A relative newcomer to trails with a formidable background in different operating disciplines, Makena Morley arrives on the 2026 Damaged Arrow Skyrace 23k able to see what occurs. Within the following interview, our first with Makena, she talks about her historical past in operating, how she grew to become intrigued by path operating, her perceived strengths and weaknesses, and the way she plans on approaching the 23k.
To see who’s racing the 23k, take a look at our Damaged Arrow 23k preview and comply with our stay protection on Sunday morning.
[Editor’s Note: If you are unable to see the video above, click here to access it.]
Makena Morley Pre-2026 Damaged Arrow Skyrace Interview Transcript
iRunFar: Meghan Hicks of iRunFar. I’m with Makena Morley. It’s the day earlier than the 2026 Damaged Arrow 23k. We’re at a path race, Makena.
Makena Morley: So excited. Sure. It’ll be a enjoyable one.
iRunFar: You’re pretty new to path operating. Is that truthful to say, like as of fall of final yr?
Morley: Yeah, actually new too. I assume perhaps have been dabbling in it for a yr however not racing. I didn’t race until actually final fall, so yeah.
iRunFar: And also you deliver to path operating fairly an attention-grabbing pedigree. You raised Division I in school actually efficiently.
Morley: Thanks.
iRunFar: You have been a part of a Division I Nationwide Championships Cross-Nation successful crew. After which if you graduated, you crossed over to street operating.
Morley: Yeah.
iRunFar: And you’ve got some nice PRs in street operating too.
Morley: Thanks. Yeah.
iRunFar: And now you deliver all that with you off-road.
Morley: I’m attempting. Yeah. It’s been a extremely cool transition, truly. Considered one of my first races ever, once I was little, was truly the Large Mountain Hill Climb in Whitefish, Montana. So I’m like, “Okay, I’m coming again to my roots a little bit bit.” I believe I began there after which went to cross-country, observe, after which roads. I don’t know, perhaps I’m doing full circle. I don’t know. Yeah.
iRunFar: Yeah. Beginning and getting again there once more.
Morley: Sure.
iRunFar: However I really feel like all the nice collegiate cross-country runners have these tales of like, “Oh, our coach would ship us out on our future and deliberately put us off-road, so we have been operating on mushy surfaces and stuff.” So there’s like this, I don’t know, you begin to love a little bit bit the off-road operating even if you’re a observe runner and a cross-country runner.
Morley: Oh, yeah. Everyone all the time like, “We have to get on the mushy floor, our muscle groups, our bones.” So I really feel like in school we all the time, particularly Colorado, there was that article too that simply got here out about it too.
iRunFar: Yeah.
Morley: However yeah, we went on the paths, and we might go on no less than all of the grime roads. And a few of these grime roads have been actually rolling. And so, yeah, we acquired all types of sentimental surfaces. So that you form of have been like, “Ooh, I’m within the mountains. That is intriguing.”
iRunFar: Yeah. So your collegiate profession was from 2016 to 2020?
Morley: Yeah, I used to be 2015 to 2020. After which I used to be truly in Missoula, at College of Montana, first semester after which transferred over to Colorado. So most of my time was at Colorado after which graduated in 2020.
iRunFar: After which in 2020, you formally transformed to roads and the skilled kind of racing circuit. You bought an ASICS sponsorship, of which you continue to have. However then in 2025, you have been like, “Oh, what is that this? What is that this attention-grabbing off-road operating?”
Morley: Sure. I really feel like Adam [Peterman] and Erin [Clark] are good mates of mine, after which my boyfriend Zach [Perrins], he was getting all into it, and I used to be crewing them at these 100k races. And I used to be like, “Hmm.” At first I used to be tremendous anti. All they discuss is vert, and it’s so annoying.
iRunFar: “That is the unsuitable piece of knowledge. I’m not . You’re speaking about vert?”
Morley: After which they might simply ask a lot I used to be doing, and I used to be like, “Oh my God.” After which I used to be like …
iRunFar: “200 toes, okay?”
Morley: Yeah, actually. I get a thousand every week, as a result of I used to be like, none. However I used to be secretly actually intrigued, however didn’t inform any of them that. I used to be similar to, “That is dumb.” However then I used to be like, “Perhaps I’ll simply must attempt it.” However the extra occasions I went to, I used to be like, “Oh, the individuals are actually cool.” And it simply appeared like a enjoyable, I don’t know, completely different problem. And street operating was simply form of feeling a little bit bit stagnant for me at that time, too. So I used to be like, “Nicely, perhaps I can work on some power on the paths and perhaps even deliver that into the street operating, too, or vice versa.” In order that’s form of what began. Principally them. I used to be intrigued by their races.
iRunFar: So now you reside in Missoula, Montana, which is a little bit of a quiet hotbed for path operating. Such as you mentioned, you’ve acquired some fairly tremendous starry kind path runners there. You will have Adam Peterman, Erin Clark, you could have your boyfriend, Zach Perrin, additionally Jen Lichter. There are others who it’s unhappy that we’re not mentioning. You’re in a path hotbed, woman.
