We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Keira Henninger. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Keira below.

Keira, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – walk us through the story?

In 2009 when I first started my exploration and interest in my profession I was pretty much the one and only female doing it. Most event producers and race directors were non profits, and not looking to do it as a job and profession. I wanted to change that, and I did. I turned my passion of running ultra marathons into my life’s work, and created a way to make an honest living doing it. I paved the way when no one was even paving that path, and every ounce of it was a risk. I was determined to do a job I loved all while not working for free. I simply refused to see and speak of only success despite all the rsiks that came with it. I now own, and produce some of the largest trail and ultra races on the West Coast, and built them all from the ground up.

Keira, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

At my core I am a trail runner, and at the age of 47 I have spent most of my entire adult life trail running. I ran in high school, and a few years after high school started to run marathons which eventually led to racing and competing in ultra marathons. Whe I first started in the sport 18 years ago trail, and ultra marathon running was not nearly as popular as it is today, and the sport had very few organized trail races on the west coast. In my late 20’s I could not shake the idea that I wanted to change that, and was determined to create and organize more trail races. Trail running is something anyone can do for pretty much for free, and I had a deep desire to introduce that to all communities and walks of life. It is something that essentially costs almost nothing, and can give back to your mental health more than most things. I was determined to bring the sport of trail running to as many people as I could.

It started off for me in the early days volunteering and competing at Ultra Marathons, and then eventually led to me having a great understanding as to what it would take to start creating and directing new races. My business, and entrepreneurship story pretty much started in 2009 when I took over a 20 year old Ultra Marathon race called Leona Divide. The original race directors were in there early 60’s, and just did not want to keep the race ongoing. I had volunteered there a few prior years so when they asked me to take it over I jumped at the opportunity. From that point on I never looked back, and have since created over 13 additional trail races from the ground up.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

As a child I grew up in an extremely abusive household both physically and mentally. I was constantly being told I was stupid, worthless, and would never amount to anything. As an adult I had to work through the process of rewiring and unlearning all that I was told my entire childhood. To not be defined by my fear, but prepared by my fear. I was determined to succeed and heal. All through my 20’s I read every self help book I could get my hands on. If it was positive, and a good message you better believe I read it. I chose to have my outlet be running and exercising, and always put my health and fitness first. I think so many people who are raised in extremely abusive homes turn to drugs and alcohol. I just chose differently at a young age. Running literally saved my life, and it taught me I was capable of changing the history and patterns of my upbringing. That I could break the cycle. I literally used to say that to myself everyday…. “you are going to be the one to break this toxic cycle in your family and save yourself”…

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

When you organize, and put on running events in the wilderness you are always at the mercy of mother nature. All of my trail races are held in Southern California, and over the years we have dealt with devastating fires. More than twice I have had my entire race course burn up, and lost an entire race I had hosted and relied on for income for many years. I always pivoted. When one thing ends, find another way. It was some of those early years and dealing with fires that I learned to create new races in new places. The fire that caused me to lose one race literally ignited my own fire to create new races in another new area or venue. It was through that I learned how to create multiple brand new events, and pivot in a huge way.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.khraces.com/
• Instagram: @keirahenninger @khraces
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keira-henninger-74333a2a/
• Twitter: @keirahenninger
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2REIJ1TW9tHWWA8TvOEMkA

Image Credits
Ulysses Chan