Employee Highlight: Shannon Barras
November 6, 2024
Project manager and Ironman triathlete

Facilities Management's Shannon Barras isn't just a project manager with Capital Construction & Renovations but also an avid triathlete and now Ironman World Championship participant.
As a senior project manager, Barras manages general renovation projects as well as trying to solve water intrusion issues in buildings across Grounds. Outside of work, however, she runs and trains for triathlons.
Barras has always been a runner and has participated in triathlons for over twenty years, including several Half Ironman competitions. Recently, however, she decided to take it a step further and prepare to run a full Ironman triathlon.
“I decided that I wanted to do a full for my 60th birthday,” said Barras. “But as I've always been self-trained, I couldn't quite figure out how to train for a full and still have a life and a job.”
Her previous experience provided her the consistency and background to begin focused training for the experience. Overwhelmed by the prospect of training on her own, she began training with TriDot, an official training platform for those that would like to compete in triathlons.

After participating in the Chattanooga Full Ironman in Sept. 2023, Barras qualified for the Women's Race in the 2024 Ironman World Championship.
Barras traveled to Nice, France, in September to participate in the 2024 Ironman World Championship. The triathlon began with a 2.4-mile open water swim, followed by a 112-mile bike ride and a 26.2-mile run.
“It was absolutely amazing,” she said of the experience. “It was like being in the Tour de France.”
Barras finished the course in 16 hours and 35 minutes, placing 1119th out of approximately 1400 competitors.
In addition to triathlons, Barras participates in several run clubs around Charlottesville and works with horses on the weekend. She plans to participate in another Half Ironman next year as well as running the Grand Canyon “rim-to-rim-to-rim” — running from one rim of the canyon, down across the river to the other side and back again.
Afia Paracha
Communications assistant student worker
UVA Facilities Management
hcx2td@virginia.edu