08/27/2026
Big goals deserve real support, and we are thrilled to introduce two runners with very big goals.
The Active Joe is proud to partner with Women in Ultrarunning to welcome the recipients of the Women In Ultrarunning–Dino Valley Grant:
🦕 Amber Cook (she/her)
Bayfield, Colorado
Favorite dinosaur: Parasaurolophus
🦖 Lauren Scott (they/them)
Vernon, New Jersey
Favorite dinosaur: Deinocheirus
Through this grant, Amber and Lauren will each receive round-trip airfare, shared accommodations and transportation, entry into the Dino Valley 100 Mile, crew space at the start/finish, and on-site logistical and crew support from Women in Ultrarunning.
They are bringing the courage, commitment, and willingness to take on 100 miles. Together, Women in Ultrarunning and The Active Joe are helping provide the practical support that makes reaching the starting line possible.
We were blown away by the stories shared through the application process and reminded once again how many women and gender-expansive runners are dreaming big, pushing their boundaries, and reshaping what ultrarunning can look like.
And since this is Dino Valley, we have to appreciate a runner who chooses a dinosaur described as having “a humpback, a duck-like beak, and claws that looked scarier than they were,” a 30-foot oddball that looked like “a prehistoric lab experiment that somehow worked.”
Honestly, that feels like exactly the kind of beautifully unexpected energy 100 miles calls for.
Congratulations, Amber and Lauren. We cannot wait to welcome you to Dino Valley and cheer you through every loop of your journey. We’ll see you at the start line! 🦖