At 50, Marcela Knapp proves it’s never too late to push yourself
Marcela Knapp closes each week in her online classroom with "Some Good News Fridays.”
The short note often includes scenes of sunrise trail runs, cloud-covered climbs up Arizona's Mount Ord and the way shared miles, or any moment of connection, can knit strangers into community.
Now those same themes of movement, encouragement and trying what once felt impossible are spilling beyond her Grand Canyon University course shell and into the streets of Phoenix. Knapp, a GCU online full-time faculty member in the College of Education and a seasoned ultrarunner, was recently named a Phoenix Marathon ambassador for the December race. The role gives her an opportunity to bring the spirit of those inspiring weekly messages to runners across the Valley.
In the digital classroom, on the desert trails and her social platforms promoting the second running of the revamped Phoenix Marathon, her message is the same. Life has taught her that with preparation, wisdom and a little faith, what once seemed out of reach is often achievable.
“Being named a Phoenix Marathon ambassador is such a blessing and a huge honor. I never imagined that running would open a door like this, especially at this stage of life,” Knapp said. “To be able to represent a race I love, in a city I love and hopefully inspire other runners — especially women and Hispanic women who may not always see themselves out there — means so much to me. It feels like an extension of what I do at GCU. I want to encourage people to believe in themselves and discover that they’re capable of more than they think.”
Most weeks, Knapp’s “Some Good News Fridays” invites students into her life. One Friday, it was a trail event up Piestewa Peak, where friends waited at the summit with Dunkin’ Donuts. The view reminded her that some of life’s greatest blessings are not found in accomplishments but in shared experiences, meaningful relationships and moments of gratitude.
Another week, she described one-mile loops under a shaded ramada during an Arizona heat wave, pausing between laps to refill water and check on one another. She folded in practical advice about heat training — slow your pace, listen to your body — and then widened the lens to gratitude.
Beyond the curriculum, her students are taking notes. They tell Knapp they’ve started walking their neighborhoods, training for 5Ks or simply paying closer attention to small blessings.
“Online classes can sometimes feel a little distant, so ‘Some Good News Fridays’ started as a simple way to remind my students that there is still beauty, community and joy all around us. I want them to see that I’m a real person with struggles and celebrations, and to invite them to notice the good in their own weeks too. If a story about a trail run or a dinner with my family encourages someone to move their body, try something new or just feel a little more hopeful, then it’s worth sharing.”
This summer, Knapp turns 50.
Though she didn’t begin running marathons until her 40s, Knapp set what sounded like a wild goal just a few years ago: 50 ultramarathons by age 50. An ultramarathon is any race longer than 26.2 miles, often 50- or 100-plus miles. They involve long hours on foot, constant problem solving and, as she puts it, “a surprising amount of self‑talk.”
Her first ultra came in Flagstaff, Arizona, in 2018. She was nervous and convinced it would be a one‑and‑done experiment. Instead, she fell in love with the trails and the ultramarathon community.
Since then, she has completed ultras across Arizona, Utah, Colorado and Canada, along with dozens of marathons, including the renowned Boston Marathon, and more than 100 half marathons. Her longest efforts include the Javelina Jundred 100‑miler, which she has finished twice, and most recently Sedona Canyons 125, a 125‑mile, point‑to‑point race from Jerome through Sedona to Flagstaff. It took her 47 hours to finish.
“When I was younger, I thought 50 meant slowing down. Now I’m running farther and feeling more grateful than ever,” Knapp said. “I didn’t start racing until my late 30s and didn’t run my first ultra until my 40s, so I’m living proof that you don’t have to grow up an athlete to fall in love with this. You can start at any age, at any pace. The important thing is to give yourself permission to try and see what your body and heart are capable of.
“Progress does not happen all at once. Some days feel strong and productive, while others feel slow and uncomfortable. The key is not perfection, but consistency.”
Few people have watched that transformation more closely than Kimberly Werking, Knapp’s longtime friend and fellow GCU online faculty member and site supervisor. The two met as nontraditional students in Arizona State University’s teacher-prep program nearly 20 years ago, then reunited at GCU, where Werking helped recruit Knapp to the university.
Werking remembers gifting Knapp one of her first medal hangers when only a handful of race medals filled the hooks. Now, she jokes, there aren’t enough hooks in the world for all of Knapp’s winnings. But what stands out for her isn’t just the mileage.
“Her passion is contagious,” Werking said. “She pours the same encouragement into her students that she does into running. When she shares those Friday updates, they see someone almost 50 chasing big goals, being consistent and still choosing joy. It makes them think, ‘If she can do that at 50, maybe I can push myself too.’
“GCU talks a lot about service and believing in others. Marcela lives that on the trails and in the classroom.”
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If you’re interested in running in the Phoenix Marathon, use code MARCELA10 for $10 off any distance.
GCU News senior writer Jason Gonzalez can be reached at [email protected].
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