A woman from Vail plans to run 587 miles from one edge of Colorado to another to support veterans

There are many ways to see Colorado, and Ashley Forshey plans to see 587 miles of the state on foot. Forshey is planning to run from the northern border of Colorado, starting on Route 287, to the southern border, ending south of Pagosa Springs. The goal is to complete the adventure in two weeks with a small crew supporting her.

“For anyone who doesn’t really know me and my story, most people think I’m crazy,” Forshey said. “For the people who know me, they still think I’m crazy but know that there is a lot of thought, preparation and determination behind the crazy idea.”

The West Vail resident has learned that running is very therapeutic for her, but she isn’t just logging the miles for herself. She wants to give back and bring awareness to military veterans. She has been thinking about this nearly 600-mile run for two years.

“I was yearning for something so challenging that it seems unfeasible. But I also wanted to apply a ‘why’ to my challenge. So, my ‘why’ is to run for a cause. I am running this for Patrol Base Abbate, a veteran nonprofit that has given me purpose and community,” Forshey said. “I am trying to give back to them to give other veterans and service members the opportunity to find their purpose and a supporting and understanding community.”

A New York native, Forshey joined ROTC in college at Clarkson University in Potsdam, New York, where she studied physics and environmental engineering. She decided to serve in the military because her grandfather served as a Navy seabee in the Vietnam War.

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“My grandfather is one of my biggest heroes, and growing up I loved hearing his stories, but I also saw how much pain it caused him. I wanted to serve our great nation and serve for my family,” Forshey said.

Forshey became an engineer officer when she was commissioned out of college, went to training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, and spent the next four years in Fort Hood, Texas, serving in the 36th Engineer Brigade. Her contract was over at the end of 2020.

“I left the army as a captain, and due to some injuries sustained in the military, I sought out some ways to heal. I became a trauma-sensitive yoga teacher, teaching classes to active-duty service members, veterans, first responders and their families,” she said.

Forshey also took time to go through firefighter training and EMT training and did that for a few years.

After living in an RV for the past four years, she decided she needed a change of scenery and drove around the western United States with her dad, where they explored and she ran two 100-mile races within three weeks. Even though running can be a solo experience, Forshey said she is doing this to help veterans find community.

“In the military and even the fire service, there is this brotherhood, where you are all going through the same trials, the same struggles and you are able to just exist knowing that no matter what, the person to the left and the person to the right of you will always have your back,” Forshey said. “There are times, days, weeks, months where you aren’t with your family. You are spending all hours of the day with your team, your squad, your platoon and they become your family.  When you leave this family and become part of the real world, it can be really tough to go at it alone.”

With Patrol Base Abbate, Forshey found a group that is supportive and has communities or chapters all over the country to get veterans and service members together for events and create those bonds that the vets lack when they get out.

“You can find the brothers and sisters that will have your back when you feel lost or alone, and they will forever support your goals.”

Forshey has found a community of a different sort in Vail. When she first moved here, she was looking for a job where she could do something different. This winter she worked as a ski tech at Troy’s Ski Shop in Vail Village and learned how to tune skis, rent equipment and got to snowboard during her ride breaks.

“The crew at Troy’s Ski Shop are some of the hardest working and kind people I’ve ever worked with and they took me in and taught me a wealth of ski knowledge in my first season,” Forshey said.

Forshey is heading to the Wyoming border to start this challenge on Saturday. Her average daily run distance will be 58 miles, with the longest day being 72 miles and the shortest day being 32 miles, with strategic stops in towns along the way. The route will come in through Wolcott on May 14 and she and her support crew will be stopping in Vail for the night. On the morning of May 15, Forshey will start in Dowd Junction and head towards Leadville and she invites people to hop on the route with her at any point.

“I have several friends who are willing to meet me for a few miles of running or to even follow me on their bike for a while to keep me company,” Forshey said.  

If you want to keep tabs on Forshey on her adventure or donate to the cause, follow her Instagram account @ashforsh and link in her bio.