Rob Krar
It wasn’t too long ago that I laughed at the thought of running an ultra distance event ‑ not a chance I said. Fast forward a few years and I found myself at the top of my sport with multiple wins at some of the most prestigious 100-mile races in the world. Learning from the mistakes of my previous running lives, I have embraced a more holistic and personal approach to my training, one that has ultimately allowed me to rediscover a joy in running I’d lost long ago.
Kristi Knecht
I am a paragon athlete 9 years strong! I have found that whatever the adventure or outdoor endeavor, my fitness always seems up to the challenge. Trail running is my passion, and through the test of some very high mileage seasons and brutal mountain races, Paragon has been the glue that has held my body together! I love where we live and spend as much time as I can with my family and friends in the wilderness around Flagstaff. Sport at an extraordinary effort, whether it's running, mountain biking, or backcountry skiing, is my way of creating a beautiful thumbprint on the natural world around me.
Joel Unema
In my day job, I’m a field hydrologist for the USGS in the Grand Canyon. Backpacking in the canyon, all-night sampling during floods, and multi-week river trips keep work engaging. My other career and true passion is rock climbing. I love to travel and experience new rock and different cultures, but I’m most driven to push my personal limits by developing new routes. I’ve established dozens of routes from physical sport routes to regional trad test-pieces to committing big-wall free routes. I’m in my element when technical, physical, and mental challenges come together on a difficult gear-protected route. Training with the Paragon team keeps me strong for the unique demands of working in the Grand Canyon and enables me to push my limits in climbing.
PC: Nathan Welton Photo
Tessa Chesser
As I closed out my years of playing soccer starting as pee-wee at only four years old, fast forwarding to my very last college senior game where at that moment I never thought, "this could be then end," it was then I realized, Oh Crap, what do I do next? To then making a move to the flat lands of Oklahoma, only to find out that mountains, rivers and the need for elevation runs deep in my blood. A few moves later, followed by some really great adventures sleeping in the back of the car; drinking gallons of coffee to be able to stay awake to soak it all in. I found that my passion belonged in the wilderness. Today, here in Flagstaff, Arizona, I have found a quality tribe through Paragon that has allowed my competitive spirit to thrive! Whether that is through trail running, mountain biking, or just sheer adventuring, it could not be possible without the behind the scenes hard work Paragon provides.
Chase Edwards
I need to move my body in order to think, and I originally used Paragon as a way to stay sane while working on a graduate degree and teaching full time. I became addicted very quickly! Paragon has done so much for my strength, mobility, injury prevention, and mental health. I also switched from climbing obsessively to mountain biking obsessively around the time I started going to Paragon - because of Paragon, I was able to move to the top of the ultra endurance mountain biking scene very quickly. I love Flagstaff. I love Paragon. I love bikes.
Helen Galerakis
I discovered my passion for the outdoors late in life, when I left the Corporate World of 22 years to embark on a journey of self discovery. At the age of 39, I found running and after a couple of years of road and marathon running on the island of Crete, Greece I decided I wanted to combine my 2 passions and learn how to run in the mountains. I came to Flagstaff in 2017 for Rob Krar’s Trail and Ultra Running camp and ran on trails for the first time. While at the running camp, I experienced for the first time what it felt like to be part of something, a community, somewhere I belonged. I had found my people. This feeling was so profound, that this was one of the main reasons why I decided to move to Flagstaff, only a month after the camp. I have tried to cram in as much as possible race wise since that first trail run, to gain experience that other athletes have had the advantage of building over a lifetime and I have learned that I love the Ultra distances. Paragon has kept me strong and healthy throughout this journey and I often refer to the team as magical unicorns with their unique skillset to be able to assess my athletic needs while taking into consideration my mental well-being and keeping workouts fun and challenging.
Lor Sabourin
Climbing has gven me an incredible forum for self-exploration and growth. Whether I am on a multi-day big wall adventure or working a challenging boulder problem, climbing asks me to dig a little deeper and pour my heart into something that I care about. I have been so fortunate to build a career around sharing my love of the sport with others. Climbing brings people outside, reminds them how to play, and creates space for self-reflection. I love facilitating those experiences; the conversations that follow are an important piece of building more conscientious and inclusive communities.
I attended my first Paragon workout on the day that I moved to Flagstaff. I remember being struck by the supportive, passionate community and the thoughtful programming. Since that day, Paragon has shaped me into a stronger and smarter athlete. I leave each workout feeling renewed and recharged- ready to take on the tough stuff with a smile on my face.