For over fifteen years, Injinji has sponsored athletes who are passionate about their sport, and who push the boundaries of endurance in the world of running and outdoor adventure.
As 2024 comes to a close, we’re taking a moment to celebrate the incredible achievements of Team Injinji - from first place wins to FKTs.
Notable Accomplishments
After securing the Triple Crown of ultrarunning in 2023, elite athlete Courtney Dauwalter had another historic year with record-setting wins and international races. She secured first place in the 126km Transgrancanaria, Mt. Fuji 100, Hardrock 100, and Nice-Côte d'Azur by UTMB.
Jeff Browning set the new Supported FKT on the Colorado Trail, running the 490-mile trail from Durango to Denver in 7 days, 9 hours, 37 minutes, and 53 seconds. Jeff ran to raise money and awareness for the Warrior Trail Foundation, an organization dedicated to providing coaching and mental health resources to Veterans and their families.
And just a few weeks later, Tara Dower set the new Supported FKT on the Appalachian Trail! Starting at the summit of Mount Katahdin on August 12 and running southbound, Tara ran the entire AT in 40 days, 18 hours, and 5 minutes. Throughout her attempt, and in the weeks following, Tara raised over $100,000 for Girls on the Run, a nonprofit organization empowering young girls to embrace their strength and potential.
Tara Warren completed the Rocky Mountain Slam, a feat only 9 other female runners have ever done, running four-hundred-mile races in the Rocky Mountain region from June to September 2024. Tara dedicated her journey to her mother, who passed away from ALS in 2016, striving to raise awareness about the disease and support the ALS Association in her memory.
Looking back on 2024, what athletic experience are you most proud of?
Deb Hamberlin: I am definitely most proud of completing the Tahoe 200 in June. I took all the lessons I had learned in my 2023 DNF at Tahoe and came back to complete the race. Dialing in specific altitude & vert training, nutrition, and arriving early to prepare, resulted in a successful execution of the race and distance.
Cris Gutierrez: I'm most proud of my NYC Marathon experience. The race itself didn't go the way I had planned or hoped for, but I was able to fight through it and finished 100th overall. Best of all, the experience left me feeling really positive and ready to chase big goals again after a year racing tougher courses. It was the best training block of my life. I ran the most miles I've ever run in a training block. In past blocks I'd been exhausted emotionally; after this one I felt excited to see what I can do next.
James Nalley: My proudest achievement was getting the course record at the Texas 48 Hour Endurance Race, since the temperatures were so humid and hot - constantly in the high 90s throughout, really pushing my limits.
Caroline Himbert: I am most proud of finishing UTMB. I am proud of the race I ran, starting off smart and preserving my energy to sustain a good pace throughout the 110 miles.
Corinne Shalvoy: In 2024, I really built my season around focusing on one major A race, The Javelina Jundred 100 miler. Outside of that, I raced, trained, and ran an FKT all in support of building to the best 100 miler I could. I am proud that the result was a 15:24hr 100 miler at Javelina - 5F, 13OA and currently the 12th fastest 100-miler run by a woman on US soil in 2024 and the 12th fastest time run by a woman at Javelina in the history of the race.
Shelby Hernandez: This was a buildup year and for half of it, I bounced back from multiple injuries. It was a hidden blessing to sharpen other things athletically. I’m happy that I felt more comfortable running longer races this year and executed every race with a smart strategy going into them.
Sasha Washut: Running a race with my 3-year-old daughter was my proudest accomplishment. Pushing her in the stroller and running was hard work, but so worth it when we crossed the finish line together.
Steven Estremera: I am most proud of my Leadville 100 attempt. I put in a lot of work to come back from a heel fracture in January, losing 70lbs in the process. The fact I was able to get to the start line strong and with the physical ability to potentially finish Leadville makes me proud.
Mike Wardian: I’m most proud of running the 2197-mile Appalachian trail. That was a lifetime goal for me, and something that’s been on the horizon since I was 16 years old. To be able to do it as a 50-year-old in close to 50 days was a dream come true, and an absolute honor and privilege. I think the event I’m most proud of is running the Marine Corps Marathon with our son, Pierce. It was his first marathon, and to be able to see him finish a marathon was an incredible experience and something I’ll never forget.
