Welcome to Joshua Tree Running Company!  My name is Deni Ewell.  I spent my childhood in the Midwest, growing up as a heavier kid with unhealthy eating habits.  I participated in a variety of sports, but never really excelled at any of them.  When I was 19, I followed a dream to move to Arizona to make a fresh start.

That same year my father passed away from complications due to his battle with Rheumatoid Arthritis.  I spent the following 8 years looking for ways to recognize his strength and courage, and deal with the grief I was still feeling.  After receiving a flyer in the mail from the Arthritis Foundation’s Joints in Motion Training Team, I took a leap of faith and signed up for my first marathon without even running a mile.  I followed a plan; I worked hard; I had my ups and downs, and along the way I found a passion inside of me that I didn’t know existed.  I learned to believe in myself, and I discovered a zest for life!  That finish line was just the beginning of a journey that has changed my life.  Sixteen years later, I have completed hundreds of races ranging from 5k’s to ultra-marathons, including over 50 marathons, 5 Ironman Triathlons, and two 100 mile ultra-marathons in the desert.

My passion for health and fitness coupled with my 18 year career as an educator and coach, led me to create the Joshua Tree Running Company as a way to share with others the gift of running.  Life is an adventure; take my hand, and let’s run!

The Joshua Tree represents a story of survival, resilience, and beauty born through perseverance.  Joshua Trees are all unique, not one is like another.  However, they share a deep rooted ability to not only survive, but to thrive.

As athletes, we are all built differently, we have different life circumstances, and we carry our own struggles.   Each one of us is like a Joshua Tree; unique in our own beauty.  One element that unites us is to thrive, a desire to push through our weaknesses, and to see what we are truly capable of.

Joshua Tree Running Company is dedicated to nurturing that desire within you, to believe that anything is possible, and to dream out loud.

As a wife and a mother, with a full time career, I understand first hand the importance of balancing all of the elements in my life.  While I know this is easier said than done,  learning to take time for yourself is the greatest gift you can give to you and your family.  Balance is not always easy.  The key is to find what works for you.  My goal is to personalize a training plan tailored to your fitness level and inspired by your goals.

“Dream beneath a desert sky…”