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In 2018, Shane began his college running career with times of 4:26 in the mile and 26:42 in the 8K. Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, he stayed committed to training and steadily improved. By 2021, Shane dropped his times to 4:10 in the mile and 24:47 in the 8K, showing clear signs of progress but always striving for more.

In 2022, his hard work began to truly pay off, as he refined his training and mental approach. That year, Shane achieved a 4:08 mile and lowered his 8K time to 24:30. It was in 2023, however, that he experienced his breakthrough. After years of dedication, he finally broke the 4-minute barrier in the mile, running 3:59, and reached a personal best of 24:00 in the 8K.

Over the course of four years, Shane demonstrated the power of perseverance and steady progress, proving that with the right mindset and commitment, even the most ambitious goals can be realized.

During his childhood, Gavin was a competitive soccer player and planned to pursue soccer in college. However, he ran his first 5k - Homerun for the Homeless - with his dad. After running a time of 21:30, Gavin decided to run XC and play club soccer. He made varsity as a freshman and continued to pursue the sport. 

He was a true walk-on at the University of Kansas where he improved his times to 15:43 in the 5k and 8:52 in the 3k. Unfortunately, he was cut from the roster but that did not stop him from continuing to train. The transfer portal allowed him to transfer to DePaul University where he discovered a training methodology that clicked for him. A high mileage approach resulted in major progress and Gavin ran 14:24 in the 5k to put himself #2 on DePaul's all-time ranks. 

Post-collegiately, Gavin works full-time as an accountant, but continues to train for track and road races. Despite working 40+ hours a week, he runs over 100 miles per week and has run personal bests in every event from mile to marathon since graduating.

"My journey is a bit of an anomaly, out of the ordinary. I grew up only doing running because my mother wanted me to do a sport that was part of the school so I picked running. In practices & racing I was always the last one on the team which grew my distaste towards running. I made it to state my 8th grade year and realized maybe this is something I should stick with and did so and really didn’t start getting decent at until I got to high school. Ultimately this led me to achieve all-state multiple times throughout high school which allowed me to get the opportunity to compete in college at Lewis University for two years. I was able to be part of a roster that was able to put Lewis’s cross country program on the map but ultimately didn’t feel that enjoyment I had in running because I had high expectations for myself thinking I could be an Olympian at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Because of comparisons, self-expectations, arguments and constant injuries in college, I gave up on the team and myself as an athlete which ultimately led me to become ineligible to compete in the NCAA and I walked away from the sport and the dream I had since I was 16.

A little after I left running someone pulled me out of the darkness and back into the light. This person pointed me in the right path, allowing me to realize the talent that I was about to throw away, talent that many would love to have in this sport. Now as an amateur athlete, I’m just trying to be the best and make my dreams a reality and not regrets. The road has had its bumps and obstacles since I’ve embarked on this journey but it’s been the most rewarding experience of my life even if others don’t see it that way because I did it my way. I believe I have the heart, determination and the belief in myself to make that happen and I’m grateful for all the opportunities and relationships I’ve made since I’ve embarked on this journey. Russell Crowe once said, “And for anybody who's on the down side of advantage and relying purely on courage, it's possible.” -Anthony 

 Ben Butler's journey in the world of running is a testament to his resilience and dedication. His career began with impressive performances in shorter distances, earning him scholarships to compete at Oklahoma State and the University of Kansas as well as spots on Team USA at the World Junior Mountain Running Championships and Pan American Cross Country Championships. In the face of challenges that seemed poised to derail his running career through the first two years of college, Ben's commitment to the day-in, day-out of the sport led to a berth in the 2020 NCAA Cross Country Championships as a senior. After another round of injuries put his post-collegiate plans on pause, he started back from square one, driven by his love for the sport. His perseverance paid off when he placed fifth in his first ultra trail marathon, the Austin Rattler Run 50K, in November 2023. His performance at the Austin Rattler Run not only highlighted his versatility as a runner but also earned him a qualification to the historic and competitive 2024 Leadville Trail 100.

Ben's ongoing evolution into an ultra-marathon competitor speaks volumes about his adaptability and relentless pursuit of excellence. His journey is a clear illustration of how athletes can transition and succeed across different facets of running, embodying the spirit of continuous improvement and the pursuit of ambitious goals.