Shannon Howell...what can I say to explain the level of athleticism, grit, dedication and talent this woman possesses? I first heard of Shannon when I ran the Heartbreaker 50 mile (which she won), and so I decided to look her up on Ultrasignup. Whoa...79 races recorded, and she finished on the podium more than half of these. Mind blowing. Absolutely amazing. So many iconic races she has been able to participate in, and I must say I am a wee bit jealous of her experiences! I could not wait to talk to her, and our conversation did not disappoint. Her running journey is inspiring to put it mildly. We talked about so many of her races and training, and we dove into her experience at Hellbender, but one thing that stood out to me throughout our conversation was her love of people. Whether that was on her group runs or during races, she continued to mention the people she has met and the connections she has made across the country and around the world. As someone that is shy around people I don't know (yes, that's me!), this was so impactful. Her love for trail running and her the joy she finds in others will only help this sport grow and thrive. We need more people like this in all of our lives. Thank you, Shannon, for being an inspiration in so many ways.

By the way, this is my first episode recording over the phone and not in person! I was able to FaceTime Shannon, where I could at least see her face-to-face, but she did not have to travel to me to record. I recently decided to take a leap and purchase new equipment to where I can interview guests from anywhere, and I am so excited about this new development!

Shannon's Instagram: http://instagram.com/runshanyrun

Shannon's Strava: https://www.strava.com/athletes/9214319

Follow us on Instagram! @facingvert

Thank you so much for listening!