MEET THE CREW.
MORGAN BURROWS
In the context of running, Morgan walked on to her collegiate cross-country team after being a swimmer for years. Seeking fresh air, sneakers unlocked a door that has yet to close. Running was a place of solitude, a place of raw accountability, a place that allowed reflection and the literal (and proverbial) space to work through everything life threw her way. Her training was double digit miles per day, rest days were the same distance just a slower pace, but races remained shorter distances (5-10k) and riddled with injuries, running through all of them. Feeling monotonous, she started to dabble with new events: 1 half marathon then two full. A full Ironman then a half; cycling just wasn't fun. So she ran 50 miles, then 100 but it seemed to be the same 'thing' on repeat. The challenge and excitement just wasn't there anymore. Running across the country for 40+ days, almost 3 marathons per day, years of preparation, a multitude of terrain & climates, unknown territories, logistic and crewing complexities and the requirement to perfect all the hard lessons learned along the way... This is it.
"Unless you attempt to do something beyond that which you've already mastered, you will never grow."
Colby Westervelt
Colby is one of Morgan's older sisters and an avid athlete inspired by Morgan to train for and compete in her first marathon and Ironman events now among many others. She has become a passionate, daily long distance runner.
As a professional athletic trainer, Colby brings a wealth of knowledge and skills to support Morgan through some of the toughest terrain (nearly 2/3 of the 151,000+ feet of elevation climb; the heat of both the California valley and Nevada deserts), injury mitigation/recovery and the early days of anticipated mental and emotional rollercoasters. And, as the first crew chief, Colby gets to create rhthym and flow for the duration of this adventure.
Shawna Jones
Shawna brings the sparkle & cheer to the team as the second crew chief through the heart of the country. Morgan and Shawna met as strangers on a winning 200 mile relay team and quickly became soul sisters. A lifelong runner, glitter enthousiast, vegan foodie, Shawna is passionate about faith, wellness, travel and cheering Morgan on every stride of this record-breaking journey.
Chris Kitto
Chris has known Morgan for 15+ years, but it seems much longer. Though not an avid runner and being a first time crew chief, Chris loves this 'narley' challenge. Wanting to help in some way, with vacation to spare, she will cover the final two weeks (or more if needed) to bring Morgan to the finish line. Chris' view: It's not only a once in a lifetime opportunity to be a part of this type of challenge, but to play such a special part in helping a friend beat a world record is absolutely priceless. After all, records are meant to be broken. So... let's go!!
Jason Besecker
Jason…though he prefers to remain in the shadows, his contribution cannot be measured. This entire expedition would not be happening if not for him. His mere presence evaporates Morgan's fears and his patience through her training & preparations is unrivaled.
Their short story: they grew up in the same tiny town, same friend circles, aware of each other as leading athletes but never so much as a conversation. Silent 'friends' on social media for many years, Jason shared his own transformational success which prompted Morgan to reach out, interested to hear his story. After meeting in person about 2.5 years ago, the rest is history. He is the savior and now protector of Morgan's soul as well as life and limb throughout the journey.
MATTHEW ASENCIO
Matthew is the reason this website exists! Not only did he volunteer to build this site, but he designed the logos and media materials with a thoughtfulness Morgan could not have anticipated. The logo represents the full circle of inspiration Morgan has had from others, the inspiration she hopes to ignite which then in turn she hopes will inspire others and the cycle continues. The depth of the map represents the enormity of the challenge. The typography mimics that of public road signs. The colors come from nature as this journey crosses a vast stretch of land. Matthew is the brother of one of Morgan's former employees who volunteered to support this unique endeavor with his graphic design skill set.
Dominick Aranda
Dominick volunteered to be an additional lever for the acting crew chief as our virtual team member. An endeavor of this magnitude has a variety of unknown challenges; having an individual with stable Wi-Fi and cell service to develop multiple solutions will enhance crew response time and optimize our mileage for any deviations. Virtual support could look like: alternative route optimization for road closures, contact with fire departments regarding wildfires along the route, call ahead with local authorities to be witnesses or certainly with any emergencies. Dominick is not only familiar with the region with our most challenging terrain, he is an outdoor sports enthusiast with first-hand knowledge of various locations out west. He served honorably as a United States Marine on multiple deployments, some with particular focus in the areas of supply chain and logistics.