Viktoria Brown: Improving on my Canadian 48h record by 25 miles, running 251 mi and surpassing the Canadian men's record by 22 miles with the 6th best female 48h result of all time!
Meghan Buchanan: I am the 1st American woman to climb Carstensz Pyramid (Papua, Indonesia) in over 6 years and became 1 of approximately 30 women to complete both versions of the 7 Summits (Bass and Messner's).
What did you learn, or what was most surprising to you, during your training or competing over the past year?
Justin Carman: 2024 was the year I challenged myself and tackled an ultramarathon. I learned quite a bit about myself as a runner. I was coming out of an injury, a double ankle sprain, from my last race. My why for completing this 50k was to prove to myself that I can rise above any challenge. I also am the leader of a running club, a community. My community believed in me. They weren’t at the race, but they congratulated me continuously and I knew I couldn’t let them down. I dug deep and pushed many past boundaries. I survived the longest run in my running career.
Christy Scott: I learned how important fueling is in regard to performance. I always thought that I had a pretty healthy diet, but I just wasn't performing the way that I wanted to. Changing my fueling allowed me to see what I'm capable of.
Amy Richards: I think what has been most surprising to me and what I have learned about myself is that I can be very mentally tough. Yes, the physical aspect is challenging, but the mental aspect is almost the hardest part. I have realized that I can push past some mental barriers that used to hold me back. Knowing what I have been able to accomplish has really given me the confidence and mental strength to continue to do more and more.
Parker Farabee: I have learned that running is a lot more fun when you don't force it or have unrealistic expectations of yourself. Just getting out and being outside is reward enough instead of stressing about splits and pacing.
Francesca Petrey: I learned this year how resilient our minds need to be to push through tough physical endeavors. Even more so, I learned how valuable it is to have a community of runners to work towards goals with and celebrate the good and bad parts of running. It’s better to have your running buddies by your side to get through Texas’s 100+ degree weather and extreme humidity.
David Leong: I am not invincible. Never did I think that I would be the one that was injured and on the sidelines. I learned that I need to listen to my body, and running 15 hours per week is not necessarily the answer. It's better to be intuitive than to hit certain numbers on Strava. Taking a day off is definitely okay! I have learned this from working with my coach Joe Corcione.
Tera Pruett: During this training phase, I struggled with a setback of depression, the new struggles of perimenopause, and huge personal life changes. I was determined to stick to my training and dedication to my goals to continue to seek clarity in all that I was going through. It was so hard. Most days, I could barely make myself get out. But each day I showed up, I learned more about myself, and it truly defined the awareness that: I had been training my entire life for what I was going through.
Dane Shaw: In my first year of ultra/trail racing, I learned how to dial in nutrition and to just be patient.
What was your most-loved pair of Injinji socks?
Trail Midweight Mini-Crew
Deb Hamberlin: The Women’s Trail Midweight Mini-Crew is my go-to sock for most weekly miles on the trails.
Amy Richards: I love them for trails and keeping debris out of my shoes, but also for not being too hot or cold. Not to mention, they come in so many fun colors and designs!
Caroline Himbert: Hands down, the Trail Midweight Mini-Crews! They are the perfect length and cushion for my personal preference.
Parker Farabee: I wear them all the time and really love the height and fit. The perfect combo with filling up my leg tattoo sleeve.
Run Lightweight No Show
Tera Pruett: Always and forever the Women’s Run Lightweight No-Show!
Ultra Run Mini-Crew
Cris Gutierrez: The Ultra Run Mini-Crew was my go-to for all workouts and long runs. I had a pair of racing shoes I loved a ton, but they had a sharper upper near the achilles. These socks proved to be the perfect choice for protection and comfort, whether it was fast up tempo work or long run mornings.
Christopher Raup: I love the cushion and the overall feel. The durability is impressive, even after they have been submerged in nasty gritty mud like we experienced at Rocky Raccoon this year.
