The cheering was so loud that Sasha Chavez could feel the streets vibrating as she made her way to the finish of the 130th Boston Marathon – and a personal best. It’s a remarkable thing - those cheers, that roar, the 26.2 miles of support from Hopkinton to Boylston Street. It shows the depth of community that Boston and its environs feel about the Marathon.
And that nexus of running and community could well be one way to describe Sasha herself. She regularly weaves her passion for running and sport with her passion for looking out for and improving the well-being of others.
In this Runners of Run Club interview, we cover that and more – from her experience as a Division 1 steeplechaser and healthcare professional to her thoughts on a classic Run Club photo and growing up in a (very) small town.
And after this, we may all adopt the mantra that helped her through a particularly tough time at the 2025 Grandma’s Marathon (you may have already guessed what it is). Enjoy.
--Hank Dart
If audio is your medium, listen to Sasha’s wonderful stories and insight in her own voice.
Sasha Chavez, welcome to runners of Run Club. We’ll open with what’s become the first question of this series: What’s one of your first running memories?
Well, first off, thank you for having me. What really comes to mind is elementary school. I had a teacher who was smart, and when we were being obnoxious kids, she would make us go outside and run laps to get our energy out. And I just vividly remember loving it. So, kind of cracking up: “This is punishment?” But I’m actually so stoked to be out here. And that’s really when I just wanted to be competitive and beat everybody in my class, especially the boys. So, I feel that’s when I really started being like: “I love this” - and also competing in this as well, compared to some of the other kids in my class.
And I bet you were competitive with the boys.
Yeah, I definitely beat them, and I loved it.
That’s a good motivator.
Especially when you’re young like that, you know?
So, maybe this is around that same time. Maybe it’s a different time: When do you feel that your love for running took off?
I enjoyed it throughout my childhood. And then as an adolescent, I definitely was lucky enough to be able to participate in sports growing up, and running was one of the main sports. But I think my love for running really took off as a collegiate athlete. I think that’s when I understood how much I actually loved to run, how much I wanted to show up to practice and be good and begin to excel at it. And when you’re competing at that level, it just takes a lot of passion. I think that’s when that passion really grew – when I was a collegiate athlete.
You were a D1 runner at Idaho State. I have that correct?
Yes. Yes.
Can you talk a little bit about what it was like being a D1 runner?
So, I think looking back at that time, it was such an interesting place to be for me because I went from running in a really small division in Idaho. Where I grew up, it was a tiny town with like a population four hundred. So, going into that D1 space was a shock – just competing against such incredible athletes and learning so much from them. The first couple years, just learning: “Whoa, people actually run every single day, like, basically, the entire year.” So, it took me a while to really figure out what my best event was, because I didn’t run like that when I was in high school. Ultimately, I landed on running the 3,000-meter steeplechase, which was awesome. I actually didn’t start racing that event until I was a senior in college. And then, fortunately, I was able to do a fifth year. So, I got to steeplechase for two years. And ultimately that was my best event – and also my favorite event. I was able to combine my athleticism from growing up – playing basketball and other sports – and running. It was like a sweet spot. Not too short, not too long. So, I just loved being able to race that event.
Well, knowing you, that tracks that you were a steeplechaser – because it seems widely regarded as the gnarliest track event out there.
It’s so fun to have something to break up a race. I think that’s one challenge – when you’re running on the track specifically, it’s so monotonous. And if you allow, you know, that spiral of: “Oh my gosh, can I keep up with these girls? Am I tired?” And the steeplechase allows you to be able to just lock in and be like: “I need to make it to the next steeple and get past it.” So, you’re not really in your head as much. Personally, that’s how I felt. And I think that’s why I did so much better at that race, too.
That’s fantastic.
And now I can use those skills on the trails.
Exactly. And there’s a long history of steeplechasers being fantastic trail runners. So, when did you first hear about Hailey Run Club, and what are some of your thoughts on the Thursday night runs?
