I have been trail running since around 2004 and have been a staple of the Quicksilver Running Club since 2013. I joined the QRC as a member of the Ultra Running Team, and over the years expanded my duties to become Board Member at Large and then Director of Races. If you’ve been to one of our regular Sunday Morning Mockingbird Runs, the Summer BBQ, or the Quicksilver Trail Challenge, then you’ll probably recognize me and my wife, Ellen. For 2020 I will be acting as the club president and working on my much needed delegating skills, which I generally find more challenging than running hill repeats on the Virl Norton Trail!

I had been a casual runner most of my life but never more than a 10k. But a few years ago my son started running with Coach Marc and the Quicksilver kids and I started to learn about trail running and ultra marathons. With the exception of running what seemed to be impossibly long races, everyone seemed to be pretty normal so I took that as a good sign and I gave trail running a try. My first race was a half marathon in Quicksilver, then Skyline to the Sea marathon, and I finally crossed over to the dark side running my first ultra, the 2015 Quicksilver 50k. Now I have two 100 miler buckles and will try for a third one this summer.

Running has always been a part of who I am. My first ever race was a 5K Turkey Trot when I was around 10 years old and I've been racing ever since. I ran track and cross country and have always been passionate about the sport. It wasn't until recently though that I got into trail running. After reading "Born to Run" and learning about Western States I discovered the Quicksilver Running Club while searching for Western States Qualifiers. I've made a number of friends in the club and have really enjoyed volunteering at the Quicksilver races.

My family and I have called the Bay Area home for the past seven years and love living here. We were originally brought here for work, but as lovers of all things outdoors have fallen in love with the year round beauty of the area.

When I'm not running I'm kept pretty busy by my three young boys. They are great helpers and you'll often see them either helping volunteer with me at aid stations or cheering me on at a race.

Keith has been trail running at Quicksilver since about 2001, and got sucked into the ultra-world at Quicksilver in 2007 (by Jim, the patient zero/typhoid Mary of trail running). Somewhere around 2015 he joined the board to help perpetuate the trail running disease. Most weekends Keith can be found dodging wasps, poison oak and mountain lions in the hills around San Jose; during the week, supporting his running habit as a scientist and engineer in one of our many Silicon Valley technology companies.

An avid outdoors-person since childhood, I came to trail running through alpine climbing, when I decided I wanted to be less slow on approaches to big mountain objectives. Let's just say things escalated very quickly once the trail bug bit, and I've since discovered a love of ultrarunning, 100k and 100 mile distances in particular, and the solitude and exploration that long days on fire roads and single tracks offer. 

I discovered Quicksilver Running Club in 2020 while searching online for opportunities to volunteer and connect with other trail runners, and have since spent many great days with the club maintaining trails, volunteering at aid stations, and sweeping at the Quicksilver races. I'm thrilled to step into a new role with the club as the trail liaison and look forward to working with our land manager partners to maintain the New Almaden trail and offer excellent volunteering opportunities to our club members. 

Kristina grew up the child of a Yosemite big wall climber and international mountaineer. To keep up with her father she had to run on the trails as a child. She loved it so much that she continued it for fitness through college. Kristina first heard about the Western States 100 mile run in the late 1970s because her high school teacher ran it. She announced she would run that race someday because it sounded great that you didn’t have to carry a pack and wear boots.

Going to school to become a chiropractor delayed her running dreams. After she graduated she met up with runners from the Quicksilver Running Club that had done ultra distances. She ran her first ultra marathon in 1989 and her first 100 mile run in 1992, which was Western States. It’s nothing short of a miracle that 29 years later she can still run without any major degenerative injuries. Definitely not the runner she used to be but still enjoys the trails and longer distances.

As a way to give back to ultra running community she became the aid station coordinator for the Quicksilver races. And to give back to the Western States 100 Run she became the captain of the Duncan Canyon aid station.

With over 30 years of running and racing experience, Gary has conquered distances from 1 mile to 50 miles, completing hundreds of races. A true mountain lover, he finds peace and joy on the trails. Since moving to the Bay Area in 2021, he and his wife, Kellen, have found a home with the Quicksilver Running Club.

Beyond his passion for the outdoors, Gary is a highly competitive spirit. When he's not crushing trails, racing, talking about shoes, gear, running in general, or cheering on the Quicksilver team, you can find him at sporting events (especially if the Philadelphia Eagles are playing!). He's excited to help promote a great club and team. Come join him for a run, a race, and some mountain adventures!

Laura is one of the youth coaches for Quicksilver. She was convinced by Marc Klemencic to become an assistant coach after coming out several times and running with her kids during the youth club practices. As a result she fell in love with trail running. Laura is not an ultra distance runner but you will find her in some local races running anything 1/2 marathon and under. Otherwise you will usually find her sweeping the youth team on a Saturday morning, cheering on one of her own kids at a race, or helping out with the 100K/50K barbecue.

Mandie has been running at Quicksilver since 2016 when she started training for her first Quicksilver 100k. Although a dual member of the Stevens Creek Striders and Quicksilver, it is Quicksilver she goes to when the soul is in need of a refresh. 

Mandie has traveled the world to participate in races across Taiwan, Greece, Switzerland, in addition to all around the country. She has represented the United States as a member of Team USA at the 24 Hour World Championships, and volunteers regularly with Quicksilver, the Western States Trail Crew, and at too many races to count. Most weekends you can find her pacing, crewing, or doing trail work. 

Now that Quicksilver is basically her backyard, she thought it was time to get involved with the Board, if only to make sure that the Summer BBQ was on a date that she would actually be in town for.