Ari Hendrix: 2:35 Marathoner & LGBTQ+ Athlete, on Trail Running, Fueling, and Mental Health

" ...definitely we're underrepresented and I think especially with the state of our country and the world now, it can be really scary to put yourself out there." Ari Hendrix is the third fastest US-Born African American marathoner (2:35, CIM 2022), and ran the 2024 US Olympic Team Trials Marathon in 2024. She works for HOKA and lives in Portland with her wife and two dogs.  Ari joined the Lane 9 podcast to talk about her recent move to the trails, on which she's already had some success! She recently finished 9th in her 50K debut at the 2025 Canyons Endurance Run by UTMB, and also happened to win a road 5K in Portland this spring. She played college basketball before getting into endurance running, and has navigated mental health, injuries, and setbacks in the sport.  We also talk about:  the challenges she navigated with both injuries and mental health during 2020 her CIM race in 2022, finishing in 2:35 to qualify for the 2024 US Olympic Team Trials Marathon and becoming the 3rd fastest US Born African American woman in the marathon her experience at the 2024 Marathon Trials why she got interested in running trails instead of sticking to road racing how she met her wife, and her experiences as an open LGBTQ+  and African American athlete what she's excited about in the sport Follow Ari Hendrix on Instagram @ari_hendrix1 Follow Lane 9 Project on Instagram @lane9project, on Bluesky, and Substack.  Connect with a clinician in the Lane 9 directory by going to Lane9project.org/Directory. Find a dietitian, mental health therapist, physical therapist, and/or coach to support you as an athlete in women's sports.