Shannon Green became an athlete rider in 2016 after learning about Ainsley’s Angels race chairs for those with disabilities.

Ultimately got her own chair to race whenever the opportunity arises!!!--

Sherry Coolahan

 I have only been running since September of 2021, so I am fairly new to it. Fitness has been an important part of my life for many years, but running was never something I was interested in. All that changed after an injury left me unable to workout. I decided to step out of my comfort zone and joint the Fleet Feet NOBO program to help me stay active durning my recovery.

It has been a life changer for sure. I now love running and have done several 5K races and three half marathons, and even a couple of trail races. The people I have met through my running experience have become lifelong friends. I couldn’t ask for a better community of people!

My goal is to get stronger and improve my running pace and eventually complete a full marathon.  

 

Julia Donovan

I started running recreationally in high school and got into longer distances after college. I ran with a group of women in Madison for several years, and they encouraged me to set some big goals, like joining the racing team and qualifying for Boston. I still have some goals I'd like to accomplish, like running a sub-1:30 half marathon, running Boston again, and finishing a 100 mile race. I also work as a graphic designer and love opportunities to combine running and design. When I'm not running or designing, I am hanging out with my husband, Ryan, and our dogs, Attie and Silva.

 

 

May Gillespie

"I began my running journey in 2020 during Covid and have loved it ever since! I quickly jumped into longer-distance races doing a trail 50k in Virginia in June 2021, 50 miles at Delano 12 hour in March 2022, and New York City Marathon this past November. Unfortunately, ongoing issues are keeping me from going the distance recently but I hope to get back to endurance running! For now, I'll enjoy shorter distances and being part of our wonderful running community through Fleet Feet!"

Traci Gillespie

I started running when I was 40 years old, in an effort to stay fit and sane. When I moved from our nation's capital to Huntsville, I knew only one person. To relieve some stress and to learn about my new home, I would go for runs around town.  As I passed Fleet Feet Huntsville, there was a group of people, outside of the store, waiting to go running.  They asked me to join them and I've been involved with Fleet Feet ever since.  My first friends in town are still my running buddies from that day.  Since then, I have trained, mentored and run with Fleet Feet groups for 5ks, 10ks, trail runs, half marathons and triathlons.  I currently co-coach the TRI 101 program. I reside in Huntsville with my husband, Mike.

Kevin Green
Started running in 2017 to cross finish lines with my wife! Since then, I have pushed her in every distance up to a marathon with the help of amazing friends! In 2018, I started running trails and have completed mountain mist 3 times as well as several other 50Ks! My longest run is 51 miles at Delano 12hr with plans on doing a 100k at the Great Blue Heron Hundred this year! My ultimate goal is to complete a 100 miler!

 

Vince Rivera

From Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. Currently an active duty Soldier with over 25 years of service. Been running for over 30 years.

Completed all distances from 5K to 100K. Goal for 2023 is to complete another 100K run.

Perla Nuñez

From Chihuahua, Mexico. Started running about six years ago. Besides running, enjoys hiking.

Ran all distances from 5K to 100K. Goal for this year is to run another 100K.

I began running in 2013 with a goal of running a half marathon. I have since raced distances from 5K to 100+ miles and timed events up to 48 hours. I have learned I really enjoy the longer distances more than the shorter ones. This year, my BHAG is Denali 135 in Alaska in June!  

If I'm not running a race, you'll often find me there in some other capacity...either as a volunteer or behind the camera as the race photographer. I am also the Race Director for the HTC's Cookie Dash 5K held in April.

Growing up I was a non-athletic, nerd. I started running in my early 30’s. That quickly led to cross training and the wonderful sport of triathlon. This will be my 15th triathlon race season! I have competed in countless, sprints, Olympic distance races, a number of 70.3’s and 3 Ironman finishes. After a few years of training on my own,I joined my first Fleet Feet Training group in 2011. Since then, I have participated in, mentored and coached with Fleet Feet. I am an ITCA certified triathlon coach, certified spinning instructor and certified sports injury and nutrition specialist.  The best part about running and triathlon is the community.  I have met most of my best friends through these adventures. We have a wonderful running and tri community here in the Tennessee Valley. Even though my knees are quite damaged at this point, I am still going because of the people!

 2023 BHAG: I qualified for 2023 Nationals last year at Mountain Lakes and plan to Race at USAT Nationals in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in August. Following that, I will compete in Ironman Maryland for a 2^nd time.

I started running off of a dare during the summer of 1991. A skate boarding friend of mine who was also on our high school cross-country team bet that I wouldn’t last two weeks on the team. So I walked on the team over the summer while they were practicing and soon discovered my lifelong love of running! I went on to run competitively in cross-country and long- distance track in high school and college. I was never very fast but good enough to make our travel squad and letter. I just knew that I had some natural running talent but wasn’t sure what outlet until I discovered ultra-marathons.  Quit literally my first ultra was in 1995, it was a solo, self-supported, run of the entire 31+ mile American River Bike Trail near my home in Sacramento while home on break from college. It was an area I explored as a child by bike and whose trails I began to run in high school. I just had my dad drop me off at one end and several hours later pick me up at the other. I was hooked!  I have taken by love for running a step farther by coaching and helping other runners achieve their goals,

Since then I’ve slowly progressed through the world of ultramarathons amassing nearly 11,000 race miles among nearly 200 events including being the former youngest finisher or the Original Grand Slam of Ultrarunning (finishing the four original US 100 milers: Old Dominion, Western States, Leadville, and Wasatch; being a 5 time Hardrock 100 mile finisher; finishing the Badwater 135 mile race twice; being a 2 time Barkley Fun Run “finisher”; completing the Iditarod Trail Invitational 350 mile finisher; and running Vol State 314 mile race, Spartathlon 250km race in Greece, and Ultrabalaton 220km in Hungary.  In 2023 I am living out one of my biggest dreams by competing in the Iditarod Trail Invitational 1000 mile race in Alaska. 

Lauren Villarreal

I started running in September of 2021. Quickly progressed from running 5K’s and 10K’s to half marathon’s and marathons. Recently completed my first ultra at the end of 2022. Looking forward to running for many more years to come! 

 TylsonJouglet