Weekend Warrior: Ellen Bransford, Runner

33, Data Analyst at Seeding Success

TEAM PLAYER: I’m on the Breakaway Running race team and will do their group runs again when they come back!

RECENT WIN: I ran my first ultra this February at the Sylamore 50K and was first place female.

FAVE WEEKEND WARRIOR EVENT: I completed two IRONMANs with my brother, but have done three overall. Florida 2013 (4th in age group), Los Cabos 2014, and Arizona 2015. I got a little burnt out after them. I still love biking and swimming; I just haven’t been doing them competitively.

I f RUNNING: When I was teaching, I coached and trained several groups of students for local races. Watching them finish the 5Ks with a sense of pride and accomplishment after working so hard for their goals was the best!

NEXT CHALLENGE: I’m running the Grand Canyon Rim-to-Rim-to-Rim at the end of April!

INSPO: The support of the running community and my friends keep me going (and laughing!). Watching other people accomplish their goals motivates me to do the same!

BUCKET LIST: Running and exploring all of the National Parks. I’ve been to 20 so far and can’t wait to hit up more.

#WORTHIT: I trained for an IRONMAN while living in Mexico City. I had to commute an hour and a half to the pool, do all my cycling on a trainer, and run at 8,000 feet altitude. It was tough, but it made me both physically and mentally stronger!

MUST-HAVE: Hoka Recovery slides. It’s not the most stylish look, but I’ve been rocking them with socks all winter.

FAVORITE JAMS: I don’t typically listen to music when I’m on the trails, but I sometimes to listen to an embarrassing amount of Taylor Swift. (I blame my brother!)

BINGE LIST: I’m re-watching Schitt’s Creek.

INDULGENCE: Huey’s cheese fries. I’ve been known to order ahead so that they’re waiting for me at the end of a long run.

RECENT READ: Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi

Photo by Tindall Stephens