My foray into the running world started at the kitchen table, listening to my Dad’s exploits as a high school pole vaulter using bamboo and Swedish steel poles made me want to become a pole vaulter when I went to high school. I quickly realized I had a fear of heights, pole vaulting was abandoned and I decided to become a sprinter/hurdler. It was quickly apparent that I was not fast enough for those events and as a last resort a coach told me why don’t you go with Mr. Olufs and the distance runners. It was the track and field equivalent of being sent to hell! Fast forward to today and distance running has influenced/steered my life since 1972. See History Page for full story.

I will run for coffee! A number of our Team Members over the years have worked hard seeking sponsorships from running shoe and apparel brands . . . I’d be the happiest to run for Peet’s. I did not know a lot about cross country or track and field prior to meeting Rich (Mr. H). When I learned just how fast Mr. H could run a mile, going for a run together became more than a little intimidating. We’ve since done so many amazing runs together including finishing the NY marathon after he waited nearly three hours for me just before the finish. He’ll still say, “I’ll just slow down a bit and you can speed up a bit and it will all work out.” It always works out . . . and usually with a great cup of coffee.

I grew up in the Puget Sound area of Washington. My parents were runners through college and have two kids, myself and my sister, Kelsey. I played soccer and baseball year round as a kid and decided to take up running in high school. I had some success and began taking it seriously junior year, which awarded me some attention from colleges. I decided to study International Business and compete as a Cross Country and Track & Field athlete at BS. I enjoy the outdoors with friends, hiking, camping and snowboarding.

Shaina is an Army Veteran turned public health communicator and certified running coach. She’s been running for nearly 20 years from high school cross country to community races and international marathons. She loves the challenge, opportunity to get outside with her dogs, and the local running community (shout out to the Boise Betties and YMCA Team Idaho!). 

I’ve technically been running since 5th grade track but it wasn’t until I was persuaded to run for Timberline’s cross country team as a freshman that I really fell in love with the sport. Since graduating from high school I’ve continued to run non-competitively and for the last 3 years I’ve worked as an assistant coach for my old cross country team. It’s been interesting to talk to and coach a variety of kids who are at different points in the progression of their running career. They have all kinds of motivations, concerns, and levels of intensity in regards to both training and racing. It’s a lot of fun to see where they go because I’ve been all of those kids at one point or another and whether they started off as a serious varsity contender, made the jump from JV to varsity, or graduate towards the back of the JV pack, they all found something that keeps bringing them back and that makes each of them a runner in my book.

When I joined the cross country team halfway through the season my freshman year of High School, I never would have guessed how my relationship with the sport would develop. Running has provided many of my best friends, given me opportunities at higher education and led me to my most enjoyable jobs working for independent running stores. For the time being, I am focused on running as fast as I can on the track and in cross country for Boise State. I hope to be a lifelong runner and can see my future self doing a lot of trail running for fun.