Trail Gangsta of the Month — trail gangstaz

Full Name: Ryan Steiner 

Age: 40      Kala’s Age: 5

Hometown: Terre Haute, Indiana

Current Residence: Peru, Indiana

Occupation: Stay-at-Home-Dad, Artist, Runner, Autism Advocate  

1. When did you realize you had autism? Was it difficult to share this discovery with others?

 I was in 3rd grade when I started to recognize I was different from the other kids. My mother was always pretty open with me about the diagnosis, so I never felt like it was something I needed...

Full Name: Sarah Kassing 

Dog’s Name: Lyra (my main go-to for canicross)

Age:  36   Dog’s Age: 3.5 years

Hometown: Audubon, MN

Current Residence: Flagstaff, AZ

Occupation:  Emergency Veterinarian

1. Okay, what the heck is canicross?!

Canicross is a sport that stems from the sled dog world.  It started a way for mushers to train in the off-season but has evolved into a highly competitive sport throughout the world.  It involves a dog harnessed and attached by a bungee line...

Full Name: Maurice Lowman

Age: 42

Hometown: East Providence, RI

Current Residence: East Providence, RI

Occupation: Automotive Sales 

1. What is the significance of the panda to you? Is it your spirit animal?

That’s a definite yes! My grandmother gave me a panda bear stuffed animal when I was a toddler and I was obsessed with it. I grew up infatuated with pandas, from posters to National Geographic issues, I was hooked. My grandmother “nana” used to tell me I would be a runner when...

Name: Jen Laughlin

Hometown: Thousand Oaks, CA 

Current Residence: Buckeye, AZ

Occupation: Social Media Manager 

Alma Mater: Westmont College

1. How did you first fall in love with running? Does your family share your passion for the sport?                 

I grew up active, always outside and playing competitive sports. I went to college on a full ride scholarship for soccer. I have been running forever but fell in love with it in college. Always being on...

Name: Mitchell Ammons
Occupation: Nursing Student
Hometown: Austin, TX
Current Residence: Austin, TX

1. You’re very open about your past struggles with addiction to Heroin and other drugs. What drew you to running and how did it help you on your path to recovery?

Yes, I'm definitely very open about my past. I figure if I reach and inspire even just one other person that is struggling it makes it all worth it. I was about two years sober, and on the way to changing everything about myself. I had...