You Are A Big Deal with Becca Jay

Alicia Law (she/her) is a partner, a healer, an advocate, an Earth supporter, and a hiker of trails. She is a lover of all things outdoor, yoga, plants, music, and travel. Alicia lives near Taos, NM in an off-grid sustainable house called an earthship. Her spiritual journey began with an evangelical Christian upbringing. Later, in her 30s, she realized spirituality is far more expansive than one r...

Candace Gonzales (she/her) is a partner, a friend, an ultrarunner, a connector, an advocate, and a writer. She is the Office Manager of the Brighton Regional Office of the Colorado State Public Defender. Her team represents indigent defendants accused of a crime in state court. The work she does is righteous as she helps support the fight for her clients, the people that many in society have turne...

Rob Barlow (he/him) is a partner, a mountaineer, and ultrarunner. He holds the current supported FKT for the self-powered (no car) hiking of Colorado's 100 highest mountains, biking between mountain ranges (105 peaks, 2100 miles, 300,000’ vertical gain, 70 days). He has completed the Nolan’s 14 in under 60 hours. Rob has been to the top of a Colorado 14er 517 times (there are 58). Rob has als...

Jennie Himes (she/her) is a mom, a partner, a friend, athlete, an ultrarunner, and a dog mama. She is a lover of ghost towns, mountains, trails, fall leaves, and adventures. Jennie has hiked 23 of Colorado’s 14ers and completed her first 50k race last year and has many more ultras and trail runs in her future. She is a first responder working 911 dispatch and supervisor of Park County Communicatio...

Sara Zapata (she/her) is a mom, partner, runner and advocate. She was born and raised in Yanaguana, also known as San Antonio, Texas. Sara uses her social media platform to intersect her love for running and advocacy for causes that are important to her, including the Black Lives Matter movement, equality for our LGBTQIA+ community, Land back initiatives, MMIWG2S awareness, migrant rights, Autism...

Peter Downing (he/him) is a partner, a dad, an ultrarunner, race director, volunteer, trail advocate and athlete. He has been in the outdoor industry for nearly four decades. He is a relationship-builder, a community-engager, and an entrepreneur. Peter has been a director of an innovative teacher-training program, a Peace Corps volunteer science teacher in Ghana, West Africa, an educator, a practi...

Ayako Sawanobori (she/her) is a runner, an advocate, an outdoor adventurer, food lover, traveler, and non-profit professional in San Francisco. She is the Associate Director of Mayor’s Youth Employment and Education Program. Ayako is co-leader of @antiracistrunclub, a member of Dirtbags Run and volunteers as a youth coach with @GOTRbayarea (Girls on the Run). Ayako was a competitive gymnast during...

Dr. Meredith Merkley, DO, FAAP (she/her) is a partner, an athlete, an ultrarunner, ReNew Earth Running team member, an advocate, an activist, a creator, a connector, an organizer, a writer, a reader, a dog mama, and a board-certified general pediatrician. She has a B.S. In Biology, completed her medical degree at Ohio University and her pediatric residency at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Colu...

David Hughes (he/him) is a dad, a husband, a coach, a host, a teammate, and a friend. He is a connector, a soccer player, a community-minded caretaker, a business-owner and my brother. Dave could be considered the unofficial mayor of Davis, California as he supports the community in all the ways. He maintains the baseball fields, hosts gatherings at his house with his wife, Brenna, and coaches his...

Jake Fedorowski (they/them) is a runner, podcaster, reader of non-fiction, drinker of coffee and wine and a walking encyclopedia of musical theater. They are an advocate for non-binary inclusion in the running industry and a consultant for events that are committed to navigating this work. Jake is the author of The Guide to Non-binary Inclusion in Running and founder of Run Beyond. Jake went to co...

Shyra Leah Rojas (she/her) is a mom, a friend, a daughter, a sister, aunt and an athlete. She is a Registered Nurse currently taking care of young humans at Children’s Hospital in Colorado. She has a BS in Nursing and has supported families and kids for the past 15 years. Shyra is a caretaker and a courageous human who loves people fiercely. She is open-minded and even-keeled. Shyra is the friend...

Aisha Jordan-Johnson (she/her) is a mom, a partner, an advocate, ultrarunner, Dirtbags Run team member, and a smiling ripple creator. She has been featured on the cover of UltraRunning Magazine and contributed to an article in Mid Strike Magazine. Aisha is a runner of all the races and winner of many a 5k. She has placed in the top 3 in multiple ultras including 3rd female overall at the New Orlea...

