"Through Sickness and Health" - Roths Continue Tradition at XTERRA Malibu Creek Trail Run

The XTERRA Malibu Creek Trail Run draws more than 600 runners each year, so it makes sense that some of those runners would consider it their favorite race.

Jim Roth and Staci Schilling-Roth - who reside in Thousand Oaks, California - might be "middle of the pack" runners, but the XTERRA Malibu Creek Trail Run will always be their favorite. The latest edition of the race, which was completed on April 29 at Malibu Creek State Park, only added to their fairy tale from the trail.

It all started at the Malibu Creek Trail Run in 2003. Jim and Staci had never met each other, but apparently shared the same running pace. They were side-by-side at the top of a ridgeline during that 2003 race when they struck up a conversation.

They started dating shortly after and got married in 2008. Since that meeting at the Malibu Creek Trail Run, they have run together at the race every year.

"We do some other XTERRA races in the (Southern California) area, but this is the one race that we never miss," Staci said. "And this year's race was the 10th anniversary of the day we met, so we had even more reason to celebrate."

(Jim Roth and Staci Schilling-Roth pictured, courtesy www.supersportsphoto.com)

The only problem this year was that Jim was suffering from the flu, and could not keep pace with Staci.

"Normally, we run every race together from start to finish," Staci said. "But he had a high fever and he was throwing up, so he was going to turn around and drop out of the race. He finally told me to keep going and he would try to catch up and finish on his own."

When Staci and a friend reached the top of the ridgeline - the very spot where she met Jim - they stopped to pick some wildflowers and formed the shape of a heart on the trail, alongside the names Jim and Staci.

"We were just hoping he would make it that far and see it," Staci said. "It only took us about five minutes to put it together … so you can take five minutes off my (finishing) time, by the way."

Jim did make it to the top of the ridge, and he did see the flowers. "That was all I needed to give me the energy to finish the race," he said.

Staci finished the 22-kilometer course in 2 hours, 49 minutes, 16 seconds. Jim came in about 20 minutes later, exhausted but undeterred. "I was going to finish no matter what," he said.

Staci added: "Through sickness and health. Running is really symbolic of our lives together. When we have nothing left in a race, we find the courage to finish. Just like a marriage can be rough, but you find the courage to get through it."

The Roths are proof that runners of all ages, skill levels, shapes and sizes can compete in the XTERRA Trail Run Series … and have a story to tell.

To view complete results from the XTERRA Malibu Creek Trail Run, CLICK HERE.

The Malibu Creek Trail Run was the seventh, and final, event of the 2011-12 season for the XTERRA SoCal Trail Run Series. The 2012-13 season is scheduled to start in October. To learn more about the series or to register for a race, please visit www.trailrace.com.

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