Our Expedition Guides
PROFESSIONAL RUNNERS
Career Milestones:
Leadville Trail 100 (2015 and 2010 Champion)
Umstead 100 (Course Record holder)
Bandera 100k (Course Record holder)
Western States 100
Javelina 100 (former Course Record holder)
Rocky Raccoon 100 (2010 & 2011 Champion)
TNF Endurance Challenge Championship, San Francisco
Cactus Rose 100 (Course Record holder)
Hardrock 100 (pacing/crewing)
Liza Howard - San Antonio, TX (co-founder)
RUNNING & WILDERNESS MEDICINE EXPERT
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I coach runners and teach wilderness medicine … the basic first aid for austere environments. I also run a non-profit, Band of Runners, that shares trail running with veterans and their surviving family members. One of my greatest joys is being mom to a 6-year-old and 12-year-old, which means I work part-time as a minivan driver and short-order cook!
I love being a coach so that I can share the benefits, lessons and experiences running has given me. Throughout my career, I’ve seen the tremendous life benefits that both travel and trail running bring to my clients.
I’d like folks to leave a Threshold Experience with a sense that they are capable of more than they thought they were, a renewed spirit, new friends and excited to set new goals for themselves.
Liza is a certified NOLS Wilderness Medicine instructor
Career Milestones:
Western States 100, 2014 Champion
Western States 100, 2015 3rd Place
Lake Sonoma 50mi, 2015 Champion*
Ultra Trail de Mont Blanc, 2015, 8th
Way Too Cool 50k, 2015, Runner-up
Speedgoat 50k, 2013 Champion*
(subsequent years are run on a different course)
Top 3 ranking from Ultra Runner Magazine, International Trail Running Assoc. (ITRA), and Ultra Runner Rankings
*Course Record holder
Stephanie Howe - San Francisco, CA (co-founder)
RUNNING & NUTRITION EXPERT
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I'm usually a little timid to say that I run professionally, because the next question is always, "What's your best marathon time?" While most of my livelihood comes from being a runner, I also have a PhD in nutrition, and I own a nutrition business. I think that helps set me apart from the "I'm just an athlete" folk!
Training other runners provides so much satisfaction because I get to teach about nutrition and how to properly fuel your body. It's really fun to work with people of all different backgrounds and goals. I absolutely LOVE nutrition and love sharing time with others running in beautiful places.
My hope for our Threshold runners is that they walk away with several new best friends and memories of moving in the beautiful outdoors, laughing and good food.
As a professional athlete Stephanie is currently sponsored by Clif Bar & Company and The North Face
Career Milestones:
Western States 100
- ten top 10 finishes, 12 total finishes, all under 24 hrs.
2000-2012, competed at four Olympic Trials, marathon
Represented USA in World 100k Champions (9x)
- placed Top 3 for team 8x
Holds World Records in 4 age groups:
- 100k for 50-54 & 55-59 age group
- 50k for 55-59 age group and
- 50 mi. for 60-64 age group
Meghan Canfield - Corvallis, Oregon
RUNNING EXPERT, (The Queen)
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I started running in my 20s and quickly began competing in 5Ks and 10Ks. I had a young child, and that fit nicely into my lifestyle. As my daughter got older, I started marathoning. Eventually, I hired a coach who helped get my times down in the 2:40s, qualifying me for the Olympic Marathon Trials, which I’ve run four times. The ultra-running bug hit when I turned age 42.
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I have completed the Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run 12 times, 10 of those in the Top 10, and all under 24 hours. I have also represented the USA in the World 100K Championships for nine consecutive teams, placing in the Top 3 for our team eight times. I currently have 4 age group World Records for the 50k, 50 mile, and 100k that were set in my 50s and 60s.
I have a beautiful daughter Ruby, two dogs and two cats. When I’m not running or thinking about running or sleeping from running or talking about running, I am coaching, practicing flute or saxophone, or putzing about in my garden.
Career Milestones:
Master of Divinity, Vanderbilt University
Rangjung Yeshe Institute, Boudhanath Nepal
Master of Arts, Seminary of the Southwest
Priestly Ordination, Episcopal Church
Soul By Southwest Literary Journal, Co-founder
Run: (mostly)
The Presidential Traverse, White Mountains, NH
The Outer Mountain Loop, Big Bend National Park, TX
The Sky Island 50k, Davis Mountains State Park, TX
2017 Champion Regular, Mixed, Submasters Hill Country
Ragnar Trail Relay
(The only 1st Place Belt Buckle I’ve ever won was with my friends)
Christian Hawley - Austin, Texas
SPIRITUAL EXPERT
Even as a parish priest, I still find the hollers of East TN, the heights of the Himalayas, and the canyons of the Rio Grande, to be the most sacred places of my faith. Running through those landscapes has always provided me with healing and clarity, but never more keenly than after my military service and with a group of spiritual friends.
Helping people connect their spiritual lives to the natural world brings me great joy, and has fueled such projects as Canoecharists, Wilderness Stations of the Cross, and church trekking groups. It’s only gotten better over the years as my wife, the Rev Madeline Shelton Hawley, our daughter Val, and our dog, MacGyver have joined me.
I hope Threshold runners discover new, life-giving ways to connect their minds, bodies, and spirits to the natural world, and enjoy a few communal surprises along this earthly pilgrimage.