Karla began running in 2007 as a way to lose weight and get healthy. She was heading down a path of obesity and related health problems. Through running, better life choices and hard work, she lost the weight, but found a love for running. Being a road runner at heart, when she moved to Grand Junction in 2014, she never imagined she would begin trail running and regularly running ultra-marathons. On a hike, she met a few women that belonged to Mesa Monument Striders and was invited to join the Monday night group run.