Anna Gibson on the Get Stoked Girls Podcast
- Rhianna Walzer
- Oct 30
- 10 min read
A conversation about joy, balance, and the strength found in female community.
Meet Anna Gibson—professional trail runner and multi-sport mountain athlete.
We met Anna at Lupine Meadows Trailhead in Grand Teton National Park, with Teewinot Mountain rising behind us. Raised in Teton Village in a family of ski bums, her childhood was built around skiing, exploring, and chasing every adventure the Tetons offered. By ten, she dreamed of being a professional ski racer, but once she started running, she discovered her true endurance gift. That passion carried her through college competition, a Brooks sponsorship, and a professional career filled with course records, national titles, and world championship podiums.
In our conversation, Anna shares how she balances running, skiing, and biking with joy, her perspective on women’s representation in mountain sports, and how community and mentorship shape both performance and purpose.
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Skiing, Running & Growing Up in Jackson
Rhi: What role did sports play in your life as a kid?
Anna: I grew up with skiing as the main focus of my life—my parents were total ski bums, and it was always a family activity, spending weekends on downhill or Nordic trails together. I tried other sports like swimming, gymnastics, dance, and soccer, but skiing was the one I took seriously, and as a kid, I dreamed of being an Olympic downhill racer. As I got older, I realized my strengths were more endurance-based, and my mom encouraged me to try running, since she had been a strong runner. I started cross country and track in middle school and fell in love with it immediately; running gave me a sense of belonging and community.
Rhi: When you started running competitively, where did skiing fall?
Anna: Through middle school, I was running competitively while still doing downhill ski racing, but in high school I hit a turning point and realized I cared more about running and the two sports did not fit together as well. I decided I could keep skiing for fun while focusing seriously on running, which also carried less risk of injury or crashes. I also switched from downhill to Nordic in high school and it ended up being a perfect balance with running. Jackson winters are too cold and snowy to run, so the rhythm worked well. I would run cross country in the fall, Nordic ski in the winter, then do track in the spring and run through the summer, creating a great year-round cycle.
Rhi: As you got more competitive in track and cross country, were you still spending time in the mountains?
Anna: People often ask how I got into trail running, but growing up in Jackson it all blended together. In high school, our cross country team would run at Jenny Lake in Grand Teton National Park, which is still one of my favorite routes. Our school sat at the base of Snow King, so trails were part of every workout. In the summers, I started exploring longer mountain runs with my coach Matt Chorney, who is still one of my closest friends and training partners. He took me up my first mountain, Buck, and it completely changed everything for me.
Rhi: What inspired you to run in college, and what was that experience like for you?
Anna: I always knew I wanted to do a sport in college because I needed the structure, community, and connection that athletics provide. Running helped me stay grounded, build good habits, and opened the door to a scholarship. College had many highs and lows. I started at Brown, got injured early, and struggled being far from home. I took time off, went back to Jackson, and learned a lot about taking care of myself. I later transferred to the University of Washington, spent a year rehabbing, and returned to racing just before COVID hit. Looking back, college was full of challenges and growth and was ultimately very formative.
Making the Jump to the Pro Level
Rhi: After college, you became a professional runner. What did that path look like?
Anna: In college, I was really just feeling my way through it. I never thought I was good enough to run professionally. I had never made a national final in track, and my best finish at Cross Country Nationals was around 65th. I wasn’t a standout, and the highlight of my career was when our distance medley relay team broke the national record. Even then, I wasn’t sure it would ever be enough to go pro.
At the end of grad school, after a disappointing race at Outdoor Nationals, I learned the head of sports marketing at Brooks wanted to talk. He asked if I wanted to focus on track, and I told him I wanted to do both track and trail. When his team came back excited about the idea, I knew it was the right fit. Last year I split my time between both, even racing the Olympic Trials, before fully committing to trail this season. The shift has been freeing. The training has made me stronger, and spending all my time in the mountains feels exactly right. I’m not done with track forever, but right now trail is everything.
I ran because I loved it more than anything, and I never stopped believing an opportunity was out there.
