Melody Fairchild
Assistant Camp Director
Melody Fairchild is widely regarded as the greatest female high school distance runner in U.S. history. She twice won Footlocker Nationals, including a course record 16:39 her senior year (a record which still stands). As a University of Oregon Duck, Melody won a national championship in the indoor 3000 and was an All-American in Cross Country. As a professional runner, Melody made the US World Championship T/F team in 1997, running 15:30 for 5K and at age 38 in 2012, was a scoring member of Team USA’s Gold Medal performance at the World Mountain Running Championships in Italy. At the age of 51, she loves to spice up Masters Competitions wherever she can. Melody is the founder and director of Boulder Mountain Warriors youth running club in her hometown, Boulder, Co. Her teams perennially place among the top 3 at the USATF Region 10 Championships and her Warriors redefine their Possible on the big stage, at XC Nationals. She has a stunning ability to reach into the spiritual side of running with words both powerful and eloquent.
First year at Steens: 2001
Current Location: Boulder, CO
Occupation: Coach, Running Club Director, Mother
High School: Boulder HS, CO
College: University of Oregon
Degree: B.A. English
Athletic/Academic Honors: UO, Colorado Sports HOF; Footlocker HOF/course record holder; ’91 Bronze, Wld. XC Champs.; ’97 World Champs T/F 5K (15:30); ’12 Wld. Champs Mtn. Running Team, Gold; 8 X Colo. State Champ; 1st girl to break 10 min. for 2 miles (9:55:00); 5 X National Masters Champion
Career/Professional/Coaching Highlights: In 2026 I will be celebrating 13 years of owning and operating the Boulder Mtn. Warriors Running Club for boys and girls ages 7-14. Also in 2026 I will begin coaching the distance team in Track at Peak to Peak High School in Lafayette, Co. My passion is working with youth runners, to help them develop a healthy relationship with themselves, by having a healthy relationship with running. Enhancing my understanding of how the body-mind works, I am an instructor of the Feldenkrais Method for neuromuscular retraining, working with students weekly and assisting in multi-day workshops throughout the year. I have coached at two D-3 colleges, Wellesley College and Willamette University and serve the local school district as a substitute teacher and National History Day judge.
Favorite Part of Steens Camp: My favorite thing about Steens camp is observing the desire in our Campers for a transformational experience while on the mountain. I love watching them as they authentically connect with new friends around the campfire, bond with tent mates through their shared pain during the Big Day and discover their value as a teammate during the Cross Canyon. I love that Steens Campers want connection to themselves and the world which is meaningful and everlasting, free from digital influences. I am honored to be part of the Steens Family; my task of holding space for our Campers to find themselves in the rugged and awesome beauty of Steens Wilderness is one which I hold sacred. Our shared love of running, of each other of the land, leaves a beautiful imprint on the soul, which feeds us daily when we return home.