From “I Hate Running” to 100 Miles: How Jen Shetler Found Her Path in Ultra Running

Running wasn’t always in Jen Shetler’s plans. In fact, she actively avoided it. “I hate running. I’m not running. I’m not doing it,” she’d say, armed with all the common excuses: “It’s bad for your knees” and “I’ve run a couple 5Ks, that’s enough.”

But in November 2018, a tough-love coach at her boutique fitness gym saw something in Jen that she didn’t see in herself. Watching her power hiking on a treadmill at maximum incline with a steady heart rate, he challenged her: “Why don’t you run a half marathon as a bucket list item?”

The Reluctant Runner Takes Her First Steps

“I agreed, really out of spite,” Jen admits with a laugh. Her relationship with this coach, nicknamed “Mean Mike,” was built on friendly antagonism. “He motivates you with his anger. He says things like, ‘get it done, there’s no excuse’ and before you know it, you’re doing it.”

That spite-fueled decision led to her first half marathon in March 2019. The experience changed everything. “You get medals. That’s cool. People cheering for you. I like this,” she remembers thinking at the finish line. What was meant to be a one-and-done achievement sparked something deeper. Her transition from ‘I hate running’ to ultra-runner had started.

Finding Her Trail Family

While training for her first marathon, COVID-19 disrupted her plans. The race cancellation came as a relief due to emerging injuries. But a volunteer shift at the Umstead 100 in April 2021 transformed her perspective on what was possible.

During her 8 PM to 4 AM shift, Jen witnessed something extraordinary: Kyle Robidoux, a blind runner, navigating the course with his pacer. “My mind was boggled,” she recalls. “He’s running 100 miles and he can’t see. It was on a trail.”

She also learned about Jackie Hunt-Broersma a below-the-knee amputee competing in the race. These athletes showed Jen what was possible. “These people have an actual reason to say ‘I can’t do that’ and they did it anyway… Who am I to say that I can’t?”

The Journey to 100 Miles

Jen’s first attempt at the Umstead 100 in 2023 ended at mile 57 due to health issues. But being chosen to wear bib number 100 – an honor given to a first-time hundred-mile runner – made her more determined than ever to return.

“I started TUFF Run Club 11 days after I DNF’d,” she says. What began as a small Facebook group to help her train became a supportive community. When she returned to Umstead in 2024, that community showed up in force.

After 29 hours, 25 minutes, and 38 seconds, Jen crossed the finish line to find 50-60 people waiting – friends, work colleagues, her entire family (four children and her husband, who had watched and sacrificed along with Jen), and fellow run club members who had stayed to celebrate her achievement. Some of those that were at the finish line had finished hours earlier. This was a true show of community and support. “Five years ago, this was something I never even knew existed. It went from ‘Oh gosh, it’d be cool one day’ to ‘Maybe I can’ to ‘Holy crap, I did it.'”

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Lessons Beyond the Trail

The impact of completing 100 miles extends far beyond running for Jen. She got a tattoo on her forearm to remind herself of what she’s capable of. “The race is the easy part. The training, the planning, the years of prep – that was hard.”

This newfound confidence has transformed her approach to challenges in all areas of life. “I’ve become more assertive and fearless in asking for what I need,” she says, particularly in her career. “I know my value now… Either you’re on board to help or you’re in the way.”

Advice for New Runners

Jen’s journey from ‘I hate running’ to ultra runner offers valuable lessons for anyone considering their first steps:

“Believe that with the right training and preparation, you deserve a place at the start line,” she advises. “Just because you’re not elite doesn’t mean you don’t belong there.”

For those coming back after setbacks, she emphasizes: “Be the best you can be today. Maybe that’s better than yesterday, maybe it’s not, but there’s no way you can lose if you’re doing the very best you can do right now.”

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