Mike Wardian: I use these in everything I did this year from 5Ks to the Appalachian Trail. They never failed me and were always as comfortable, long-lasting, and easy to feel good in.
Ultra Run Crew
David Leong: By far the Ultra Run Crew. There is nothing more durable than this sock. The brighter, the better!
Artist Designed Crew
Michelino Sunseri: If I absolutely had to choose my favorite pair of Injinji socks (and believe me, it's a tough choice), I'd go with the Artist Designed Men’s Crew. These socks have been my feet’s MVP this season, keeping them blister-free and happy through glaciers, boulders, sand, and sharp rocks. Plus, their limited-edition design gives me an extra boost of confidence on race day—because, let's face it, fast times are pretty much guaranteed when each toe is snug in its own little pocket!
Viktoria Brown: The Artist Designed Women’s Crew (with the huskies!) for the Backyard Ultra Team World Championship (Team Canada)!
Deb Hamberlin: During racing I love the Crew version. The Artist Designed versions are so fun!
Outdoor Midweight Crew Wool
Meghan Buchanan: I was allowed to take only 2 pairs of socks as a cast member of Outlast S2. The Outdoor Midweight Crew Wool is a staple of my life, When I face wearing the same pair of socks for a month or more, I am extremely grateful to have wool socks helping to keep odor away and to keep my feet warm in the frigid wilderness of Alaska.
Liner Mini-Crew
Cali Schweikhart: I continue to be obsessed with all of my Mini-Crew styles, especially the Liner. It’s so sleek and soft!
Liner Crew
Meghan Buchanan: This year gets a super special shoutout to my simple, but mighty Liner Crew socks! I took many options to Carstensz with me, but since my duffle did not make it, I only had this pair of Liner socks I wore on the helicopter in. Those would have to do, not just for the climb, but for all of basecamp. We made it up rock, rain and snow. We repelled down literal waterfalls, shoes filled with water, but no blisters, no pain. ALL success!
What’s on the horizon for 2025?
Michelino Sunseri: Once the snow melts, I’ll be heading to the Canary Islands to tackle the 73k course at Transvulcania Ultramarathon. After that, it’s back to Lake Tahoe, CA for the Broken Arrow Skyrace 46k, where I’ll be gunning for a spot on the US Mountain and Trail Running Team to represent Team USA in Spain this September. One thing's for sure—I’m excited to continue bringing the flair and stroke of Injinji’s sock game with me around the world, keeping my feet and toes happy and healthy through it all!
Shelby Hernandez: I’ll be competing in the Road Worlds Championships in San Diego next year which I’m very excited about.
Meghan Buchanan: In April, I’ll complete the Last Degree Ski to the North Pole and Explorers Grand Slam. In May, my first book will be released: GGRIT: Choose to Rise. In October, I’ll be leading a Neurodivergent hike up Kilimanjaro, to spread awareness and help others find deeper confidence in themselves through the outdoors.
Christopher Raup: In 2025, I am planning to run 2200 miles in Warrior Trail Foundation special projects and races to raise awareness for the 22 veterans a day who commit suicide. Events currently planned are Sean O’Brien, Monster 300, Cocodona 250, Triple Crown of 200’s, Softrock 100 with the foundation’s Warrior Athletes, and Mammoth Trail Fest.
Cali Schweikhart: They moved World’s Toughest Mudder to England in June… part of me wants to think getting to that is possible, but it will all be dictated by the recovery process [from back surgery]. I would love to do another Spartan Ultra, 24-hour event, or a 100 mile like I had planned to do in 2024!
Cris Gutierrez: Assuming that the standards are released for the 2028 trials, I'll be looking to chase an Olympic Trials Qualifier in the Marathon. I'll be running Boston in April and hope to set a course PR and then will head to California to take a crack at the standard or a personal best. Fingers crossed for a healthy year!
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Team Injinji had an incredible year, and we are excited to see what 2025 will bring for these dedicated Athletes. Stay tuned as we cheer them on through new adventures!
