# 209 — Justine Hewitt

Mark and Blair sit down to talk with mountain athlete, Justine Hewitt. Blair and Justine met in the valley of the Grand Canyon a few years ago when both were running the Rim 2 Rim 2 Rim for fun and decided to finish their route together. Justine is accomplishing big feats in her local Utah mountains and beyond while remaining under-the-radar (for now). They discuss Justine’s 2022 win at RUFA (Running Up for Air), where she completed 11 laps on Grandeur Peak for a total of 63.8 miles and 35,618 feet of vertical gain in 24 hours. It’s easy to understand Justine’s nickname ‘The Queen of Vert’ from her single day efforts and her 500,000 vertical foot goal for 2022 (which she reached in early November). They also discuss her first 100-mile effort, The Millwood 100, a backyard vert fest that criss-crosses the Wasatch, created by local athlete Jared Campbell. Justine set the Women’s Fastest Known Time and was one of 22 total to ever complete the route at the time. While the numbers are impressive and indicative of Justine's strength, grit, and determination, it is her gratitude for being in the mountains and her enthusiasm to encourage others that shines more brightly than any trophy or accolade. She trains quietly every single day and approaches each chance to be in the mountains with humbleness and appreciation. She is grateful to be out there and her excitement and gratitude — her spirit — reverberates along all the trails she runs and through all the people she runs with.