Running is in Shawnie’s blood.
Shawnie Mulligan likes to run, a lot.

The 35-year old Ft. Collins native, who now lives in Eagle County, Colorado, is one of the world’s top trail runners.

She’s also a member of the U.S. team traveling to Russia in June for the 14th annual Red Fox Adventure Race, powered by Polartec. That incredible event runs June 11 to 14.

“I had a lot of energy as a kid,” Shawnie said. “In today’s age I would probably be diagnosed with ADHD and put on meds.”

But in her day and age, she just ran and skied and biked.

“My parents used sports to wear off some of the energy. However, my dad jokes, we don’t know if we tired her out or just made her fitter.”


Another way to run, with skis.
As a youngster, skiing was a large part of her life. She was ranked as one of the top young skiers in the country.

“My ski racing ‘career’ was short lived due to the fact that I did not have the build to be competitive at the top level,” she said. “It was something about my legs needing to be the size of my waist. However I did manage to grace the pages of Sports Illustrated for Kids as one of their featured kids for my top ranking when I was 10.”

With her ski career derailed at a young age she shifted to running, and hasn’t stopped since.

“I was a nationally ranked junior distance runner. I was ranked in the top 10 for the 3000 meters as a junior.”

All that running made Shawnie Mulligan a natural to be selected to the U.S. adventure team heading to Russia.

Polartec is sponsoring what is the first-ever women-only team consisting of captain Jimi Alida, Shawnie Mulligan, Kathleen Wickum and Amy Caldwell. It has been five years since the last American team attended Red Fox’s international adventure race.

This year’s Red Fox Adventure Race will be in the Karelian region of Russia, on the shores of Onega Lake, 300 miles north St. Petersburg.

The adventure race consists of three loops that require racers to run, bike, kayak, rock climb, swim, wade through mud, woods, brush, water, under and over stone. The race has a short course which must be completed within 48 hours, and a long course, to be completed within 72 hours. The U.S. team is competing in the long course competition.

Training for the bike portion of the Red Fox Adventure Race
In recent weeks, Shawnie has cranked up her mountain training to prepare for the challenge.

“I mostly train on my bikes and trail running. I am very lucky to have a built in training partner with my fiancé. We are always battling it out on the trails,” she explained.

“It’s nice to always have some one to push you harder. Although, I am not sure if I feel the same way at the top of a trail, when I am throwing up from riding so hard chasing him.”

She’s a veteran of trail running. Last year she finished 4th in the U.S. at the Trail Marathon Championships and 18th in the world at the World Mountain Running Championships.

Shawnie has also had plenty of 1st Place finishes, at the Rattler Trail Race 50k, the Cheyenne Mountain 25k, and the Aspen Backcountry Marathon. She also has quite a collection of trophies for all the mountain bike races she has placed in.

But the energetic pre-school teacher and mother of two has never been to Russia.


A shot from last year’s adventure race. Not all things can be trained for.
“No, I have never been to Russia. I am lucky to live in an area with some of the best trails in the world. I’m nervous but more from the logistics involved,” she said before heading out for another intense, high-elevation training run.

“I am confident in my teammates and our ability to compete. I think our biggest challenge will be that this is our first adventure race. I believe that we are all fit and physically able to handle the challenges but it will be a little bit of the blind leading the blind.”

The 14th annual Red Fox Adventure Race, powered by Polartec, gets underway June 11.