hea Aquilano is a trail runner whose path to the sport began with college soccer and has since grown into a career at the highest level of ultrarunning. In 2024, she won the Gorge Waterfalls 100K and was recently named to the 2025 Trail Team, a recognition of her rising presence in the sport.

In this episode, we chat about Shea’s journey into ultras, how she balances training as a professional athlete while working three jobs, and the rhythms that keep her grounded. She shares what it looks like to pursue big goals—like running Western States 100—while staying connected to the simple joy of running. We also dive into her race calendar, her training approach, and what she’s looking forward to most this season.

Follow Shea on Instagram to keep up with her races and training updates.

And if you’re around Washington next weekend—come join us at Leavenworth Trailfest!