Meet the Staff
Keeley Milne, Staff Writer
Ultrarunner Keeley Milne, who is based in Medicine Hat, Alta., first approached Canadian Running in 2020 with a story for our website about her first 6-day race—which wasn’t so much a race as a project to support fellow Alberta runner Matt Shepard as he attempted to break the Canadian 6-day record of 840 km. Shepard ran into some setbacks and had to abandon the attempt, but Milne was hooked—and says that finishing the multi-day event represents one of her proudest accomplishments as a runner. Already a veteran of numerous trail races and ultras in western Canada, she knows the scene well, and ultimately turned that first web story into a regular gig with us.
Milne’s first ultra was the Lost Soul Ultra (lsu) in Lethbridge, which she continues to race every year. “The community around lsu is special to me and feels kind of like home,” she says, adding that it was also the first ultra she managed to persuade her husband, Shawn, to try.
But while she loves the coulees of southeastern Alberta, Milne’s favourite place to run trails is Crowsnest Pass/Elk Valley (which we feature in this issue). “Heading to the mountains with dogs, friends and family to run and hike is pure joy,” she says.
Milne dealt with a lot of challenges and injuries in 2023, but still managed to line up at numerous races. “Every single time I line up to race, I’m astonished that I get to spend time (with my husband!) doing hard things in these absolutely stunning landscapes, surrounded by the fascinating people and supported by our kids and family members,” she says. “I can’t imagine anything better.”