Amy Hanlon

Amy - I am so excited to be part of the Mountain Peak Fitness Red Newt Racing for another year! I have enjoyed being active all my life – running, hiking, tennis, racquetball – but I never participated in organized sports. I have a 19 year old daughter, Abigail who is a sophomore at Southern Connecticut State University who I am thrilled to report, also enjoys a very active lifestyle. She is training for her first half marathon! I have been a vegetarian for 38 years and in 2018 I became a vegan. I live in Danbury, Connecticut. Danbury is a convenient location because it’s within striking distance of the Gunks, the Berkshires, the Appalachian trail, and my favorite, the Catskills. I have completed my Catskill high peaks in 2017 and my winter peaks in 2018. Nothing makes me happier than waking up before the sun comes up and running and hiking in the mountains all day long.

I started running road races in 2005 and began to spend more time hiking and exploring. I really got the bug in 2010 when I ran the Tussey Mountainback 50 miler as part of a relay team and was amazed and inspired by the runners completing the entire run solo. Soon after that I picked up the book UltraMarathon Man by Dean Karnazes and started to consider, "Maybe I could do that." The following year I ran 10 races over 26 miles, including my first 50 miles at Three Days at the Fair, my first trail marathon at North Face Bear Mountain, and my first trail 50k at Bimbler’s Bluff. I have been testing my boundaries and living my dreams ever since. At the end of a day I love feeling that I really lived that day to its absolute fullest.

In 2014 I turned 40 and ran my fastest marathon. It’s neat to improve even as I get older. That year I also ran with my first xc team—Brookfield Woodbridge running store—and our masters team came in first place in Connecticut. Another tradition I’ve been following for a few years is to run my age in miles on the Appalachian Trail. I’d like to traverse the entire Connecticut segment, but haven’t pulled it off yet. Maybe this year!  I also am working on my high peaks for the Adirondacks and the White Mountains.  I had a bit of a tough year physically last year so am just looking to get stronger in 2019 and have some fun times hiking, running and volunteering and hopefully being able to get a few solid races finished feeling good. Manitou’s Revenge is on the top of that list.

I also love getting out west to explore some serious mountains—my favorites to date are Mount St. Helens, Half Dome, Mt. Whitney, and the Wonderland Trail around Mt. Rainier. Last year I completed Rim to Rim to Rim at the Grand Canyon with my boyfriend and my MPF RNR teammate Mendy and her husband. Incredible experience! Another highlight: guiding a blind runner to a sub four hour finish in the 2014 New York City Marathon.

I am thrilled about being a part of the Mountain Peak Fitness Red Newt Racing Team. I love mountains! When I see them from my car I get excited and can’t wait to see what types of trails and views they hold. There isn’t a trail I don’t want to explore, and conditions don’t scare me. I’ve finished races when it’s been below freezing, 88 and humid, in the snow and in the pouring rain. Looking forward to some amazing adventures!

Amy's Race Reports & Adventures