We recently connected with AnnMarie Kirkpatrick and have shared our conversation below.
AnnMarie, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Talk to us about building your team? What was it like? What were some of the key challenges and what was your process like?
Front Range Elite is a grassroots racing team built on big goals, strong work ethic, and a vision that began with supporting women and girls, but was always intended to grow far beyond that starting point. What started with five founding members and a shared commitment to creating opportunity has evolved into a team that supports elite athletes, empowers youth runners, and stays deeply engaged in our broader community.
We believe the best way to truly get to know someone is to run alongside them. Many of our teammates joined after long-run conversations, invited not only for their athletic goals, but for their dedication to service, community impact, and the positive energy they bring to our team culture. We strive to create an environment where athletes pursue personal excellence while lifting up the people around them.
We’ve worked hard to clearly communicate our mission and values when recruiting or interviewing prospective athletes. And when we’ve encountered moments of misalignment, we’ve taken them as opportunities to reflect, refine our processes, and strengthen how we share who we are and what we stand for.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
We entered this space because we saw a need, not just for another competitive team, but for an environment where athletes could develop their potential while upholding the values that make sport meaningful. Our mission is grounded in a commitment to clean sport, community engagement, and fostering a culture where athletes can pursue excellence while supporting one another. We believe that running is at its best when it lifts people up, builds confidence, and connects us to the places and people we love.
What sets us apart is the clarity and consistency of our values. Everything we do is driven by seven core principles:
Training for Excellence and cultivating each athlete’s potential
Integrity and Clean Sport, the foundation of everything we do
Service to the Community, staying involved wherever we can make a positive impact
Adventure and Gratitude, remembering how fortunate we are to grow this team for the next generation
Self-Belief, nurturing a mindset that meets challenges with confidence and joy
Authenticity and Loyalty, representing our community with honesty and heart
Stewardship to the Earth, caring for the places where we run, race, and train
Across all of our efforts, we are incredibly proud of our athletes’ accomplishments, from those who have qualified for the Olympic Trials to those who have earned spots on Team USA, and especially our Front Range Elite Youth team. Our youth athletes are current State and Regional champions and will be competing at Nationals in just two weeks. Their passion, hard work, and team spirit represent everything we hope to cultivate at every level of our organization.
While training and competition are core to who we are, we’re equally proud of the programs and initiatives we’ve created that serve the broader community:
M1LE Nation Challenge
A virtual one-mile race open to runners everywhere. Designed to spark excitement, build speed, and connect athletes across locations. It’s a fun and accessible way for runners of all levels to challenge themselves.
7 @ 7 Weekly Run
A free, open-to-everyone group run every week from Raintree Athletic Club. We cover seven miles at 7:00 a.m. and welcome runners of various paces. It’s one of our favorite ways to meet people, build community, and share the joy of a good long run.
Youth Summer Running Program
A program built to support youth as multi-sport athletes, not just runners. We encourage balanced development, emphasize fun and teamwork, and offer opportunities to compete locally and through USATF events. This next generation inspires us daily.
Parent Pod
One of our most unique offerings, the Parent Pod provides a private, comfortable, and sanitary space for parents, including breastfeeding mothers, to change diapers, feed, or pump at athletic and outdoor events. We offer rental options to event organizers throughout Northern Colorado, helping remove barriers so parents can participate without added stress.
Above all, we want people to know that Front Range Elite is built on purpose, heart, and a desire to make the running world more inclusive, more inspiring, and more connected. Whether someone joins us on a group run, trains with our youth team, participates in a virtual challenge, or simply follows along with our journey, we hope they feel welcomed, supported, and excited to be part of this community.
We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?
We’ve built a small but highly engaged social media community, and we use that platform to share our journey, the lessons we’ve learned, and practical training insights. Our podcast has also grown significantly and now reaches hundreds of listeners per episode. Through it, we interview professional athletes, coaches, and leaders in the running world, dive into race recaps, and highlight interesting stories and trends shaping the sport.
Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?
While training for the 2020 Olympic Marathon Trials, I began looking for workout partners to break up the solitude of long miles. What started as a solo pursuit ended up becoming something far more meaningful. Through shared miles, tough workouts, and the connection only a marathon build can create, I found lifelong friends and a sense of support that transformed the experience.
What inspired me most was how we believed in one another. How each person’s confidence and effort lifted the entire group. It showed me what was possible when people are simultaneously striving for excellence and rooted in a sense of belonging. We wanted others to have that same experience. If more people could feel both the drive to pursue big goals and the safety of being part of a supportive community, I truly believe the world would be a better place.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.frontrangelite.com
- Instagram: @front.range.elite
- Facebook: Front Range Elite
- Other: Podcast: Conversation Pace with Front Range Elite
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/conversation-pace-with-fre/id1730412291