Rhi: How does your physical and mental preparation differ between a trail race and something like the 1500 meters at the Olympic Trials?
Anna: Track and trail running are completely different worlds. Track demands precision, high-intensity training, and attention to every small detail that might create an edge. Trail running is more flexible, with many paths to success. For me, the best trail training builds mental toughness, and doing things I love, like skiing or long bike rides, makes me stronger. The mindset shifts too. Track feels intense and exacting, while trail running feels freer. In trail, the worst outcome is still an incredible run in a beautiful place with friends, which makes it all feel like a win.
Rhi: What has been one of your favorite races this year?
Anna: My favorite race so far has been Zegama, a mountain marathon in Spain. I had heard people say, “Zegama is Zegama,” and wanted to find out what that meant. I raced there for the first time in May, and it was the longest, most technical trail race I had ever done. What made it unforgettable was the atmosphere. The crowds were unbelievable, kind of like the Tour de France, with people shouting your name as you ran through narrow corridors of spectators before suddenly finding yourself alone in silence. The contrast, the energy, and the emotion made it an experience unlike anything else.
Rhi: Right now, thinking about terrain, style, and distance, what excites you the most?
Anna: Right now I’m focused on sub-ultra distances, anything under 50k, and I definitely want to run more marathons because I really enjoy that distance. Most of my recent racing has been around 30k, which is a common distance and the focus of the Golden Trail World Series. I also love uphill races. I’m a climber at heart, so anything that involves running uphill for a long stretch is right up my alley.
The Power of Variety: Balancing Multiple Sports
Rhi: You run, ski, and bike across different disciplines. How do they all fit into your training and life right now?
Anna: I’ve been skiing and biking for years, but only recently started racing multiple disciplines. I grew up immersed in cycling, and I’ve been riding my bike for training for a long time, so adding gravel racing this year felt like a natural next step. Gravel is my focus over road or mountain biking because I enjoy the adventure style and the culture, which is very similar to trail running. Skiing for me now is mostly backcountry touring for fun, with a bit of Nordic here and there. It’s something I enjoy, especially with family, but it’s less structured than my other sports.
Rhi: What do you gain mentally from being a multi-sport athlete?
Anna: Mentally, being a multi-sport athlete is the biggest benefit for me, even more than the physical side. I feel most like myself when I’m mixing things up, with some training days lasting an hour and others eight, sometimes on flat valley terrain and other times high in the mountains. The variety keeps me stimulated and prevents boredom. I also love the different circles of friends I get to run and ride with. Every time I lace up, I’m excited, feeling good rather than exhausted, and thinking, okay, today I get to run—where should we go?
Rhi: What is your intensity like with biking and skiing? Are they cross-training, recovery, or do you go all in?
Anna: I’m still figuring it out as I go. I wasn’t sure I’d enjoy bike racing, but I tried three races this year, focusing on gaining experience and navigating the challenges of being a beginner. It was uncomfortable at first, but ultimately refreshing, and it made me more confident returning to running. Long races like Steamboat Gravel were a great learning experience for fueling, focus, and endurance. Skiing has become more of an offseason activity, helping me mix things up physically and mentally.
Rhi: Are there any new mountain sports or disciplines you’re excited to explore?
Anna: I’m planning to dabble in skimo this winter, which I’m really excited about. I’ve done only one race so far, though I’ve trained on the gear for years. Racing is a completely new challenge, like bike racing was, and I have a lot to learn. I’m drawn to longer traverses, partner races, and backcountry objectives that aren’t time-focused. Racing combines touring with a fast, light, high-intensity format, almost like a short sub-ultra or track race where precision matters.
The Power of Women Supporting Women
Rhi: What has your experience been like as a woman in these sports?
Anna: Outdoor sports are still very male-dominated, and as a woman, especially an elite athlete, that is a reality I have to navigate. When I was younger, I didn’t really think about the lack of women, but as I’ve grown and become a professional, I’ve started to see the impact of representation. When young girls approach me for advice or inspiration, I realize how meaningful it is to have role models who look like you. I’m lucky to have women in my life who inspire me, and we are getting better with more women stepping into these roles, though there is still a long way to go.
