Jody Sanborn on the Get Stoked Girls Podcast
- Rhianna Walzer
- Jul 23
- 9 min read
Updated: Oct 30
A conversation about women’s access and empowerment in the outdoors, the intersection of motherhood and mountain athletics, and pushing limits in the backcountry.
Meet Jody Sanborn — mother, ultrarunner, backcountry explorer, rock climber, and advocate for women’s equity in the outdoors.
In this conversation, Jody shares how her trail running journey began as a little girl growing up on a Wyoming cattle ranch, where her love for the land and fearless spirit first took root. She opens up about returning to running in her 30s while navigating divorce and new motherhood, finding strength and healing on the trails. As a single mom balancing work and parenting, the outdoors became both her refuge and a way to inspire her daughter. With over 20 years in gender-based violence prevention, Jody advocates for safe, equitable spaces on and off the trails. She talks about racing tough ultras like HURT 100, Bighorn 100, Crazy Mountain 100, and High Lonesome 100, and the mental toughness they demand. Beyond racing, Jody shares her passion for adventure and solitude, including setting several challenging FKTs where she’s the first woman to hold the record. She also discusses teaching backcountry skills courses to empower women and build community. Jody’s story is a powerful call for women to support one another, explore the outdoors, and push their limits at every stage of life.
We caught up with Jody in the Bighorn Mountains — where her favorite trails, climbing spots, and community come together.
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Raised by Mountains, Grounded by Trails
Rhi: Let’s start with your trail running origin story. How did you first get into it, and what was happening in your life at the time?
Jody: I’ve pretty much always been a runner, a trail runner. I grew up on a cattle ranch in southeastern Wyoming, right near the northern part of the Laramie Range. We were raised with this deep respect for the land. It was just part of life. I grew up in the shadow of Laramie Peak, and I remember racing my brother and cousins up and down it when we were kids. I was maybe 10 years old, flying down singletrack as fast as I could, totally connected to the mountain, not scared at all. That’s really where it started for me. That feeling of being alive out there.
Trail running came back into my life in my early 30s when I was going through a divorce. There was a lot I needed to figure out, and the trail just became this place I could go. It helped me process everything. People joke that ultra runners need therapy, but trail running really was my therapy. I just kept spending more and more time out there, alone or with friends. It just grew from there.
Rhi: You were navigating both a divorce and parenthood — how did that shape your connection to the outdoors?
Jody: That time in my life was not easy. I was a single mom, working full time remotely, training for ultras, and taking care of my daughter at home without daycare. It was a constant juggle to find balance. What helped was having a solid support system. Friends and family would step in when I needed an hour to run. The trail became my space to process everything and come back more grounded, which made me a better mom. Even now, with my daughter at 13, I hope I am showing her that women are strong, capable, and can pursue big goals.
The trails have always held space for me. They have taught me about showing up, being vulnerable, and finding strength. That is why I care so much about protecting them. They are sacred.
High Lonesome 100 and the Power of Inclusive Racing
Rhi: How did your journey to running 100 miles unfold? Was it something you jumped into right away, or did it happen gradually?
Jody: I am a go big or go home kind of person. I do not race often, maybe once or twice a year. Racing does not always give me the deep connection I get from solo time, but I love the community, and that is what draws me in. My first trail race was a 30K mountain race. It was rough, and I finished thinking, “Never again.” But I signed up for a 50K not long after, then a 100K, and eventually decided to try 100 miles. I Googled the toughest 100 milers, found HURT, entered the lottery, and got in. The heat, humidity, and steep terrain were completely different from Wyoming, and that challenge was part of what drew me in.
Since I could not train on the course, I trained my mind. I watched videos, read reports, and visualized every section. Mental preparation is huge for me. By race day, I wanted it to feel like I had already been there. I really believe most people can run 100 miles. The physical part is hard, but the mental part is what makes or breaks it. If you can stay calm and work through the lows, you can do it.
Rhi: You’ve got High Lonesome 100 coming up — how are you feeling?
Jody: I’m really excited for High Lonesome. We’re about three weeks out. The course is absolutely stunning, and I really respect the crew that puts on the race. They focus on things like maintaining a 50-50 gender split, and I think they’re doing a great job showing what a strong race organization can look like. I’m definitely looking forward to getting out there.
Rhi: Why do you think having a 50-50 gender split at races like High Lonesome is important for encouraging more women to take on 100 milers or just get on the trails?
Jody: Representation matters a lot, especially for women in the outdoor world. Women are underrepresented in trail running and racing, and many obstacles make it harder for them to participate, such as lottery systems where far more men enter. Reserving 50 percent of entries for women sends a clear message that their participation is valued.
But a 50-50 split alone will not solve gender equity. We need to address barriers like childcare and the mental load women often carry. It is about shifting traditional gender roles and encouraging women to pursue their goals. High Lonesome is doing great work by partnering with groups like the Trail Mix Fund and supporting policies like zero tolerance for harassment in trail running. Small changes like these can lead to bigger shifts in the industry and set a strong example for the future.
Building Space for Women in the Backcountry
Rhi: You’ve spent over 20 years working in gender-based violence prevention, and we talked about some parallels between that work and equity in the outdoors. Can you unpack what those connections look like?
