Trail running didn’t just make Jenn Lichter a champion; it helped her rewrite her entire relationship with movement, food, and success. She didn’t find the sport in college or high school. It found her years later in Glacier National Park, on watch-less miles that reminded her running could feel like freedom again.

Growing up in an orphanage in Bogotá meant control was scarce. Running became the first thing she could shape — but it slid into harmful restriction during high school and college. Recovery meant nourishment, clarity, and learning to run for joy instead of punishment.

A curiosity-fueled race at The Rut led to a North Face contract. Wins like Broken Arrow followed. Not because she chased validation, but because she rediscovered excitement.

Trail culture flipped her script with food. Instead of restriction, there’s fueling, joy, Oreos, and Tailwind mixes that make recovery feel doable (and sometimes like cheesecake).

Jenn shows up ready to hurt in the best way. She trains fatigue, honors her past self’s work, and races with the confidence that comes from consistency. And she only moves up in distance when she feels ready, not because the sport pressures her to.

With an agent managing contracts, Jenn gets to stay focused on authenticity, not algorithms. She posts when she feels like it, competes because she loves it, and keeps the sport centered on what matters most.

At the end of the day, Jenn loves training more than trophies. Racing is the celebration, not the point. Curiosity, consistency, and connection are what keep her running for the long run.

Listen to this one for full-on inspiration 🎧

Jon is a runner, cyclist, and podcast host from Boston, MA, who now lives in Boulder, CO. For The Long Run is aimed at exploring the why behind what keeps runners running long, strong, and motivated.

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