What DJs Know About Getting Runners Through Mile 80

Romy Ancona is a DJ, trail runner, and the force behind Broken Arrow's famously joyful finish line. Born in Cozumel and now based in Colorado's Roaring Fork Valley, Romy learned to mix on a trackpad on their mom's Windows laptop before somehow landing their first gig at a Maxim Magazine party in Hollywood. These days, they split time between spinning tracks on the mountain and chasing vertical on skis and trails.

In this conversation, Romy talks about shedding DJ ego, their work on Broken Arrow's inclusivity advisory council (think glitter, bubbles, and rainbow slip-and-slide dreams), and how a 2022 accident that broke their back reshaped their relationship to running. As they put it: as much as moving hurts, not moving hurts more. Plus: the lost art of the mixtape, why they watch pro paintball on the treadmill, and a running playlist spanning Celia Cruz to Limp Bizkit.

This episode is brought to you by Running Warehouse, your source for jackets, gloves, headlamps, and reflective gear to get you through the dark, cold months.

Race Spotlight: Registration is open for the Mount Mitchell Heartbreaker—50 miles and 12,000+ feet of climbing through stunning North Carolina single track. Sign up at ultrasignup.com.