I think at the time we were only posting on Facebook. And so, I think I must have heard about it from Amy Kelly because I couldn’t get into my Facebook at the time. She would have to text me: “Hey, run club’s going on.” And her and I at that point ran together a lot, but we hadn’t really explored running with more people in the community. So, we were both interested in attending. That’s really how I think I heard about it. And I think this is what I always tell people about the Hailey Run Club: It’s so fun to be able to show up and meet people in the community that you would never meet unless you showed up to Hailey Run Club. Because for many of us adults - you go to work and you get to meet your coworkers and get to know them better. And then you go home, and you maybe make friends in your circle. You know – small circle – and you don’t really go beyond that. And I think that’s the blessing of Hailey Run Club; you meet people who do completely different jobs, you know, completely different passions for running and you get to learn so much from them. And I think that’s why I like to show up when I can.
It’s always great when you can make it. I was looking back at some run club photos, and I think it was one from the first year [2023] – from on top of Carbonate, from the spring with the clouds. And it’s become what I think of as one of the classic Hailey Run Club photos. It was used a couple times by iRunFar – the online trail running magazine and website [See Nov 2023 & Aug 2024]. So, it’s just great to look back and see you and Amy there.
And just how much we’ve all grown. Betsie has two kids now. I also laugh because I remember that picture that you’re talking about. It’s so interesting to just see yourself in that moment and be like: “Wow, I’ve just come such a long way.” I remember showing up thinking: “Well, yeah, I ran in college, and I think I’ll be totally fine.” At that point, I wasn’t really trail running or anything. And I showed up and I was like: “Oh yeah, I’m sure I could keep up with everybody.” And you guys were running up Carbonate, just talking to me. And I was like: “I’m really sorry, but I want to communicate back. But I literally can’t.” Everyone was, of course, so kind and friendly, but I was just laughing at how much I was just blown away by everyone who showed up that day. And it also motivated me to get back into shape. So, I loved being able to look back on that memory.
It’s a fond memory that. And that was three years ago - probably getting close to three and a half years ago, which is a long time.
Yeah. Definitely. That’s when I started to find my passion with running again. Because for a while after running in college, I stopped. So, it’s been really cool to be consistent now for three years.
Listen to a clip about this photo
I think I saw an Instagram or TikTok post where you said you took a break for about three years after college – or was it a little more?
So, for three years after college, I walked and did that type of exercise. I exercised, but I really just could not find my groove of being consistent with anything – whether it was with strength training or running. And for running specifically, I probably didn’t start back up until I moved back to Hailey.
Well, you’ve been very consistent since then.
Which is my goal now. Just to show up, you know.
That’s fantastic. So, we touched on this. Where did you grow up, and how do you think that shaped who you are?
So, I am originally from Richfield, Idaho, which is just south of Hailey. And like I said, it’s a really small town. I would say it shaped me in a way of it’s made me really approachable and easy to talk to. Just because when you’re from a small town, you literally just know everybody. You know their family, you know what’s going on in their life. And I’m just so comfortable getting to know people. And I think I’ve been able to utilize that throughout my adulthood, you know? Especially as a nurse practitioner, getting to know patients and making them feel comfortable talking to me. I feel so lucky to have grown up in a small town. It’s just different, you know? But I do feel it’s helped me learn how to build a community of people. And that’s also been such a priority for me as an adult. Growing up in a small town, you see when someone gets sick, people show up, whether it’s giving money that they don’t even have or dropping off food – being able to see how special that is. I definitely want to take that and continue to live like that. I mean, Hailey is also a small town.
It is. But it’s bigger than Richfield.
Yeah.
And I do think that we can lose sight as a society: We often think we have to do big things. But I think just on the personal and micro level, those little ways to reach out can have real impact.
Yeah.
And we’ve already talked about that a little bit in terms of run club. But interpersonally in our lives, I think it’s a really important message. So, thanks for bringing that up.
Of course.
So, coming back to running, do you have a favorite type of running, a favorite distance, a favorite type of race?
