Foot to Paw
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| About Foot to Paw Kristin Rokos of Northfield, VT, will be attempting to run all five of Vermont’s 4,000 footers in a single 24-hour period on Saturday, August 20th, (rain date of Sunday, August 21st) 2011 to raise money for Lucy Mackenzie Humane Society in West Windsor, VT. The total distance is greater than a marathon, and the total elevation gain is just under 10,000 feet. A professional pilot, avid outdoorswoman, and volunteer at the shelter, the 34-year old Rokos is once again looking to give back to the shelter, and draw attention to the cause in a unique way. A few years ago while living in Woodstock, VT, when the economy was at its worst and work as a Corporate Jet Pilot slowed down, Rokos began volunteering at the Lucy Mackenzie Humane Society. During her weekly visits, she would play with the cats to help them become more socialized, which made them more likely to be adopted. In return, the cats made Rokos happy, gave her something to look forward to, and ultimately, introduced her to three of her own cats she would eventually adopt. “When I was thinking about an organization that meant a great deal to me and that I wanted to give back to, Lucy Mackenzie Humane Society was my first choice,” said Rokos. >LISTEN TO KRISTIN'S INTERVIEW WITH 99 ROCK! |
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| How to Help | |
| >Donate to Lucy Mackenzie through Kristin's challenge by sponsoring her by each 1,000 feet she climbs in elevation, or in an amount chosen by you. | |
| Donate any amount you choose: | |
Sponsor each 1,000 feet she climbs (approx. 9750 feet in gain total): |
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| $5/1000 feet = $5 x 9.75 = $48.75 | |
$10/1000 feet = $10 x 9.75 = $97.50 |
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$25/1000 feet = $25 x 9.75 = $243.75 |
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$50/1000 feet = $50 x 9.75 = $487.50 |
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$100/1000 feet = $100 x 9.75 = $975 |
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$500/1000 feet = $500 x 9.75 = $4,875 |
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| About the Challenge Completing all of Vermont’s 4,000 footers in a single 24-hour period entails tackling 30.7 miles of grueling, rocky steep trails that will have Rokos climbing just shy of 10,000 feet in one day. This is only 1,535 feet less elevation gain than what a climber typically gains in a week while summiting Mount Everest. It is likely that she will be running some of these peaks in total darkness. On a recent training run where she ran three of the five peaks that she’ll be doing for Foot to Paw (Killington, Camel’s Hump and Mansfield), Rokos started her last peak, Mt. Mansfield at around 8 p.m. “It was much more of a mental challenge at that point. I had just run two large peaks; the sun was setting, I was sore and still soaked from the perspiration of running up the last two peaks, and knew that by the time I reached the last 0.3 mile before the summit, with some sections that resemble rock climbing, it would be dark. I also knew that there was a very good chance that there wouldn’t be another person on the mountain. After about the first 50 minutes of running, the headlamp was required for the remainder of the night. I turned if off a couple of times to pause for a moment to take in the experience. The lights off in the distance of Burlington, Stowe and adjoining towns and the 40+ mph winds dancing through my jacket, was just remarkable. It was just myself and the mountain. It always amazes me how pushing myself past that nervous apprehension allows me to see and experience such amazing things. If I just relax and breathe, I realize that I’m doing something pretty incredible that not too many folks will experience in their lives.” |
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| About Kristin Rokos enjoys challenging herself both mentally and physically. Her recent accomplishments include soloing Mt. Washington in the winter, going through wilderness survival school, flying gliders and aerobatic aircraft, and exploring caves that require repelling. She began running as a child, but her recent running interests are focused more on adventure running and non-organized events. “You go through phases in your life and running is no different. I’m more interested in taking to the trails on my own, seeing how big of a mountain I can run up, how lightly I can travel, and what part of myself I get in touch with along the way. This is what pushes me to seek out these kinds of experiences.” It is when she finds herself alone on the mountain that Rokos feels an inner strength, one that she hopes animals at the shelter can find within themselves as well. |
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