Kalyca Zarich runs 100 miles for health care workers

When COVID-19 cancelled the 100-mile run she had been training for, Kalyca Zarich decided to plan her own run, and benefit health care workers at the same time. Zarich, a furloughed manager and fitness coach at Orange Theory Fitness, and her boyfriend and one-man support crew, Logan Craven, live in south Longmont and often run and bike the trails in and around Niwot.

Zarich set out to run 100 miles in one day. She started her run at Niwot High School at 8 a.m. on May 8, setting out on the Niwot Loop Trail, heading to the LOBO Trail. She finished the grueling run just over 24 hours later, at 9:45 a.m. on May 9, running the final mile on the NHS track.

"I was looking for something positive to do, and decided to do this," Zarich said. "I got the fundraising contact through a friend so I could do something that would go directly to front line health care workers."

The friend put Zarich in touch with Project Helping, a Denver-based non-profit that uses volunteer opportunities to help people dealing with depression, and in turn, benefit the larger community. "Our mission is to improve mental wellness through the practice of kyndfulness," according to the Project Helping website. Zarich herself started running in college to help deal with depression and anxiety. The connection with Project Helping was a natural fit.

"This all came together in about 10 days," Project Helping Marketing Manager Olivia Venturini said. Venturini explained that pledges were made by donors, in many cases a dollar per mile, with an extra fifty dollars pledged if Zarich completed the run. Several donors had matching funds from employers.

"She raised almost $10,000," Venturini said, and more funds are expected to come in. The funds are used to send Kynd Kits to front line health care workers. "A Kynd Kit is a care package for the workers," Venturini explained. "We put together a list of items they asked for most, based on a survey we did." The kit includes such items as a mask, coffee, chapstick, lotion, stressball, protein snack, toothbrush and toothpaste, as well as a card written by the donor, which adds a personal touch. Donations can be made at http://coloradogives.org/kalycazarich

Project Helping board member Michael Warren of Niwot was on hand to see Zarich off and returned for the finish on Saturday. Project Helping Founder Justin Kruger, who describes his position as "Chief Bottle Washer," came by later with his family to offer support. Several other Project Helping volunteers were on hand to cheer Zarich on, including Lorenz Delaney and Sue Venturini.

Zarich and Craven mapped out a route that measured 10 miles out and back, then added variations, including the Overbrook Trial, Cougar Trail, Somerset Trail, Legend Hills Loop and Niwot Hills Trail. Several friends ran with Zarich for part of the run, including physical therapist Kevin DeGroot, who paced Zarich on Friday. DeGroot said, "My goal is to go at it for the first half of the day." Another friend and co-worker, Casey Baldwin, ran the final 22 miles with Zarich. "I got here about 4 a.m. and ran with her the rest of the way," Baldwin said.

At the end, six members of the Niwot High track team, who showed up at the school to do a time trial, ran with Zarich and Baldwin for the last few laps around the track. Craven was ready to congratulate Zarich with a bottle of champagne, but noted, "She will probably want a Gatorade."