Ashley Hawks
9Ultra-Distance Trail Runners
Nickname: Ash
Birthday: September 8
Current Location: Cedar City, Utah
My journey in trail running began when I was pregnant with my son. I was a road runner before but I was sick of running on the roads and burned out. I quit running temporarily but soon found I missed it and found solace on the trails. It was the one place where pace couldn’t compare with my previous times and that I could see beautiful areas. When I could no longer run at 8 months pregnant I began to hike a ton of trails in the Southern Utah area. I was introduced to the trails through Hayden and his success in Ultrarunning, but I grew a love for them and decided that it was the kind of running that I wanted to pursue after the baby.
Career Highlights
Red Mountain 30k – 2018: 1st & CR
Holder Zion Trail 1/2 Marathon – 2018: 1st & CR
Cedar Half Marathon – 2018: 1st & CR
3rd Cortina Italy SkyRace – 2018: 3rd
Argentiare Relay – 2018: 1st
Half Marathon – 1:19
5k – 16:32
Up Close, and Personal
To me, sport is…
Running stands for something so simple but yet so profound in the things it brings into my life. All you have to do is put on running shoes and go out your door. It brings joy to my soul and to my family as an activity that we can enjoy together. Running has a way of not only bringing the people we love together, but also communities together.
On a typical training day,
I do: I wake up early to run before the baby wakes up and hit a trail. It’s all about balance and fitting in the training when it works with a family.
I eat: tons of apples from our trees, Supergreens, and whole grains and foods
I wear: Altra Torrin (Road) or King MT (Trail)
I listen to: podcasts (C Tolle Run, Man Bun Run, and I’ll have Another, by Lindsey Hein are a few favourites to get me through a lot of solo runs.
I recover by: Unived Recovery mix in a smoothie! My favourite!
I cross train by: Swimming. I learned how when I was injured in college and actually really enjoy it.
My idea of an effective weight training session is
Feeling like I accomplished what I set out to do for the day, whether it was to get a hard workout in or get a recovery run in.
The moment when I discovered my athletic potential was
When I was in my 9th Grade year in High School, I was a sprinter. The track/cross country coach made all of us run the 800 meter. I think I surprised everyone including myself and my coach when I beat the fastest 800 meter runner on our team and the girl that took 2nd in cross country in the state. The coach convinced me to run cross country and I found I really enjoyed it and was very good at it right away. It ended up taking me took college and to where I am now with trails.
The three biggest lessons I have learnt so far in my athletic career is
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- You have to love what you do! That’s why I’ve decided to fully commit myself to Ultra Marathons
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- Balance is key
- To be good at running up mountains, you have to run up mountains!
Before a big race, I tell myself
You are doing this for your boy, Crosby! (he’s 1)
The toughest race of my life was
My first SkyRace/European Race in Slovakia
The most memorable moment of my sporting career so far
When I ran my first race 6 months after Crosby and the first race I’d ran since my brother had passed away from cancer the previous year. It was the Red Mountain 30k. I surprised myself with coming away with the win and course record against a few Pros. I wanted to win this for my brother that loved running and to prove that I could come back and win races after having a baby.
My training sanctuary is
The mountain trails near my home.
My dream starting line is
Western States
I nourish my soul with
family, God, a good book, and running in the mountains.
Unived helps me by…
RRUNN Energy Gels- They are the only gels that don’t give me stomach problems and I can keep down.
RRUNN During Drink Mix – Helps me stay hydrated and gives me a boost at the same time! Love the drink mix.
Daily Supergreens- a daily mix in my juice that helps cleanse my body
RRUNN Post Recovery Mix – I take it particularly after a long or hard training session to help my body get the protein and carbs it needs to recover.
In 2019, I am setting my sights on…
Chuckanut 50k Washington
Broken Arrow 50k- California
SpeedGoat- Utah
Jungfrau Marathon- Switzerland
The North Face 50 mile- California
I have chosen to associate with Unived because…
I believe in their product- it is the only product that has worked really well for me in races. I believe in the people behind the product. I believe in what the product stands for. Although I am not Vegan, I am vegetarian and believe in good health being a lifestyle. Unived provides all kinds of lifestyle products as well that help me keep a well rounded diet.
My favourite Unived product is…
The watermelon RRUNN during drink mix! I love the flavour!