970.704.0909 - Located in Carbondale, Colorado *Next to City Market
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We’re proud of the staff at Independence Run and Hike,

and our place in the running community in Carbondale

We are a team of dedicated and passionate experts ready to help with running shoes, trails, and outdoor adventures. If you are interested in joining our staff, fill out an application. We’d love to hear from you.

BRION AFTER, OWNER

Hometown:
Grew up in Rochester, NY but have lived in the valley since 2000!!

How long have you lived in Carbondale?
Carbondale- Since 2013, Basalt- 9 years, Aspen 4 years

Favorite aspect(s) of Carbondale:
Just constantly running into friends, its such a nice small town, I feel like everyone is my neighbor! Also, (of course) access to the great outdoors and more laid back vibe than other towns in the valley.

Activities/Hobbies:
1. Golf
2. Run
3. Hike
4. Tele Ski
5. Skate Ski
6. Mtn Bike
7. Throw touchdown passes to my son
8. Hug my daughter
7. Jam out to Phish
8. Obsess over the Buffalo Bills finally winning a Super Bowl!
(couldn’t limit it to 3)

Describe yourself with three adjectives:
1. Boring
2. Old
3. Dad
4. Most of the time
(are #3 & 4 adjectives?)

Favorite Shoe:
Changes every week! Right now… Asics NovoBlast… last week Speedgoat… when hiking Ultra Raptor

Favorite Local Trail:
EAST CREEK!!!

Favorite Piece of Gear for Outdoor/Run:
My new (old) camper…
or my Dri-Clime windshirt,
or my Aftershokz,
or my new Tele Skis,
or any piece of wool clothing…

Gels, Chews, or Bars:
Gels

No-Show or Crew:
No-Show

Favorite Movie:
Big Lebowski or Say Anything

Post-Adventure Meal:
PB&J (lots of PB) & Ramen (salt!!)
(hopefully too tired for anything else)

 

Kyle Jones

KYLE JONES, MANAGER

Hometown:
Austin, TX

How long have you lived in Carbondale?
Since June, 2021

Favorite aspect(s) of Carbondale:
The sense of community, the milder weather than that of a true mountain town, and its proximity to so much wilderness on all four sides.

Activities/Hobbies:
1. Running
2. Mountain and gravel biking
3. Recovering

Describe yourself with three adjectives:
1. Extroverted
2. Introverted
3. Passionate

Favorite Shoe:
Hoka Speedgoat EVO

Favorite Local Trail:
Silver Creek (out of Marble)

Favorite Piece of Gear for Outdoor/Run:
Trucker hat

Gels, Chews, or Bars: ALL!
-Gels: Maurten
-Chews: Clif Blocs
-Bars: Pro Bars

No-Show or Crew:
Crew (must maintain tan line!)

Favorite Movie:
Fletch

Post-Adventure Meal:
Any and all pastries, including Pop-Tarts!

 

Kyle Jones

Michelle Smith 

Hometown:
Columbia, Maryland

How long have you lived in the Roaring Fork Valley?
Since 2012

Favorite aspect(s) of Carbondale:
Small town vibe, the community, and mountain access.

Activities/Hobbies:
1. Mountain Sports (mainly trail running, mountain biking and snowboarding) 
2. Film-making
3. Being a mom to my two hellion kids                                       

4. Watching the family of raccoons that live under my backyard storage shed. 

 

Describe yourself with three adjectives:
1. Passionate
2. Resilient
3. Free-spirited ( when I can let my self chill out a bit) 

Favorite Shoe:
Currently the Hoka Stinson 7 – but always changing 

Favorite Local Trail:
4 pass loop

Favorite Piece of Gear for Outdoor/Run:
Shorts 

Gels, Chews, or Bars: All!
Gels – Spring, Chews – Skratch, Bars – Naak

No-Show or Crew:
Crew to exercise in, no-show all other times 

Favorite Movie:
Into the Wild – or any character driven film where the protagonist rebels agains the conforms of society;)

Post-Adventure Meal:
Pizza and Beer 

 

Ellery

Will Fisher

Hometown:
Buffalo, NY

How long have you lived in Carbondale?
7 years

Favorite aspect(s) of Carbondale: To see the divine touch of the mundane on a daily basis. 

Activities/Hobbies:
1. Trail Running
2. Nordic Skiing, Ski Mountaineering
3. Climbing, Weightlifting, Rowing 

Describe yourself with three adjectives:
1. Preacher
2. Teacher
3. Beast

Favorite Shoe:
Hoka Speedgoat

Favorite Local Trail:
Arbaney Kittle Trail

Favorite Piece of Gear for Outdoor/Run:
My TTFA tool is my favorite safety tool for any backcountry run or adventure

Gels, Chews, or Bars:
Honey Stinger Waffles

No-Show or Crew:
I’ll row in any seat, any boat, and pull my f’n hardest

Favorite Movie:
Princess Bride

Post-Adventure Meal:
Brewben, blasted broccoli, and an IPA from CBW

Shanna Bordner 

 

Staff Profile Coming Soon! 

 

Trey Miller

Staff Profile Coming Soon! 

Liza Henry

 

Staff Profile Coming Soon!