She blew her ears out in a high-altitude 50-kilometre race in Peru, and got stung in the eye by a bee at the Big Horn Ultra in Wyoming.

Otherwise, Vernon's Lorie Alexander survived a wild summer of trail running without any serious injury. A 100-miler in extreme heat last weekend in Rio de logo, Calif. made it 28 races in the last 31 weeks for the 49-year-old mother of two.

"Man, I love running in the mountains," said Alexander. "I'm now running 100 to 133 miles a week. I never thought that was possible. I kind of want to see if I hit the wall, but it's not coming."

The 5-foot-5, 106-pound personal trainer uses Air Miles and stays with friends wherever possible, to cut down on travel expenses as she attends ultra (anything over the marathon distance 26.2 miles) races all over the world.

"Peru was my biggest expense, but it was worth every penny," said Alexander. "It was so beautiful there. There's a 2,200-foot mountain there I want to climb. I'm going to take my kids there in a few years.

"I spend an average of $300 a race (on expenses) and some people spend more than that a month on smoking. And I've won all kinds of gear so I don't have to buy anything."

The Inca Ultra, in July, was a seven-day running and camping adventure.

"They acclimatize you at 8,200 feet, and you hike up a mile to start. Then the first climb is to 14.5 (thousand feet). You run whenever you can, but for the most part, it's power hiking. It took me three hours to get to 14.5."

A steep, technical climb, with stairs of varying sizes, proved rather scary for Alexander.

"I have no depth perception so I almost go by rhythm on the stairs," she said. "Some of them were three inches wide, and covered with rocks and water. It's really neat because there are hikers on the trail cheering you on. I took about 200 pictures, but I dropped my camera."

One of three Canadians in the Peru race, Alexander finished in seven hours, topping the female class.

A sprinter and gymnast in high school, Alexander has been a serious ultra athlete for two years. She's usually near the top in her age group 40-49, finishing second in the Rio de logo 100-miler, in 25 hours and 30 minutes.

"It was 98 degrees but I love the heat. It's the only time I get close to record holders. I was 1.5 minutes behind the winner, and 60 per cent did not finish because of the conditions. I got lost three times and my water pack blew out on the nine-mile loop in the heat so I had to walk that section to be smart."

At an earlier 100-miler, the Cascade Crest in Washington, she was fifth in her age group despite some death-defying obstacles.

"They call it the Evil Forest. There are monster trees to climb over, and you have a rope rappel section and two mile tunnel through the forest. You have to find the rope in between the trees and hang on for dear life."

Winner of the B.C. Ultra Series, Alexander will close out the year with a 50-miler in Montana next weekend, a 50k race Oct. 18 in Vancouver, and a 100-miler in Texas on Nov. 1.

"I turn 50 next year so I'd like to run 50 50-milers and raise money for children who need emergency care in Canada."