How Running Turned One Woman Into A CEO
This woman is CEO and founder of a brand of running stores, a training plan and race series.
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This is a part of our 15 Most Powerful Women in Running series. Who runs the world? Girls—obviously.
LORI SHANNON
Founder & CEO, See Jane Run
Age: 50
San Francisco, CA
“When I joined the industry 15 years go, it was a completely different place,” says Shannon, who opened the first See Jane Run store in the Bay Area in 2000. “Just a few short years ago, this community was mostly white, middle class, athletic men.” Now, the CEO explains, the sport is open to and embraced by people of all backgrounds, ages and genders; what Shannon may not realize, however, is that she has been a catalyst in this evolution.
See Jane Run has since opened three additional locations, created one of the best online running retail sites for women in the world and developed a training program and race series dedicated to helping women motivate one another to achieve running goals. Despite the growth of her business, it’s important for Shannon that the goal of inclusiveness stays constant. In 2015, the See Jane Run race series started a new policy, offering free race registration to all women over the age of 70. It’s also one of the only running brands we know to have an entire section of their site dedicated to E-cup sports bras.
“I feel powerful when I feel fit. Feeling fit makes everything in my life easier and more enjoyable, most especially my time spent with my 5-year-old boys. When I can keep up with them, make them laugh and show them something new, it feels great. None of this is an easy quest at 50 years old, but they keep me motivated and energized.”
Discover More Of Our 15 Most Powerful Women In Running:
Michelle Obama
Christy Turlington Burns
Magdalena Boulet
Lauren Fleshman
Harriette Thompson
Sarah Attar