Jody: Creating equitable opportunities is a big part of violence prevention. It’s not about teaching women self-defense on the trails. It’s about changing the culture around who gets access and how we treat each other. Building respectful, inclusive spaces helps prevent violence.
My work focuses on equity and equal access because violence happens where there is imbalance. In my women’s backcountry classes, many say safety worries hold them back. I want women to know they don’t have to carry weapons unless they want to. Confidence comes from skills and knowledge so they feel prepared and safe. That way they can enjoy the trails without fear.
Rhi: You just completed your second year teaching an all-women’s backcountry course for your local community. What inspired you to start it?
Jody: I noticed there weren’t many women out in the backcountry where I live. When I’m on the trails, I rarely see solo women or groups of women. Talking with people in the community, I kept hearing, “I wish I could get out there” or “I wish I knew how.”
I realized there wasn’t enough mentorship or opportunities for women to come together, learn, and explore their backyard. I have the skills and love empowering women, so I decided to create the course. It was my way of saying, “Let’s go, girls — let’s do this.”
Rhi: Both years the course had a long waitlist. What did it mean to you to see so many women in your community eager to participate?
Jody: It was amazing. This is the second year of the course, which is offered through the Sheridan Community Land Trust. They manage many local trails, including the ones behind us, and it felt like a natural fit to team up with them. The first year we capped the course at 25 women and people who identify as women, but we had a waitlist of 30. Women were calling from all over Wyoming asking to join, showing how much they want knowledge and opportunity. We ran it again this year, filled the class, and again had a waitlist.
The course is a multi-day event. On the first day, we cover backcountry basics, including what to pack, how to fuel, route planning, and trail safety. Then we get out on the trails to practice, support each other, and work on technique and confidence. It is all about helping women feel ready to get out there and enjoy it.
Rhi: Thinking about your women’s backcountry skills program, was there a moment or story that really stuck with you? Maybe a woman who learned something important and then did something amazing, or a powerful conversation that stayed with you?
Jody: What excites me most is seeing women at the end of the course exchange numbers and make plans to go out together. That was the whole goal, creating a community where women feel confident and have the skills to get out there. In the last class, I saw three or four women in the parking lot planning to tackle Highland Park together. They did not know each other before the course, so it was really cool to see them connect like that.
Building community is the real goal. Seeing women connect, support each other, and head out on the trails together is what makes it so special.
Claiming Space with FKTs
Rhi: You’ve mentioned craving solitude on the trails. In the past, you’ve gone after FKTs and big routes. What draws you to those kinds of solo efforts and big objectives?
Jody: When it comes to FKTs, it is not about stacking up records on a website. What excites me most is being the first woman to set a time, sending a message to the women’s community that we belong and are just as capable. Two-thirds of my FKTs have no other women listed, including hard routes like Cloud Peak and the Solitude Loop. When my friend Keri and I set the Solitude Loop FKT last year, we beat the men’s record by almost two hours. It was empowering and showed that women can play in this space too.
There's power in being first. Not for ego but for the women who come next.
Rhi: Can you tell me how the Solitude Loop came together? Had it been on your list for a while, or was it more spontaneous? And what made you decide to do it with a partner?
Jody: It’s about 100K with nearly 11,000 feet of climbing, circling the Cloud Peak Wilderness and passing through high country like the Penrose Cirque. I had been on every section from different access points but never put it all together. It felt like one of those routes you just have to do, whether chasing an FKT or not.
My friend Keri had wanted to do it too. Last March she asked what my summer looked like, and I mentioned trying the Solitude Loop and invited her along. We had to wait for the right weather since the route crosses several passes over 11,000 feet in technical, remote terrain with no easy bailouts. We carried all our food and gear and completed it in 18 and a half hours with 20 water crossings. On paper it looks manageable, but once you’re in it, it’s a huge, committing day.
Get Stoked Girls
Rhi: To wrap things up, Get Stoked Girls is all about empowering women to get outside and explore. What advice would you give to help more women get excited about moving their bodies and spending time in the outdoors?
Jody: I think the biggest thing is building confidence in our own abilities. Things feel scary until you actually do them. If you want to try something, go for it. Find another woman who has been there or is excited to try it with you. Seek out friendships and mentors who lift you up and help you follow through on your goals.
It is heartbreaking to see how many women let fear stop them from getting outside. There are so many others who want to be out there too. Find each other, make a plan, and go for it. Society teaches women to see each other as competition, but we are each other’s biggest cheerleaders. I love seeing women empower one another and girl gangs out in the backcountry. Let’s keep showing up for one another.
Rhi: I want to circle back to the idea of motherhood. What advice would you give to current or aspiring moms who worry their mountain athlete identity might fade once they become a mom?
Jody: It is a tough balance when you feel like you have to give up a part of yourself to be a good mom. But that idea is BS. With a strong support system, partners, friends, and community who lift you up, you can keep being who you are. It might be challenging when your kids are little, but it gets easier as they grow.
One of the most powerful lessons we can teach our kids is that having a family does not mean giving up the things you love. You can still camp, hike, and climb, and your child can become part of your adventure. You do not have to change your life because you have a kid. You get to grow and explore with them by your side, and that is an incredible gift.
