Start Line Stories with Collegiate Sprinter turned Marathoner Shae Ashe

Shae Ashe at the Philadelphia Distance Run.

Being tempted to run a marathon was something former college sprinter Shae Ashe expected to only happen once in his life. So, after completing his first official marathon in Philadelphia last November, it surprised him when the challenge of the marathon drew him back to sign up for another one — this one in Eugene in just over 10 weeks.

The marathon distance provided a unique challenge for Shae, and the Track Town USA community and Hayward Field were calling his name too. As a sprinter Shae had competed at Hayward Field, and as a youth track coach he’d watched his athletes compete there, so when it came time to sign up for his second marathon, the track connection was there and Eugene was the perfect fit. And come April, Shae will get into his start corral with one definitive goal in mind: to sprint for the Hayward Field finish line after enjoying all 26.2 miles it took to get there.

Here’s a little bit more about what’s getting Shae to the Eugene Marathon start line this April:

Name: Shae Ashe 

Age: 36

Where are you from and where is home now?

I was born and raised (and I currently live in) Collegeville, PA, which is just outside of Philadelphia.

What’s your local run club or training group and tell us about it?

I run with two groups: Black Men Run — which is a national organization that has a location in Philadelphia; and I also run with the Garden Runners Club once a month. 

Why Eugene 2026? 

I am a former D1 college sprinter, so track & field is in my blood. I’ve also coached AAU track and through USATF, so I’ve been to Eugene to coach, and when I was in college I ran at Hayward. So I’m excited to be coming back — running Eugene feels like a homecoming.

Current Total Marathon Count:

I’ve completed one unsanctioned marathon that I did on my own in the summer and 1 official marathon (Philadelphia Marathon)

Favorite road race or racing experience?

The Philly Distance Run, which is a half marathon, is my favorite. It was my first half marathon about four years ago and it was in September; it was great weather, the course was flat and the race logistics were easy, and it’s a race I come back to every year.

What kind of training plan are you following and do you have a specific goal on race day?

I’ve been following the same training plan that I did on my last training block. I’m aiming for 30-35 miles a week, doing some speed work — like 800 or mile repeats — some tempo runs, and making it a priority to add in strength training. As far as a time goal, I think it’s going to be a race-day decision. I enjoyed the party pace at my first marathon in Philly and I think if the weather’s good, I might try to get somewhere between 3:45 and 4 hours. But I definitely want to enjoy the experience more than anything else

Finish the sentence: What I love so much about running is _____

__ The community. For many people, including myself, running is a mental escape. I don’t run with headphones, so when my run starts, I feel the noise of the real world silenced for a time. Even if I’m with a group or friends or my wife, it’s a moment to take a break. I also love seeing people of all different abilities in the running community. As a coach, one thing I’ve noticed is that coaches in other sports will use running as a punishment, so many of us grew up thinking that running was this negative thing; but I see more and more people of all different ages and abilities running and actually finding joy in it and enjoying it together. That’s what the community is about: there’s no barriers, no differences between how fast we’re going, we’re all one because we’re all runners.

Why the marathon?

I honestly told myself I would only run one marathon in my life. I did nine half marathons before I did my first marathon, but once I did it, it just became about the challenge of the marathon. You hit that wall, and that’s what I’ve been focusing on this training block, because I want to test my theory that the wall only exists in my head and that with proper training and focus and fueling that I’ll be able to overcome it. That kind of challenge only exists in the marathon. And the other thing that’s so special about the marathon is the community and when I do a marathon, I get 4+ hours with that special community of runners. 

What started your running journey?

If we’re going all the way back, it was my ability to not stay still as a kid. I was the kid who would run around the department store and hide in the clothing racks and my parents couldn’t catch me. It made them realize they needed to sign me up for track. So I started doing track & field in middle school; I did hurdles, the 100, 200 and 4x100 relay. Now I’m doing marathons, but I still have that sprint energy in me at the end. When I hit that last 200, I always have a sprint left in me.

How has running impacted your life?

Running has put me in a space to help others, which is not something that comes easy to me. Extrovert is not a part of my personality, but running has allowed me to engage with others and it has brought out another part of my personality that I’ve been able to build and develop. As I do more running content on social media, I realize that it’s taken me out of my shell and into a world that I would not have participated in if it weren’t for running. 

… 

If you see “Coach Ashe” in your start corral, make sure to give him a high five on race morning and give him a follow on Instagram: @coachasheruns