Harper & Rowan Run Boulderthon Marathon

My name is Harper Smith. I had the pleasure of being born and raised in Crested Butte and have since moved to Golden, where I will be finishing up my degree at the Colorado School of Mines this year. I will be running the Boulderthon with my good friend Rowan McIntyre, and it will also be my first-ever running race.

Growing up in CB, I have always been an avid skier, hiker, biker, and general outdoorsman; however, running is a hobby that I have only recently taken up. My late mother, Sarah Smith, was an avid runner who had great discipline with her morning runs and successfully ran the Imogene Pass Race multiple times. I am very happy to say that I have found that same joy and discipline while training for this marathon, and I often find myself thinking of her as I push through the harder parts of training.

Living Journeys has not only given a lot to me, but also to many of my close friends. No family is ever prepared to endure the hardships of cancer, and it can be incredibly difficult for friends and family to know what you need at any given time. Living Journeys was a lifeline for me and my family while my mother fought cancer, and I know they have made their services available to anyone and everyone in the valley who experiences cancer in one way or another.

I am very happy to have the opportunity to give back to the organization and community that helped me and my family during a time of need, and I cannot wait to represent Crested Butte, Living Journeys, and my mom at the Boulderthon.

Rowan:

This September, I’m lacing up for my first ever marathon at Boulderthon. Training for 26.2 miles has pushed me further than I expected, early mornings, long runs, and a lot of learning as I go, but every mile has felt like it’s in service of something bigger than myself.