P U R P O S E F U L LY P I P H I
Endurance Entrepreneur On and Off the Trails By its very name, elite endurance running is not a sport for the faint of heart. It’s a grueling, strenuous physical activity that requires athletes to push the boundaries of what seems possible and continuously strive for more. It’s a fitting sportturned-career for California Iota JULIE FINGAR, who herself may best be described using that same language. She is enduring, striving for more and not limited by what her body or peers say is possible. “I started competing in ultra-endurance events in 1999 and I’ve won seven 100-mile races among numerous achievements in other ultra/road distances over my career,” Julie said. “Running has given me the strength, stamina and perseverance to unite my passion for sports — ultra-trail running — and my entrepreneurial spirit to build and operate two companies.” After graduating from Chico State University in 1993, Julie traveled across the country as an early employee of Red Bull, acting as a sales representative to market the new product. Having grown up an avid athlete competing in gymnastics, cheerleading and cross country, it was important for her to continue exercising even while traveling, and running was the easiest way to do so. Julie moved to Sacramento after the years of traveling and began volunteering with a race production company in addition to running in the events. That position turned into a full-time role as an assistant race director, and as her work in racing expanded, so did her capacity and capability as a runner. She worked her way from running 5k races up to running her first marathon in 1999 and hasn’t looked back since. She took on longer races — placing second in or winning multiple 50-100-mile races — which only solidified her passion for racing as an activity and industry.
California Iota JULIE FINGAR, founder of NorCalUltras, an ultra-trail race production company.
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