Nancy Stanley and the Art of Running

I met Nancy Stanley after I was working the 2022 Hardrock 100. She walked out of the Ouray support station with me within the pouring rain, and I cherished that not figuring out me, she took that second to say whats up! Nancy I contemplate a kind of previous souls who — regardless of being youthful than me — I look as much as a lot.

She runs lengthy distances, has traveled the world, and works as an emergency medical technician — at the moment learning to be a paramedic — on the native ambulance right here the place she and I dwell in Silverton, Colorado. What extra?! She’s an amazingly proficient artist, placing herself on the market and hustling her makings alongside work, college, and coaching. So, with out additional ado, right here’s Nancy. Additionally try her Instagram and Etsy store for those who’re in want of some enjoyable, inventive work in your life!

Nancy Stanley on a run. All photographs courtesy of Nancy Stanley.

When/the place/how did all of it begin — making artwork and working lengthy distances?

I’ve been drawing since I used to be a child, however began portray on longer runs through the COVID-19 pandemic. I discovered myself wanting to interrupt up a run by making one thing, particularly based mostly on what I had been enthusiastic about on the run.

Inform us about your first 100-mile expertise. I like this story!

I used to be fortunate sufficient to tempo my buddy Brandon Worthington (an unbelievable runner and individual) on the Cocodona 250 Mile, the place I made a decision to make it my first 100 miler. It was atypical, and it was excellent. I actually benefit from the journey that pacing provides, it’s nearly higher than racing for me.

What attracted you to portray?

Portray particularly is a cussed medium, in my view. Acrylic paints enable layering, whereas watercolors are thinner however adaptable after drying. I benefit from the versatility of every type of paint. It’s enjoyable to repeatedly reinvent your self relying on the medium — your type in a distinct paint is a distinct type.

Are there any artists or athletes who’ve influenced and impressed you?

I’ve been awestruck by San Juan County locals. The mild propensity for philanthropy and well-roundedness may be very obvious, working in Silverton. The native explorers on this space stroll and play in quiet methods, and nothing is extra highly effective than intentionality.

I take pleasure in Beau Miles. The primary video of his that I noticed was one the place he went on a 13-mile jaunt with a wheelbarrow to dig up and ship a boulder his buddy had damaged his foot on. Seeing how he perceived ultrarunning as connective as a substitute of goal-based was revolutionary for me. He thinks of genius methods to get outdoors and shift how severely we take the game.

The entire of us at Footprints Operating are doing unbelievable work utilizing their voices in working for good pertaining to the surroundings, which I’ve immense respect for.

So far as artists, I’m a sucker for Renaissance artwork — many tales in a single portray.

What’s the connection between artwork and working/being outdoors for you?

The “so what” of working all the time comes up — working is a egocentric factor. All of us like working, have the time and assets to run so much … so what? Storytelling and utilizing notoriety to attempt to do good for the surroundings is a strong reply. How we work together with the environment issues. How we make discussions with others who could work together or perceive in a different way issues.

Making artwork whereas I’m outdoors has come to be a follow to recollect why I began working within the first place. I started working extra after I wanted to get outdoors when getting my Ethics and Politics diploma. I felt overwhelmed, and although the run itself helped considerably, I used to be left with a “so what?” feeling.

To me, the profession pivot away from humanities and concrete dwelling was eased by creating and doing. Generally, stopping to scent the flowers by portray one is a good way to recollect what actually issues. And one factor is for positive: taking good care of your self, and the concepts you give vitality to and perpetuate, issues.

As a younger inventive, how do you retain motivation flowing? And likewise, what’s the impetus behind your working?

Motivation ebbs and flows, like most issues. These days, I’m impressed by the altering of the seasons, in addition to the folks I work together with at work. Often, what will get me on the easel is an itch to explain one thing wordless. Simply as equally, working seems like an itch. Each are like airing out the laundry after being saturated by a full day.

How has panorama knowledgeable your artwork and your working?

The panorama is sweet at telling us what to do. As distraught as trendy politics could make me, I do know nature will probably be there to supply gestures of steering.

You additionally work as an emergency medical technician — learning to be a paramedic — for Silverton Medical Rescue and beforehand as a wilderness remedy information. How has working and artwork helped you in these roles?

Oh man, who would I be with out working and artwork? I believe these shops assist me course of and make issues rather more sustainable. Silverton Medical Rescue is exclusive, as a result of it’s one of many solely mixed search and rescue and ambulance operations within the nation — and, on high of that, we function in San Juan County, a very wild and harmful place. Each shift is a brand new story.

Emergency medical providers are about being there for folks on, seemingly, the worst days of their lives. Wilderness remedy was very comparable. With out creativity and motion, their tales could be stagnant. The least I can do is attempt to rework that grief into one thing else — an journey to see my buddy the subsequent city over on a tough day, a journey to wash up barbed wire the place it shouldn’t be, a ski tour to color a spot I’ve solely identified effectively in the summertime, or from a tough name. If we heal ourselves, we are able to see one another, and that’s what’s going to make all of this sustainable.

Individuals die from doing what they love in nature. Final 12 months, I gave a speak about mountain runner security through the Hardrock 100, to make extra of a dialogue on planning lengthy days responsibly, and what tends to go mistaken. We plan for security in ski touring, however there’s no identified construction for what that appears like for working, as a result of we assume that we are able to run out of any downside.

When you may give any recommendation to the struggling artist or aspiring ultrarunner, what would you say?

Pondering via it gained’t make it any simpler! Generally you simply have to begin. Having softness — like strolling when it’s essential to — is one of the best ways to get into ultrarunning. Identical goes for making artwork: draw a doodle, and that’s sufficient. Begin someplace.

Any artwork initiatives or run/out of doors initiatives you’re enthusiastic about now?

I’ve been having a very good time making foolish stickers.

I’m excited to proceed to carry a portray setup with me after I backcountry ski, backpack, or run. Nothing like carrying it obligates you to make use of it!

And final (very random) query that I ask everybody, for those who may very well be a tree, what sort of tree would you be?

I’d be a banyan tree — a fig that develops accent trunks from adjoining prop roots, permitting the tree to unfold outwards indefinitely. I loved hanging out close to them throughout my time in India.