KODI FROST

Meet Kodi Frost.  Ultrarunner, backpacker, adventure chaser, sweet-treat enthusiast, and a woman who feels most at home with dirt on her shoes and a mountain in front of her.

From hiking the Pacific Crest Trail to running 100-mile races (yes, in her SWOOP Boxy Polo 💪), Kodi has built a life around movement, community, big adventures, and finding joy outside. But her story is about more than the miles. It’s about knowing where you come from, learning to ask for help, collecting really good stories, and finding strength in the people and places that bring you back to yourself.

We’re so excited for you to meet Kodi in this month’s HER Story. 💛

This is Kodi's Her Story.

Tell us who you are beyond your job title or the roles you hold.
What parts of you feel most important to know?

My identity was shaped by my childhood in rural Utah: days spent on horseback, hours in the woods, summers by the reservoirs and rivers. In many ways, an idyllic childhood, but I knew I was built to leave. I escaped every chance I could, via fantasy books of girls  who became knights and warriors with a soft side. I left after high school, with the intention of never looking back. I was lucky enough to realize that my roots are my strength. No matter how far I’ve traveled or what adventures I’ve found myself in, my heart and my home has always been the American West. At the end of the day, it’s hard to put myself in a box, so I’ll choose many boxes. I’m a runner, backpacker, music lover, sweet treat enthusiast, hobby collector, and friend to many wonderful humans. I feel comfortable by myself on a ridgeline and comfortable at a music festival. I love having fun and bringing joy to the people in my life.

 

(SWOOP. Boxy Polo Shirt -- Or is it a Party Shirt)

When do you feel most in your element?

When I think of my element, I’m always stunned about how many places I can find perfect flow, total and utter joy. Hiking the PCT in 2022 was  my most wild and me state of being. There were weeks at a time I didn’t see myself in a mirror, and I’ve certainly never been dirtier, but I had never felt that beautiful or strong before in my life. Every day was simple: wake up, eat as much food as possible, and walk 30 miles. Nothing could be better! I wish I could be out there every day, but ultrarunning has given me what I need- hours in the mountains and lots and lots of snacks.

Conversely, if I ever need to instantly feel happy, I need only to find a body of water to get in. Ideally the ocean, but the ocean is in short supply in Utah, so I make do with alpine lakes and river trips. There is no quicker journey to flow than floating a river, getting wrecked by a wave, or getting into my SCUBA kit. 

I guess what this says about me is the outdoors is where I thrive. Joy is wildflowers and the sun kissing my skin while sweat runs down my face. As much as I love knitting and watching a movie, I will always be an outdoor cat.

What is something about you that people might not expect?

I love house music and going to EDM shows. It feels very connecting to be in a huge crowd of people all dancing and vibing in the same way I am.

 

(SWOOP. Boxy Polo Shirt -- Or is it a Party Shirt)

What does a day well lived look like to you?

My answer to the question, “What is your perfect day?” has always been fluid. Last weekend, I had a genuinely perfect day: I woke with the sun, drank coffee and read for hours, then grabbed drinks with long-time friends. In July, I ran High Lonesome 100, celebrated my 30th birthday, and spent many, many hours with some of the best people on this planet. That will live as one of the best weekends of my entire life. Maybe a perfect day was the day in college where I first took a surfboard out, somewhere outside of San Diego. My closest friend and I never caught a wave, but spent hours giggling in the sun, drunk on salt water and the joy of each other’s company. I’m lucky to have a collection of perfect days, and so many that I would love to relive. When I extrapolate this out, my formula is simple. I crave time with my community, whether that’s on a grand adventure or curled up at home.

What helps you come back to yourself when life feels overwhelming?

When I hiked the PCT in 2022, I came up with the mantra “Think of what a good story this will be tomorrow, next month, next year.” It was bolstering when the rain came down in sheets so thick that I couldn’t see three feet ahead of myself in Washington or when the thermometer hit 110 degrees in Southern California. Something about acknowledging that the situation sat firmly in the Type 2 fun variety was transformative, bringing overall hard things into perspective. I’ve continued using that mantra since. Sometimes, it is for a hundred mile ultra and sometimes it’s when things get crazy at work. Life is a long and complicated story. A moment of overwhelm is understandable, but how beautiful that I get to tell the story?

(SWOOP. Boxy Polo Shirt -- Or is it a Party Shirt)

What are you learning - or unlearning - right now?

I’m dealing with a pretty inconvenient  injury right now. I probably won’t return to sport for 3 or more months. When you’re as active as I am, and have placed a lot of meaning in sport and being outside, an injury like this can be pretty debilitating. With this, I’m learning a whole lot of things, but primarily how to ask for help. I’m on crutches for at least 6 weeks which has extremely limited what I’m capable of. I’m independent to a fault, so it’s been kind of like pulling teeth to ask a friend to put my groceries away and help sweep my floors. It’s also been wonderful to see my community bloom around me. I’ve been so grateful for the people in my life who have shown up for me in a million different ways, and I’m glad they’ve shown me that I can be the one asking for help.

Tell us about a place that changed you.

Toward the end of 2020, I had the chance to move to New Hampshire. After spending most of my life in Utah, New Hampshire felt weirdly foreign. A fully new culture, mountains that were totally unfamiliar, and lakes everywhere! 2020 was a particularly tumultuous time in my life- I had lost confidence in myself and the world around me. The White Mountains were a soft landing, as funny as that sounds. I set out to hike the 48 4000 footers, and in that, found myself again. For anyone who hasn’t spent time in the White, know that the most challenging trails I’ve ever completed have been in these mountains. The conditions are extremely rugged, often more adjacent to climbing than hiking or running, usually in weather that’s less than ideal. My heart healed on those trails, bringing me the confidence and strength to accomplish everything I’ve done since.

I got to return to the White Mountains in 2023 while hiking the Appalachian Trail and it felt like a very special homecoming. This was where I became who I am now, where I cried over break ups and learned to pull myself up, even in the most adverse of conditions. It’s a very precious place to me.

Which SWOOP piece feels most like you, and why?

I am OBSESSED with the Boxy Polo. I’ve been a button up girl for years- I love how they look out in the woods. I’ve been searching for the right fit for years, and finally found it with SWOOP. Boxy, cropped, and so very cute! I ran High Lonesome 100 in it and it performed amazingly! Two weeks later, I took it down the Green River on a 5 night trip and loved the sun protection while also feeling feminine and cute.

Rapid Fire!

Current source of joy: leaning into all the fun fall things- knitting sweaters, making soup, squash in everything!

Song you can’t stop playing: Cruel World by Holly Humberstone

Favorite way to move: Running! Or hiking!

Everyday essential: 3-5 types of beverages (something sparkling, something hydrating, and coffee of course!)

Comfort food: Vegan biscuits and gravy 

Dream adventure: I’m desperate to get to Kyrgyzstan and go on a horsepacking trip, but I also still need to hike the Continental Divide Trail to finish my triple crown!