The Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run has been a canvas for inspiration, competition, and perseverance for five decades. Runners from varied backgrounds come together each year to celebrate the simple yet powerful act of movement.
For Callie Vinson, this year’s Western States will serve as a celebration of her ten-year journey of personal transformation. In 2013, the thought of walking a mile for brunch tripped alarms for Vinson.
“One day, one of my friends wanted to go to brunch, and they were like, ‘It’s just down the street. We can walk there,’” Vinson recalled. “In my head, I was like, ‘There’s no way I can walk to brunch. It’s too painful. It was a mile away.’ And that was where I said, ‘You know what? I really need to make some sort of change.’”
Ten years and thousands of miles later, Vinson is showing everyone that change is possible if you believe in yourself.
This year, Vinson, 36, a Choctaw runner from Scottsdale, Arizona, will be racing with a Rising Hearts and GU Energy Labs sponsorship. Rising Hearts is an Indigenous-led grassroots organization dedicated to uplifting…