Annie Hughes (she/her) is an athlete, a baker, a teammate, a professional ultrarunner and a Sharman Ultra Coach. She grew up running cross country and track in Wisconsin and went on to run for Adams State University in Alamosa, Colorado for two years before discovering her love for exploring in the Colorado mountains and trail running. Annie is sponsored by Hoka, and in 2021, she became the younge...

Katie Belk (she/her) is a mom, a runner, a friend, a teammate, a storyteller and my sister! She has been an Occupational Therapist for the past 15 years, taking care of people and supporting their healing, movement, retraining and growth. She received her BS in kinesiology from UNLV and her MS in occupational therapy from Touro University. Katie ran track and cross country in high school and colle...

Kelsey Banaszynski (she/her) is a partner, ultrarunner, advocate, outdoors woman, backpacker, fly fisher, gardener, food scientist and project manager. She started running ultras in 2016 and has multiple finishes from 50k-100ks. She is the Sr. Contract Manufacturing Manager at Campbell Soup Company. She received a BS in Food Science and a Masters of Science in Nutrition from the University of Wisc...

Mario Castaneda (he/him) is an ultrarunner, traveler, adventurer, explorer, photographer, plant-based athlete, and team member of Rocky Mountain Runners @rockymountainrunners. Mario is a Quality Assurance Engineer, passionate about building a sustainable and low-carbon future. He has a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Colorado – Boulder. He has a Masters Degree in Sustainable...

Shannon Kiebler (she/her) is a mom, wife, friend, athlete, author, and entrepreneur. She is a math coach, workshop creator, classroom innovator, educator, nationally recognized speaker, and business owner who specializes in  ALL things math. Shannon is a tennis lover (Shannon the Cannon), coffee enthusiast, snowboarder, camper, reader and Jesus-lover. She is builder of The Math Genius Squad and fo...

Reverend Katie Aikins (she/her) is a wife, a mom, a sister, an aunt, a singer, a drum player, and a lover of music. Katie also enjoys baking, movement outside and playing soccer anytime she can. She is a pastor at Tabernacle United Church in Pennsylvania. She has lived in Iceland and has returned often as an adult, leading art and music programs for Icelandic youth. Katie completed a B.A. in Theol...

Kriste Peoples (she/her) is an advocate, an activist, an empowerer of womxn. She is a runner, an adventurer, a leader, a meditator and meditation teacher. Kriste is a producer, a speaker, a facilitator, and a panelist at outdoor summits and conferences. She is a writer, a change-maker, a women’s trail running coach and an outdoor guide. Kriste is an Altra Running Athlete and Ultimate Direction amb...

Hillary Osborne (she/her) is a mom, a wife, and an ultrarunner (finisher of 8 ultras) including the Leadville 100. Hillary has a BA in Psychology and a BS in Exercise Science. She is an NSCA Certified Personal Trainer and UESCA Ultra Running Coach. Hillary is owner of and coach at Blaze Strength and Endurance. She is an artist, a creative, a baker, a maker of quilts, bags, clothing, earrings, and...

Rio Lakeshore (he/him) is a father, writer, learner, LA-based trail dancer, and advocate who brings a blend of mindfulness and perspective into the running community, nurturing the notion that the movement of running belongs to everyone. He is a meditator and intention-setter. Rio is curious about the intersection between art and "sport" and he moves through the world with gratitude and...

Luke Jay (he/him) is a partner, dad, friend, coach, athlete, ultrarunner, and creative. He has an eye for design and has created several pieces of art for our house and for some lucky friends. Luke runs real fast and has completed nine 100 mile races and many ultras of varying distances. He was the 2nd American finisher at UTMB in 2021. He won the High Lonesome 100 in 2019 and finished 3rd overall...

Jordan Marie Whetstone (she/they) is a mom, a wife, a runner, advocate, a community organizer, a voice, a connector, a public speaker, a filmmaker, a heart worker, a changemaker and a storyteller. She is a Professional Athlete Advocate who runs for justice for Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women and Relatives, Black Lives, Asian Lives, and Lives taken or experiencing racial, social and climate...

Jeanette Gruenhagen (she/her) is a mom, partner, advocate, athlete, former downhill ski racer, tennis phenom, and woman of the year in college. She is an energy worker, a healer, and an intuitive. J has a Master of Arts in Counseling and is a Licensed Professional Counselor who has been practicing and empowering lives for 16 years, currently supporting humans from her safe space: Jeanette Gruenhag...

Kelly Newlon (she/her) is a partner, advocate, a runner, chef, and founder of Real Athlete Diets (RAD) based out of Boulder, Colorado. She is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America/Hyde Park and has cooked in professional kitchens as a line cook and/or pastry chef since she was a teenager. Kelly has over a decade of work focusing on chocolate has made two birthday cakes for Julia Child!!!...