Allison Mitchell
At our Saturday morning run club, Allison is known for her steady determination, strength, and ability to push herself while making running look effortless (we’re very jealous!). She is one of the most well-rounded runners we know, participating in cross country races, half and full marathons, an ultramarathon and countless shorter races. She is fearless when it comes to running and loves a new challenge. From the road to the trails, Allison finds the joy in running just about anywhere!
Before she was logging cross country races, half marathons and marathons, and ultramarathons, Allison’s athletic journey actually began with a soccer ball at her feet (so we were obviously going to be instant friends!). Allison started playing soccer when she was about 10 years old, eventually playing on her high school team, club teams, and in indoor leagues. She has kept up with the sport into adulthood, enjoying the camaraderie and connection that comes from being on a team. She’ll tell you one of the things she loves most about soccer is how it brings people together.
Running, however, quickly became Allison’s true passion. The summer before her senior year of high school, her sister convinced her to join their school’s cross country team’s summer training camp to stay in shape for soccer. To Allison’s surprise, she loved it so much that she traded her fall soccer season for cross country, and she hasn’t stopped running since.
Since then, Allison has built a remarkable running resume: 5 half marathons, 8 full marathons, and a 50K ultramarathon—a grueling but rewarding experience that required back-to-back long runs every weekend during her training. Add to that roster, 80-90 shorter races, and we can clearly see that running has become a cornerstone in Allison’s life.
This past summer, Allison had an incredible race season, finishing at the top of her age group in four different races. She came in 2nd in her age group at the Williamsville Moonlight Run 5K (it’s worth noting the race had over 1000 participants!) and took 1st in her age group at the Oak Tree Half Marathon.
Behind those medals is the way Allison trains. Running with a group has kept her motivated and accountable, while also ensuring that training stays fun. This summer, she also committed to running 6 days a week instead of 5 days (on top of having a full-time job!), focusing on consistency, shorter daily runs to keep up her mileage, and speed workouts to improve her performance and get faster (which has clearly paid off!).
Allison’s true passion: cross country races. She especially enjoys Buffalo’s Pete Galvin Cross Country Series, which features races ranging from 5K’s to 8K’s. Her next running goal includes participating in the Pete Galvin series this fall, where she’s hoping to improve on her times now that she knows the courses pretty well. Allison completed the first race in this series on September 21st, shaved 20 seconds off her previous cross country 5K time (a cross country PR!) and is already crushing her goals!
Alongside her training, Allison also pays close attention to how she fuels her body. She’s been a vegetarian since 1998 and a vegan for the past 12 years, completing all of her marathons and her ultramarathon as a vegan athlete. Her approach to nutrition while training is simple but effective, with snacks and small meals throughout the day, lots of beans and nuts, and vegan-friendly gels and drink mixes like Tailwind and Skratch during long runs. Applesauce pouches are another go-to for Allison. The night before race day, you’ll often find her eating pasta with bell peppers, chickpeas, and a soy-based sauce (Yum!).
For Allison, running is more than training plans and race results. She loves that it gives her the chance to meet new people, explore cities on foot (where she gets to see so much more than via car), and enjoy the outdoors. Running is fun, grounding, and always worth the effort.
We’re so lucky that Allison joined our Middle Trail Run Club over a year ago. In addition to experience and dedication, she brings passion for the sport that inspires the entire run club. Whether she’s pushing for a new PR or cheering on fellow runners, Allison reminds us why we run in the first place - for community, self-growth, and a love of running.
Meet Allison
Meet Allison
Q&A
How did you get started running?
I started playing soccer when I was younger and always liked how much running was involved. The summer before my senior year of high school I started training with my school’s cross country team because my sister had joined. I loved it so much I decided to run for my school’s cross team instead of playing soccer that fall.
What is your favorite part about racing? Is it the training? Is it the race day?
I love competing against my past times and seeing how well I’ve trained or what I need to adjust for future races.
What keeps you motivated for your runs?
Having a group to run with keeps me motivated!
If you could give one piece of advice to help people who are looking to get into running get started, what would it be?
Stick with it and don’t be too hard on yourself! The first few weeks are really tough, but it gets easier and you feel so accomplished when you achieve a new distance.
What is your favorite running event that you have done and why?
I’ve done the Seneca 7 relay six times with a team of family and close friends. It’s always great to spend the day running with a team!
If you could run anywhere in the world and leave today, where would you choose to go and why?
I love trail running, so anywhere there’s some nice trails!