RUNSPIRITED

Kayla Fitzgerald stepped in to save Charleston's ultra running scene and built Palmetto Ultras into a thriving series of trail races. “Our mission is to inspire everyone to embrace the trails, push seasoned runners to new heights and cultivate lasting bonds in our community,” she says.

Meet Angie Lake, co-RD of Wild Woman Trail Runs — the team behind America's first all-women's trail marathon. She's building bold, inclusive spaces and popularizing trail running for women.

Aimee Kohler, founder of The Running Kind, was on a quest to learn how to how to find a greater purpose. Now she hosts gnarly trail and ultra races in the Northeast with a mission rooted in sustainability, inclusivity, and community.

Many trail and ultra runners spend time volunteering their time at races. Here is how they can go from volunteering to directing championship races.

Meet Benjamin Mazur, founder of Allegheny Trailrunners and RD of Eastern States 100, Ironstone 100K, and more Pennsylvania trail races. From grassroots beginnings to a trail running legacy, Benjamin Mazur shares race directing wisdom, mindfulness practices, and his vision for trail running.

Jeremy Nicolosi, race director of Beast Trail Racing, shares how trail running transformed his mental wellness and how he honors his late sister through community building.

Many ultra runners want to turn their passion for the sport into becoming a race director. Learn how Chris Barnwell of Blaze Trails Running did exactly that. Discover what it takes to turn a trail and ultra running passion into directing races.

Race director Becki Jones of Dirty Soles Trail Races saw an opportunity. And with that she jumped into race directing, creating trail races for road runners in Alabama near the Pinhoti Trail.

Briston Rains gives back to trail and ultra runners by creating unique trail races in Texas with his Texas Outlaw Running Company.

After the New River Trail 50K was canceled in 2020 due to COVID, Melissa Londry took it upon herself to continue the race as a way to unite the ultra running community in Southwest Virginia.