Michael Aish

About

Michael Aish is a New Zealand long-distance runner born July 24, 1976, in New Plymouth, who made an Olympic career on the track before reinventing himself as a respected ultrarunner. He came to Colorado in 1998 on a running scholarship to Western State College in Gunnison, earning Division II All-American honours with personal bests of 13:22 in the 5K and 27:46 in the 10K, and later a marathon best of 2:13:21. A two-time Olympian representing New Zealand, he competed in the 10K at the Sydney 2000 Olympics and the 5K at Athens 2004, and qualified in both the 10K and marathon for Beijing 2008 but chose not to attend when New Zealand did not send a full marathon team. After his track career wound down, he transitioned to trail and ultrarunning in Colorado, placing third at the Leadville Trail 100 Mile in 2013 and second in 2014, and winning the Silver Rush 50 Mile in 6:54:34. Around 2016 he stepped back from competitive racing, noting that the demands of sponsorship and social media had taken some of the joy from running. He remains a respected figure in the Colorado trail running community and was known for a racing style that combined elite track speed with mountain endurance.

Notable Wins

• — Leadville Trail 100 Mile 3rd 2013
• — 2nd 2014
• — Silver Rush 50 Mile (win
• — 6:54:34)
• — 2× New Zealand Olympian (Sydney 2000 10K
• — Athens 2004 5K)
• — marathon PB 2:13:21

Race History