I think my favorite distance right now is the marathon – road marathon. I just love it so much. I love that it’s short enough. You’re usually done within a reasonable amount of time, and you can still try to test out your speed, which obviously with my track background, I’m still obsessed with that. I want to get faster. So, I’m enjoying training for marathons and hopefully I can continue doing that.
So, now that we’re talking about road races and marathons, we need to talk a little bit about Boston, which you did in April. And you went with your good friend, Amy, who also comes to run club and is in that “famous” picture we talked about. How was your Boston experience?
I mean, Boston was insane in all the good ways. I think that running is never that sport that people tend to show up for [and watch], which is totally fine, right? You’d just get used to cross-country races being kind of empty. It’s just not the scene where people are going to come and cheer loud and make you, you know, be excited the entire time you’re running. And I think that’s really what stood out to me about Boston – was just the entire marathon, just feeling like: Whoa, this community is making us feel so supported, so loved and seen. You have family neighborhoods – you can tell they just look forward to that day cheering us on. And so, for people to take the time to sit outside for hours cheering for runners, I think that was the most exciting part to me. And then even just every aid station there was I would say fifty people, just handing out water and Gatorade. And the fact that people would do that on their day off for free, I think is the coolest thing. And I would definitely love to go back and run it again. The course was so challenging. I think so many people from this area were like: “Oh, don’t be too worried about it. You’re from Hailey; it’s going to be easy peasy.” And when I was on Heartbreak Hill, I was: “You guys are liars! This is really hard.” I definitely think that the course itself too – you’re pushed to the limits. You’re tired when the hills hit. But being able to come in when you’re exhausted – downhill and finish strong with all the people. The road is vibrating, you know, towards the end, that’s how many people are screaming. So, it was pretty insane to finish and feel confident, even though I was so tired the last four miles.
And you got a PR, which is amazing - to PR at Boston.
I was pretty happy about that.
Even with struggling the last four miles.
So, yeah, I really hope I can run even faster. But I think too, that’s an interesting thing about any race, which I’m sure is like when you’ve done your ultras. When you’re racing, unfortunately your body sometimes doesn’t give you an option, you know, and that just sucks. And that last four miles in Boston, I’m running past some people who you could tell are trying so hard to keep going, but they physically can’t. And you just feel your body and you’re like: “Please, just continue to go. Please.” And then you’re just so grateful when you finish – because you know that you could train and do everything right, and then somehow not be able to. So, I feel lucky with that.
Well, it was amazing. And Amy had a great day, too.
And Amy had a great day.
Listen to a clip about this photo
Do you have a favorite piece of equipment? It can be anything that you really like to have with you when you’re training or running or racing – anything like that.
I mean, obviously you have to have a good pair of shoes, but something special that I love to have: I listen to music when I run. I know that’s a debatable thing. Some people love just being outside with nature, not listening to anything, but I would say my Shokz headphones are a game changer.
And is it training and racing that you like to have music?
Yes. So training, I obviously won’t listen to music if I’m running with other people, but I love being able to train with my music. But I definitely learned a lesson in Boston because my Shokz headphones stopped working at mile sixteen right when I really needed them. And I was already kind of struggling. So, I think if I’m going to do another big race like Boston, I’m going to experiment – and not even start with headphones. Because I’m someone who has my playlists laid out: easy, slow songs, faster pace. I really put a lot of thought into it. So, when I had my music stop, I definitely had to mentally reset for a couple miles.
Did you have a Boston-specific playlist? Or is it a marathon-specific playlist, or is it like a three-hour specific playlist?
I do a new one every marathon.
Do you have a specific genre that you really like or is it all sorts of stuff?
Mostly pop, I would say, and then I have different songs from different eras of my running career. So, songs that my teammates and I just jammed out to before races. It just brings me back to those times when I’m really tired – where I’m: “Oh, they would be so proud of me if I just keep going.” So, I put some emotion like that towards the end of the race – songs that just kind of bring me back to the people that have made me love running.