Morley: Yeah. It’s truly. I do know we’re stoked, as a result of Bozeman, the place we have been earlier than, I really feel prefer it might be place to run. It’s, however it doesn’t actually appeal to the people who Missoula has form of attracted. So Missoula’s acquired a little bit extra gentle winter. So I believe, I don’t know, perhaps that’s why. It’s actually fairly there.
iRunFar: So share a little bit bit when you would about your transition to the paths. You raced Kodiak 50k final fall, received that. You raced additionally Canyons 50k this spring. I believe you’ve accomplished a pair different smaller native ones.
Morley: Little ones, yeah. I do know. Actually, the primary one I did was Don’t Fence Me In 25K in Helena, and that was final Might.
iRunFar: Actually nice little path race by the best way.
Morley: Yeah, it’s superb.
iRunFar: Non-profit primarily based, et cetera.
Morley: So cool, and their trails are superb. The Helena trails are like … Actually, I believe they’re higher than the Missoula, than Bozeman. I believe they’re in all probability the very best within the state, however yeah, so cool to go there. I did it on a whim. I signed up every week earlier than. My boyfriend was going to do the 50k, and I used to be coaching for Grandma’s Marathon, and I used to be like, “Oh, this might be good. It’s about 5 weeks out. I would like a tough, future anyway.” So I signed up for the 25k and it was form of my … I used to be like, “Nicely, if this goes horribly, I’m by no means going to inform anyone about it. I’m by no means going to path run.” And so then, however I used to be like, “If this goes good, perhaps I may join one thing else.” And it went fairly good. So I used to be like, “Oh, I’ll join one thing else.” It form of acquired the engine going, and I used to be all enthusiastic about it.
iRunFar: The cascade, the slippery slope downhill was taking place.
Morley: Sure, it was. I used to be like, “Ah, but when it goes terribly, properly, nobody will know.”
iRunFar: Yeah. And so Kodiak perhaps was a little bit bit like that too, like a little bit little bit of a quieter 50k, not a lot strain. However then the subsequent one you selected to do was Canyons, which was a fairly aggressive subject. You ran in entrance of an Olympian that day.
Morley: I do know. I used to be like, “Oh God, right here’s Molly [Seidel].” Yeah. I imply, I pitched Kodiak extra for like, it was a little bit bit extra … I imply, good timing too and I used to be form of fascinated with OCC after seeing all of the, I don’t know all of the individuals.
iRunFar: Yeah.
Morley: I form of heard about it, so I used to be like, “Ooh, that might be enjoyable.” So I acquired myself into Kodiak, which was truly actually arduous. I emailed Paula, the UTMB girl, actually 45 instances. I used to be like, “Please let me in.”
iRunFar: Hello, Paula, thanks.
Morley: Yeah. Thanks. Thanks.
iRunFar: You modified the course of her life.
Morley: You truly did. I advised her after, I used to be like, “Thanks.” And in order that one was additionally fairly runnable, I believe, for a path. So I used to be like, “Superb. It’s like I can do that. It’s not too …” I’m nonetheless engaged on my technical abilities and stuff, so I used to be like, “It’s not technical.” After which yeah, Canyons was time too. And I really feel prefer it’s additionally not a brilliant technical course. That is going to in all probability be my most technical course to date.
iRunFar: Yeah. So transitioning ourselves from these 50k races, much less technical than what we’re going to search out tomorrow, to one thing that’s now half the space and simply lots of attention-grabbing terrain options.
Morley: Yeah.
iRunFar: What has impressed you to come back to this race?
Morley: I don’t know. I’m truly fairly nervous, as a result of it’s form of like, “Okay, I’ve to recollect it’s like two hours lengthy. It’s like a marathon form of.” However for me, I’m like, “It’s a dash. You simply go straight up and straight down.” And so I’m attempting to be like, “Okay, no, Makena, that’s not truly as unhealthy as you’re considering it’s.” However truthfully, I used to be like, “Nicely, OCC goes to be lots of up and down.” So I used to be like, “This might be a good time to only study.” And truthfully, I really feel like these 50ks are a little bit bit extra the place I really feel comfy, no less than proper now.” So I believe that is out of my consolation zone a little bit bit, and so I needed to do it simply because it scares me a little bit bit greater than the opposite ones. However I believe it’s good to do. So it felt form of scary.
iRunFar: Yeah, that’s an attention-grabbing query, just like the concern half. I imply, I went by the collegiate and street operating system, such as you only a lot slower PRs. However there’s a sure, I don’t know, consolation with operating ultras and the longer stuff that you simply’re like, “Oh, you could have like 4 or 5 hours to make errors and repair them.” Whereas one thing shorter, it’s simply began and it’s accomplished, and when you make a mistake, you’re simply accomplished.
