From frosty starts to sunny summits, Shirin and Ilona—friends, ultra-runners, and proud members of The Green Runners and Into Ultra—have been putting their purpose into every step.
Shirin smiled her way through the Lakes Traverse, proudly wearing her Green Runners badge, while Ilona returned to the Thames Path 100, a race that she had unfinished business with, showing what teamwork, trust, and a little stubborn joy can achieve.
We are so inspired by their consistency, spirit, and commitment to moving through nature with purpose.
How did you meet?
Shirin: I went from running solo for years, to joining Maverick Run Project (I’m a big fan of Maverick races). Ilona and Phillip Morgan are the run leaders for South East London and Kent MRP. I now consider myself an unofficial member of the Morgan family!
Despite all the missed trains, getting lost on trails and signing up to crazy races, we have become trail sisters. We run a lot together on our local trails in South East London and keep on sharing our running plans and dreams!
Ilona: Shirin came to one of our MRP group runs one Wednesday a couple of years ago and we instantly hit it off. It wasn’t long before we were planning adventures and races together. But despite the amazing trips we have had (and will have), I think the most important thing in our friendship is the regular weekly miles together on the local trails where we can talk through work and family topics, happy and stressful.
What made you want to join TGR?
Shirin: I joined The Green Runners in April 2022. The main thing I wanted to change was how I travelled to long runs and races. I used to drive everywhere and run alone, and used to race every month. Since then we have been able to travel together a lot and share drives or travel on the train. We are both trying to behave and not do too many races although this is proving to be a bit of a challenge!
Ilona: Environmental sustainability and learning new ways of being so has been important to me for a long time. I became aware of The Green Runners quite early on and signed up the day after the launch – 23rd of April 2022. Every year I try to ‘challenge’ myself a little more with my pledges, and this year I try to make a bigger effort on speaking out.
Shirin: I am also one of the founding members of Into Ultra alongside Andrew Heaney, Damian Hall and some other fantastic members of our community. In February 2024 I started working for Into Ultra part-time, managing our runners and partners. I love ultra running and this line of work has been incredibly rewarding. Ilona initially joined our team as a regular volunteer as she really wanted to give something back to the sport/lifestyle she so much loves. She has now joined the team and continues to support us and our runners whenever she can. We love running together with our Green Runner and Into Ultra badges sparking conversations and spreading the word.
IIona and Shirin’s stories are not just about distance—they are about determination, friendship, and the quiet power of showing up for each other and the planet. Whether you are running 5K or 100 miles, we hope Shirin and Ilona’s journeys leave you feeling inspired to lace up, speak out, and take your next step with purpose. 💚