested in profiling you for Kingston Life magazine where I write a column on sports called Home Game. I have a special interest in both endurance sports (I’m a greybeard, soon to be 64, who cycled from Kingston to Newfoundland last summer) and human/rights and social justice (my book, A Year of Living Generously, concerns these subjects). And I’m especially interested in furthering the education of women who have been denied that right.
I see you are back in New York some time in March? Or are you off to another race? It may be that we’ll have to conduct the interview via e-mail. Are you up for that?
All best,
Lawrence Scanlan
Kingston
Hey Lawrence! Good to hear from you! I’d be happy to do an interview by email… I will also be back in good ol’ K-town in mid-April if you’d like to meet in person then
Perhaps we can do both! Maybe we could go out for a jog or a cycle?! I’ll look up your book – sounds incredibly interesting. Let’s chat! My email is stephanie.case@yahoo.com