Morley: You’re accomplished. I do know. And I believe simply all just about to start with, you simply realize it’s going to be painful. I believe these women on this race, too, are clearly superb. They’ve acquired fairly a pedigree of stuff coming from them. So I’m actually excited to race them, but in addition it’ll be like simply form of completely different than the 50ks the place you may go and also you form of die within the center, and you’ll come again, and I really feel like this one, there’s in all probability none of that.
iRunFar: Being reborn.
Morley: Yep. None of that on this one, however I did do The Rut VK additionally final yr in September, so I’m form of like channeling that. I’m like, “That was horrific. It was like mile-effort for 40 minutes.” So I used to be like, “Perhaps this can be mile-effort for 70 minutes after which straight down.”
iRunFar: After which down once more.
Morley: Yeah, yeah.
iRunFar: Yeah. What’s the attitude you’re bringing to tomorrow’s race? Is it form of like eyes broad open, and attempt to simply watch what’s taking place and reply as greatest as you may? Have you considered strategically the way you’re going to method this?
Morley: Yeah. I imply, I believe truthfully, after watching what’s occurred earlier than and particularly these women on this race, I believe if you wish to be in it to attempt to win, I imply, they’ll’t even have 30 seconds on you on the high. So I believe I can’t carry on the down, I imply, in the event that they’re a minute forward of me, I’m not catching them. So I form of suppose a type of is simply attempting to see how lengthy I can hold on, and hopefully I can hold on to the highest. After which I don’t know, go ship it from there. That’ll be attention-grabbing for me on the downhill.
iRunFar: Yeah. Yeah. Deliberately, simply go and attempt to persist with whoever’s …
Morley: Whoever’s up there. Yeah.
iRunFar: … taking it out so long as you may.
Morley: Yeah. See if I can do it.
iRunFar: So in all probability it’s truthful to say that tomorrow’s race goes to function your first set of stairs and wires and all of these like actually distinctive components of path operating.
Morley: Yeah, I do know. I truly ran it on Tuesday with my pal Erin Clark. She took me on the entire path. We missed like a two-mile part, however I did the steps. I’m actually terrified of heights, so it was good of me to try this, or good for me to have a look at it. And I used to be like, “Nicely, when you simply fall off, you’ll die, however it’s high-quality. Simply don’t fall off.” So I did fairly good.
iRunFar: That’s superb.
Morley: Hopefully within the race, my adrenaline goes, I’d be like …
iRunFar: Don’t even discover.
Morley: Yeah, I received’t discover. I can be redlining, so I’m like, “Okay, simply hold onto the steps.”
iRunFar: Actually. Simply exit, take it because it comes, after which see.
Morley: And simply attempt to get down.
iRunFar: There’s a enjoyable little deviation late within the race into Shirley Canyon the place you dump down, after which you need to climb again out.
Morley: Was that that final climb, that one?
iRunFar: Mm-hmm.
Morley: Sure, I did that with Erin.
iRunFar: Okay, good. So that you’ve seen that.
Morley: I noticed it, and I really feel prefer it was chunky. Folks have been all the time speaking about that it’s a little bit bit extra of the technical a part of it, as a result of a lot of the course truly isn’t too unhealthy, however yeah, that was form of chunkier rocks, and it’s a little climb. You do go up. So I used to be completely happy to see it as a result of I really feel like that might have been tough when you didn’t actually know what it appeared like or didn’t realize it was coming.
iRunFar: Precisely.
Morley: And also you’d be like, “That is by no means going to finish.”
iRunFar: I imply, when you didn’t realize it was there, it’s fairly a little bit climb.
Morley: Sure. And when it’s there, you’re like, “Okay.” You’ll be able to form of keep in mind the place it’s. However yeah, I believe if I didn’t know, I’d have been like, “Oh my God.”
iRunFar: I adore it. I significantly, I really feel just like the runnable components are simply going to come back to you so easily and so simply tomorrow …
Morley: Yeah, thanks.
iRunFar: … with simply the pace pedigree from different sports activities or different disciplines of operating that you simply deliver to this. So for me, what can be fascinating for you is to see what occurs within the technical bits.
Morley: I believe so too. That’s fascinating for me additionally, so we’ll see. Yeah.
iRunFar: You’re going to be having fun with watching your self simply as a lot as we’re.
Morley: Yeah, I’m going to must go watch it again and be like, “Oh, wow. Ooh, she seems to be good or unhealthy.”
iRunFar: “She seems to be nice there.”
Morley: Yeah. “Oh, wanting good. A pair steps completely different subsequent time.”
iRunFar: “We’ll try this one completely different.”
Morley: Yeah, yeah.
iRunFar: Makena Morley, better of luck at tomorrow’s Damaged Arrow 23k.
Morley: Thanks a lot.
