Colette Outten

Colette Outten loves the great outdoors. She runs, hikes, paddles, bikes, anything outside. A Pocomoke resident, she is also co-race director of the Blades Ten Mile race on nearby trails.

How long have you been a runner?
I have been a runner since Dec. 31, 1996. That was the evening my husband, Brian (then my fiancé), asked me to go for a run with him. Until that time, I did only gym workouts (step aerobics classes and lifted weights). That first run wasn’t easy, but definitely changed the course of my life. I did several 5ks in Salisbury that spring and, as it usually does, the race distances grew from there. Every year since that first run, I try to get a run in on New Year’s Eve to celebrate all the running I get to do.

You lead an active life. What other sports/athletic interests do you enjoy?
I love to be outdoors, so most of my interests are out on the water, trail or roads. I love road cycling (mostly on a tandem bike with Brian) and riding my fat tire bike on the local trails because it is pure fun and makes me a better runner. I also love paddling whether it is on a stand-up paddle board, a kayak, or rowing on a tandem sculling skiff (of course, with Brian). I make sure I get out and take a walk every day. I also love to garden. I have fun knee boarding when we take out the boat in the summertime. I learned to snow ski in my late thirties and love the feel of sliding down the side of the mountain. Most of all I love to lift weights. Brian and I have been able to put together a home gym that helps me be able lift heavy. It is the foundation for all my other activities.

You have a long list of races to your credit. Do you have any favorites or anything that stands out?
The races that Brian supported me through, or I trained for and traveled to with friends are most memorable. During my first sprint distance triathlon, Brian ran out to finish the last few tenths of the run with me. He did the same for my first marathon, the OBX Marathon in 2007. My first half-ironman distance triathlon was in my home state, Rhode Island. I believe it was in 2012. My dad, sister and brother-in-law came out to cheer me at the finish line. I went back to Rhode Island to celebrate my 10th marathon in October 2018 by running in Narragansett. My dad, sister, brother-in-law, niece and her family came to see me finish. My dad passed away six months later.
In 2016, I learned about Athletes Serving Athletes and became a wingman. Those training runs and races opened up the opportunity for my first ultra-marathon. It is a favorite because it was the beginning of amazing friendships and the community that I am a part of today. Training for and running the Algonquin 50k with Diana Barabas, Kerri Lambert, and Tori (Fears) Crowley was so special. Until this time, I usually ran alone because I didn’t have many friends who were runners or who wanted to run this long. I have traveled with other friends from the running community to other marathons including Detroit, Michigan and Richmond, Virginia. Those experiences are extra memorable.
My first 50 miler, at Greenbrier Ultras, is a favorite because it was so unique with the midnight start. It was seven loops and each loop felt like its own course as the views changed from midnight, to sunrise, to sunset (it took me over 21 hours). Brian and Robert Buecker were the best crew. Sabine Sayler and Kate James were amazing pacers. More recently, I have a fun memory of my running the First State Trail Race (May 2024) where I forgot to pack my running shoes. I did however, have a pair of Earth Runner sandals with me and ran/hiked (and what felt like cross-country skied) the whole muddy course in them. My other memorable races are also the races I have DNF’d (several Olympic distance triathlons, the JFK 50, the first Tuckahoe 25k, and the Laurel Highlands 50k). Each DNF has been an incredible training experience and I learned so much about doing the work, getting comfortable with being uncomfortable, and how each step is a gift and something I get to do.

Let’s talk about that FKT!  You hold the Fastest Known Time supported female record for Assateague Island End to End (north to south), which is run entirely on sand. Tell us about it.
Oh, what an amazing adventure! It honestly leaves me speechless. In May of 2023, I was inspired to try to run/hike the full length of Assateague Island when I crewed a group of runners who ran a 50k from the McDonald’s in Chincoteague, Va.,to the Assateague Visitor’s Center in Berlin, Md. The majority of this 50k was on sand, along the tideline of Assateague Island. For your non-local readers, Assateague Island is a beautiful and dynamic 37-mile-long barrier island off the east coast of the Delmarva Peninsula facing the Atlantic Ocean. The northern two-thirds are in Maryland, and the southern third is in Virginia. I knew of the handful of men who had completed running the full length of Assateague as well as one woman, Erin Festerman, from Pennsylvania. I then decided that I wanted to be the first local woman to run this amazing barrier island. I reached out to Nate Hanley who is one of these few who have run the full length of the island and supported Erin in her efforts. He enthusiastically agreed to help with logistics and be my crew chief. Nate also was the one who told me about the FKT and that it was our goal to get on the Fastest Known Time website for first supported female on the Assateague Island End to End course. This was an extra bonus for me.

I am still in awe of how perfectly this adventure came together. I believe God blessed it in the way He brought my crew together. When I talked to each person about my goal, no one hesitated to offer help and they all fulfilled their commitment. There was perfect harmony as we picked the date (Oct. 14, 2023). The weather, the scenery, the conversations, everything was perfect. There are so many little things that made the day special. The calm waters on our boat ride over at 2:30 a.m. An unseen deer bugling his call as we arrived on the beach. The lights of Ocean City behind us and the stars in the dark sky overhead. The sunrise over the ocean as the clouds rolled in. The fishermen that were so pleasant, curious and encouraging as we passed them. The horses, birds, shells, and the varied terrain of the dunes. I could not have asked for a more perfect experience.

I am forever grateful for my crew. Their dedication to support me helped me focus on being consistent in my training. I worked hard because I knew they were so willing to give up their time for me. For Karen Cathell, who shared the first ten miles with me in the dark before sunrise. We developed the foundation for our friendship as we faced fears of the unknown and waking sleeping horses. It was so special to stand on the beach with her in the dark and stare at the stars. For Nikki Rittling, who shared the next 12 miles with me through the most beautiful sunrise. She made the miles go by so smoothly with conversation and her presence. For Kristi Hanley, who helped with the aid stops and kept me on pace for the next eight to ten miles. It was a precious opportunity to spend time getting to know her better. For John Crowley IV, who was the behind-the-scenes hero of the day for taking me and Karen by boat to the starting point. For Nate Hanley, who wholeheartedly supported my goal and helped to make it next level by encouraging me to post on the Fastest Known Time website. He perfectly handled the role of crew chief managing all the logistics, timing, and my irrational fear of waking sleeping horses on the beach. I am most thankful for my husband, Brian, who was there for me through everything and helped me believe I could do it.

Assateague is a beautiful and dynamic place. Each section of the island is different and has its own landscape. This experience is so valuable to me not only in what I was able to see and learn about the Assateague, but also in lessons I learned while training for the FKT and the friendships made.

Check out my recap on the Fastest Known Time website: https://fastestknowntime.com/fkt/colette-outten-assateague-island-end-end-2023-10-14

As a physical therapist by day, how does that help you in running? How do you try to prevent injury?
The training I have received as a physical therapist helps me feel more confident in how to manage discomfort and recognize potential injuries.

I believe the best thing I have done to manage and prevent injury is to hire a coach. The accountability and structure are powerful in creating consistency. I have learned that consistency in training is key in injury prevention.

You are often a crew chief for your husband Brian’s running adventures. How does having a crew help an ultrarunner?
I think having crew helps an ultrarunner because of the energy and encouragement provided. Having someone there during the ultra-marathon who will help you remember any specific needs (food, headlamp, jacket, dry socks) can make the race go more smoothly.

What’s next on your schedule?
The Richmond half marathon in November.