From Trailblazer to Trail Steward

Biting Wyoming wind nips at her face and pulls at her tightly braided hair. Jagged and unforgiving off-trail terrain meets her sore and blistered feet. The towering pinnacles of the Wind River Range pierce the distant sky, egging her on yet simultaneously mocking her efforts. After countless hours of running, she succumbs to her exhaustion and pulls an emergency blanket from her small pack, curling up beneath it. She closes her eyes and attempts sleep, but her brain sprints ahead, her muscles throbbing and aching… her decision to sleep thwarted for over an hour.

She resolves that she has no other option but to keep moving.

In 2020, Kelly Halpin ran the Wind River High Route in fifty-nine and a half hours. There exists some debate on the true length of this run. Though it is oft considered a ‘100 mile route,’ Kelly’s watch read an impressive 103 at the end. Not only did she complete this run solo and unsupported, she also boasted the fastest female time. Now, many might view this accomplishment with satisfaction and hang up the proverbial hat. Instead, Kelly returned in 2024 and ran it again, this time without breaking for any attempted rest… and finished an astonishing six hours faster. But her journey, both physical and mental, goes far beyond times and records. It’s about enduring unimaginable lengths of time in the wilderness and cultivating a deep, personal connection to isolated places all over the world.

“I’m often in pretty remote wilderness, usually by myself, and you're moving with everything you have just on your back and your legs and your mind. And I think it's really incredible to be so small in such a vast landscape,” Kelly explained. “Most of us runners are out for what I would consider the right reasons: to be in nature and try to push limits… It’s all about self-exploration.” 

Kelly is a force, albeit a quiet one. Her accomplishments are impressive, yet she will be the last to proclaim them. So let us set the local stage: she was the first female to complete the Picnic, aka the Grand Teton Triathlon, and was also on the first team to complete this feat unsupported. She was the first female to complete the Moranic Picnic as well as the Triple Picnic, and also ran the Teewinot Triathlon. We don’t mean to just list off accomplishments you could read on her website, so instead picture a webpage replete with FKTs (Fastest Known Times) and countless unsupported missions across the Intermountain West and, more recently, around the globe.

She wasn’t always a runner, though.

Kelly was originally a climber and snowboarder, but after she was plagued by the all-too-familiar mountain town ACL injury, she began dreaming of something a little different. “I started having these super lucid dreams that I was running,” she reminisced. “Instead of strapping my snowboard on, I tucked it under my arm and just started running through fields of flowers. I kept having these recurring dreams about running in the mountains.”

As the days passed, she began to spend more time exploring the Tetons, adding distance and time to her runs. She quickly realized that she deeply enjoyed the solitude and adventure that accompanies long distance trail running. Her blossoming passion for trail running wasn’t solely about the miles or solitude, however — it was about the intricate, almost obsessive, art of route planning: and how to do it safely.

“Having been in the sport for a decade or more now, I’m realizing that, as cool as it is to do things fast, what’s even better is to do them in a good way — with good style — that sets up the future of running in a more meaningful way,” Kelly explained. She is all too aware that by creating new routes and connecting existing trails, she might be inadvertently drawing more use to the area, especially with the prevalence of social media snippets.

As social media increasingly shapes how athletic achievement is viewed, Kelly recognizes the pressure it places on athletes to condense their accomplishments into quick, easily digestible moments. She’s mindful of the responsibility that comes with this platform and works to ensure her success doesn’t become just a highlight reel but a true reflection of the effort, risk, and dedication it takes. "That ten second video doesn’t include the twenty or thirty years it took to get there. I don't want to say it's the sole responsibility of the athlete,” she explained, “but I think it's a good thing for an athlete to acknowledge… There isn’t a shortcut to experience.”

Kelly recognizes this unique opportunity to set an example in the mountains. While there are many runs she admits could have been completed faster, she’s always chosen to prioritize safety and sound running ethics and uses her platform not only to celebrate her successes but to be transparent about the real challenges and sacrifices that come with them. For her, it's not just about the end result, but the process; it’s about acknowledging the years of work, failures and learning that are often hidden behind the glossy moments we see online.

