{"href":"https://api.simplecast.com/oembed?url=https%3A%2F%2Fnobarriers.simplecast.com%2Fepisodes%2Fpaving-the-way-with-joseph-gray-gNoBCcWi","width":444,"version":"1.0","type":"rich","title":"Breaking Ground with Joseph Gray","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_url":"https://image.simplecastcdn.com/images/5d2497b6-1915-47d7-ae4e-e88d18cd86db/ccd09960-b538-44da-bbd5-54eaa5dc03de/1538186032artwork.jpg","thumbnail_height":300,"provider_url":"https://simplecast.com","provider_name":"Simplecast","html":"","height":200,"description":"Our hosts, Jeff and Erik, had the chance to catch Joseph Gray between runs earlier this year to catch up on his incredible accomplishments and dreams. Joseph Gray is a 36-year-old American world champion runner who competes mostly in trail, mountain, and snowshoe races. The 31-time USA National team member hails from the Pacific Northwest and now splits his time training in Colorado Springs, CO, and Tacoma, WA. He is a 2-time World Mountain Running Champion (most recently won in 2019), he is the first African American to win the USA Mountain Running National Championship and also the first African American to make the USA World Mountain Running Team. Additionally, he is the first athlete to win the North American, Central American, and Caribbean Championships in Cross Country and Mountain Running. A few notable Colorado achievements include completing the Manitou Incline in 17 mins and 45 seconds. and is a three-time winner of the Pike’s Peak Ascent. Joseph continues to be a mainstay atop the podium worldwide and strives to see and inspire more diversity in the running world and actively mentors young Black runners in his community. "}