I love this question, and we’ve had such varied answers. Do you have any kind of running memory or any kind of visual or audio from a running experience that comes up to you over and over again? Like you’ll just be going randomly through the day and this visual might come up, you’re out on a run and this audio might come up to you. Is there something that just comes up to you just out of nowhere from your running experience?
When I’m training or feeling a little bit defeated with where I’m at with just my fitness, I always come back to my Grandma’s Marathon race. I started that marathon without any pain. That training block was just so wonderful. I felt so good. Never thought: “Man, I’m not going to make it.” Very confident that I was going to PR and qualify for Boston. And so, the day just started out so wonderful. And then all of a sudden, like mile fourteen, I just started getting pretty moderate to severe knee pain where I was: “Where are you coming from? Why now?” And I was still so early on in the race. I was: “Man, am I going to be able to run with this for another ten plus miles?” “I don’t know.” So, as I was going through that vicious cycle when you just start panicking: “I’m not going to be able to do this.” I just wasted a bunch of time and money and my friends and family are going to…You know, just spiraling. So, I have a mantra when I run, which – I don’t know if I’m supposed to curse in this...
You can. Yeah.
So, when I started getting this pain and I tried to stop the spiral, I was: “You got to stop or you’re going to walk and you cannot walk with this.” My mantra is: “You’re a badass bitch, and you can do hard things.” So, I just kept repeating it to myself – to stop my thoughts from spiraling. And I’m running near these houses. And one of the spectators – I think he was in his front yard cheering us on - and he goes: “You are a badass bitch, and you can do hard things.” I was kind of in my own little world. But he had heard what I was saying to myself, and I’m like: “You’re right, I can do this.” That is just such a terrible moment. But I come back to it so much when I’m struggling, because I just had that moment of: “You know what? I can do this.” And this stranger helped me so much. And so, when I’m training and I’m struggling, when I’m racing and I’m struggling, I always come back to it.
So, I’ve had you for a little while now already, but I’m going to ask a couple more questions. You’re a nurse practitioner at St. Luke’s, and you’ve also started a new venture with a partner: Strength to Thrive. You want to talk a little bit about that?
Yeah. Thanks for asking. So, Keegan is my partner, and she and I actually grew up together. We’re from Richfield. And she has always been very into strength training. As you know, I love to run, and I strength train to be able to continue running. We’ve communicated over the last years. She manages three gyms, and she’s sharing what she’s seeing at the gym, and I’m sharing what I’m hearing from patients. One day we’re like: “Wouldn’t it be so fun to do this adventure together and have a passion project and share information with patients?” I always say “patients” because of my background, but with people – so that they have a good page to go to, that they can trust with evidence-based information about how to strength train. And also, we’re wanting to fit in habit tracking – how do you actually start changing your life to reach your goals? So, lifestyle medicine education. I think that it’s so nice for people to have access to information. People love to be able to learn on their own. But our hope is to be able to offer that information – and have people trust that we’re really doing the research and sharing good information. I am not a social media person. I actually don’t think I had posted anything on social media in over two or three years, maybe four. And so it’s been kind of funny being able to see my growth even in just a short period of time learning about editing and social media. So, I’m excited to see where it goes over the next few years.
Anything else come to mind that we haven’t talked about?
Honestly, I think one thing I want to just call out is your ability to make people feel so safe and comfortable at run club. For my peers who are really new to running – that’s a huge fear, to show up and just feel abandoned when they’re going to these clubs. And I always want people to know how safe the Hailey Run Club is. And I feel like everyone - no matter how fast or slow, is communicating with each other and especially you. You always make an effort to make people feel included, which is such a big deal because it’s so cool for people to want to be able to show up and learn and grow with the group.
You’re very very kind to say that. Thank you. It’s certainly a goal of the club to be welcoming to everyone and to make them feel happy to be there. So, thank you. And thank you for being interviewed for Runners of Run Club.
You’re welcome. Thank you.