“I have a pretty strict style and I like to make sure that I’m doing my runs in a way that, if people break the record in the future, hopefully they’ll follow the same route and not put themselves or others in direct danger,” she said, reminiscing about runs where she had to adjust her path to stay on-trail or avoid wildlife encounters. Kelly believes that respecting the land is just as critical as pushing the limits of one’s own endurance. For her, every run represents an opportunity to tread lightly on the environment and to leave a positive legacy for future runners.

Some of that legacy includes inspiring others to dream big. Kelly was one of only nine international athletes invited to compete in the Snowman Race, “a stage race that is considered one of the hardest races in the world,” she explained. The 126-mile race takes place deep in the Bhutanese Himalayas, traversing elevations of more than 18,000 feet over the course of five grueling days. “We were all invited there by His Majesty the King of Bhutan and the Bhutanese government to be ambassadors for our countries and help spread the message of climate change. It was an incredible experience.”

Kelly’s physical achievements, from FKTs to competing in some of the most demanding races in the world, are a testament to her strength, endurance and grit. To endure such challenges, Kelly knows the importance of nurturing both her physical and mental health. “I do a little yoga, plyometrics, some strength and resistance training, stretch a lot and try to make sure my muscles are activating properly. I try to get nine hours of sleep and my husband and I eat very healthy and local and we try to hunt a lot of our own protein. And I definitely try to take really good care of my feet!” She joked, acknowledging the difficulty of maintaining healthy feet during some of her longest runs. Her approach to endurance is about listening, understanding and taking care of herself in a holistic way.

While Kelly’s body is a finely-tuned machine capable of remarkable deeds, her creative spirit adds yet another layer to her character. Many see Kelly solely as an athlete, but those who know her also recognize the depth of her artistry — an element of her life that plays just as vital a role in her well-being. A freelance illustrator, Kelly’s work can be found on everything from the beloved beer cans at Melvin Brewing to magazines like Powder and Jackson Hole Snowboarder. She has also self-published three books and illustrated nine others. Through her art, Kelly channels a similar deep connection to the natural world that fuels her running and endurance pursuits.

Kelly’s journey — both as an athlete and as an artist — is a testament to the heightened awareness she has cultivated with the world around her. Whether running solo across the rugged terrain of the Wind River Range, pushing the limits of her endurance, or quieting her mind in the midst of the wilderness, she’s found a balance between physical challenge and introspection. For Kelly, it’s not about competing with others; it’s about exploring her own boundaries and the wild landscapes that inspire her.

Reflecting on her experience as a woman in endurance sports, Kelly recognizes the societal expectations that often hold women back. “People have always told little girls to be more careful than boys, and I think that snowballs into adulthood,” she said, noting that women often don’t take on big solo missions as frequently as men. But Kelly is determined to change that narrative. “Women are absolutely 100% just as strong, if not stronger, than men at endurance sports,” she stated, emphasizing the growing presence of women shattering records in the ultra-running world. “If you can start pushing those boundaries, we’re going to see great things from individuals of any gender. I think everybody is much more capable physically and mentally than they think they are.”

As she looks to the future, Kelly’s legacy will not only be defined by her impressive records or her work as a creator, but by her dedication to challenging herself, mindful trail stewardship and inspiring others to dream big — both on the trail and in life. She believes everyone has the potential to surpass what they thought was possible, and her own journey serves as a powerful example.

What does Kelly Halpin carry with her on a run?

Black Diamond running vest (From 2L to 33L depending on length)

Water

Filtration system

Bear spray

Sunscreen

Chapstick

Emergency Blanket

Satellite unit

Duct Tape

First Aid Kit

Poles

Phone and backup battery or charger

Layers

Tourniquet (or something that could be used as one)

Favorite trail snack: Homemade onigiri or string cheese for longer efforts, and gels or gummy bears for shorter, faster runs

Favorite shoes: La Sportiva Mutants

Kelly’s advice on critical backcountry knowledge:

— Take a Wilderness First Responder or First Aid Course!

— Have thorough knowledge of your route, the conditions, and weather patterns.

— Be ok without technology if it fails.

— Know how to read a topo map.

— Have a basic sense of direction.