Helen Schlachtenhaufen: From Walk-On to Pro Runner | Episode 18

Helen Schlachtenhaufen talks to host Sarah Lorge Butler about walking on to the cross country team at Dartmouth, having a big breakthrough her senior year, and becoming a professional runner. 

Helen is now eight years into her pro career, and despite running her fastest times ever last year, she found herself without a sponsor this season. Her 2025 track season was off to a promising start when an unavoidable fall at the USATF Outdoor Championships took her out for most of the rest of her season.

Earlier this week, she was able to run one final race to end the season, and she pulled off a win. 

Helen also discusses the fact that speed runs in her family. In the 1920s, her maternal great-grandmother was one of the best 220 yard runners in the world.

Cindy Kuzma's Runner's World article about Helen and her husband, Brian Shrader:  https://www.runnersworld.com/runners-stories/a62573906/brian-shrader-helen-schlachtenhaufen-chicago-marathon/

Helen Schlachtenhaufen on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/helenschlach/

Sarah Lorge Butler on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/slorgebutler.bsky.social

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