Rhi: Speaking specifically about female community and gender equity within the professional scene, which is a niche within a niche, what has your experience been like?
Anna: I think both the trail and gravel scenes are going through an exciting evolution right now, especially for women. The sport is finally being built up to the same level as the men’s side, with efforts around separate starts, equal media coverage, and live streams that showcase both races. Being part of this moment has been thrilling. There are times at races when athletes, organizers, and media come together to brainstorm improvements, and then we actually see those ideas implemented. Gravel in particular has gone through growing pains with female starts, but it has been inspiring to see the progress and to be able to contribute to it.
Rhi: These days, do you feel like you have found more of a female community?
Anna: I’m really lucky that most of my closest friends are women I grew up with. Our parents were friends before we were born, and we’ve stayed connected ever since. They are all incredible, driven women doing amazing things. Some are in med school or PT school, others are starting businesses, raising families, or pushing themselves in their own ways. Even though not everyone is an elite athlete, they are all strong, capable, and inspiring, and having those lifelong friendships remain my closest relationships means a lot to me.
What inspires me most is seeing people passionate about what they do. Their energy reminds me to bring that same drive to my own life.
Rhi: What are your thoughts on the importance of having a strong female community, and what does that mean to you?
Anna: The energy in a space really affects whether women want to participate. I’ve often been in groups mostly made up of men, and that felt normal to me because I’ve been in it my whole life. Over time, I’ve noticed and appreciated more female energy entering these environments, and I didn’t realize how much I was missing it until it started to happen. Many women don’t feel comfortable in male-dominated spaces and may not feel seen, understood, or valued, especially in sports like backcountry skiing where group dynamics shape the experience.
Creating spaces where women feel safe and supported helps more women show up and belong.
Rhi: What advice would you give to a woman who wants to find another female partner or build a strong community?
Anna: It might sound simple, but if you meet a woman you admire and want to connect with, just reach out and ask. Social media can have downsides, but it’s also an amazing tool. It’s how I’ve met so many incredible women, some of whom became lasting friends. Even small gestures like cheering someone on or congratulating them can go a long way, and you never know when your paths might cross in real life. Some of my closest friendships started by simply putting myself out there and saying, “Hey, you seem really cool. Want to go do something together?”
What Success Really Means
Rhi: As a professional runner, how do you handle the pressure to perform while still keeping the joy in the sport?
Anna: When I first signed my contract, I worried that running might start to feel like work. But surprisingly, it has been easier to maintain joy as a professional than it was in college or high school. A big part of that comes from freedom and self-motivation because I get to choose how to get there. I have also learned that you cannot do it alone. Having a team that is genuinely excited about what I am excited about keeps me grounded and inspired. My coach celebrates experimentation and progress, my training partners make every session fun, and that kind of support helps me stay connected to my why and keeps the sport something I truly love
Rhi: What does success mean to you?
Anna: For me, success is achieving things I didn’t think were possible. This year has been incredible in that way. I’ve done things I always believed I could eventually accomplish, like winning a US title or making it to the World Championships, but I never imagined they would happen now. Success also comes from knowing I’ve made a difference for others. When younger athletes or their parents tell me I’ve inspired them, it means a lot. I want my work to be more than self-fulfilling. I try to stretch beyond that, impact the world positively, get others active, inspire people, and contribute to causes bigger than myself.
Success is pushing beyond myself and inspiring those around me.
Rhi: What is your why?
Anna: What I love most is just being in the mountains. It doesn’t matter what I’m doing or how I’m moving—what matters is being there with friends. That time is just the best. For me, the mountains are where I feel most like myself. It’s a place where things feel easy, even when I’m working hard. Everyone has their own version of that, and for me, this is it.
Get Stoked Girls
Rhi: What advice do you have to get girls stoked?
Anna: Listen to your podcast and reach out to people you think are doing cool work! There are so many women out there doing amazing things, telling stories, and sharing experiences, but without platforms like podcasts or media outlets, people across the country might not know about them. What you’re doing is incredible because it spreads these stories everywhere. I just want to encourage people to support projects like yours.
