About the Author

Shelley Downing is a sports and travel writer from Colorado. She has a master's degree in journalism from the University of Colorado. She started her career writing for newspapers like the Ft. Collins Coloradoan, The Denver Post and the Boulder Daily Camera. She has worked in the journalism field in many areas including as a content director for a health and fitness website and as a public relations manager for an outdoor company. She has published health and travel articles in many national magazines, including Runners World, Rock and Ice magazine, Running Times, Trail Runner, Spa Business, Shape and Women's Sports and Fitness. She has been a contributing editor to Climbing magazine and a stringer for Conde Nast publications. She continues to write and run in Boulder and in Finestrat.