The G.R.I.T. Award honors athletes who exemplify Growth, Resilience, Integrity, and Tenacity — not just in their results, but in how they show up on the hardest days. This year’s recipient was selected by his teammates, and there could not be a more fitting choice.
We are proud to announce Owen Conlan as the 2025 G.R.I.T. Award honoree.
Owen’s journey is defined by relentless growth. Living and training with multiple sclerosis (MS), he continues to set ambitious goals and pursue them with courage and determination. He refuses to let one tough race — or even a string of them — define his story. When MS interrupts his plans, Owen regathers himself and keeps moving forward, never allowing setbacks to steal his purpose or passion.
His resilience is nothing short of extraordinary. There are days when his body challenges him at every step, yet he continues on — including the Nationwide Children’s Half Marathon, where Owen walked the entire race in cold rain while navigating a major MS episode. Even then, he smiled. He congratulated others. He cheered runners who finished long before he did. That quiet strength leaves a lasting impression on everyone who witnesses it.
In 2025, Owen crossed his 100th post-diagnosis finish line — and immediately set his sights on the next hundred. He does not let MS define him. Instead, he defines what perseverance truly looks like.
Owen reminds us what it means to love running in its purest form: showing up with courage, celebrating others, and giving your absolute best with the body you have that day. His integrity, grit, and unwavering tenacity make all of us better — and more grateful — runners and teammates.
Congratulations to Owen Conlan, the 2025 G.R.I.T. Award recipient. Your journey inspires us all.