Runners make up one of the largest recreation groups in the United States, a number that has continued to grow in recent years. Yet despite this growth, many individuals still face barriers within the sport.
At RPL, we are working to help combat this issue by building inclusive running communities dedicated to protecting the environment. Last year, we successfully launched the Everyone Runs Fund (ERF), a fund designed to help underrepresented and underserved runners work towards their running goals by providing financial and in-kind assistance. In 2023, the fund was able to support two runners as they worked towards their unique running goals. Kathleen Baker, Executive Director at RPL shared that “RPL’s programs stand out because they are developed by and deeply interwoven with our community of runners”.
In March of 2024 Runners for Public Lands announced that for the second year of the program, they would be supporting three runners, each with their own unique goals. When talking about this growth, Baker stated, “While I am happy that the Everyone Runs Fund is growing each year, what brings me the most pride and joy is that the growth and evolution of the program is being driven by the program recipients. Both Griselda and Nicole – the first ERF recipients – have remained part of this program and are key members of the team that is helping us deepen the program impact and remove more barriers for more under-represented runners.”
Our 2024 ERF Recipients — Candace Gale, Mensah Bey, and Mauricio Zuniga — have all attempted their runs this year. Below, get to know a little bit more about they are on and off the trails.
Get to know ERF Recipient Candace Gale
Candace Gale is a Native American runner based out of Window Rock, Arizona on the Navajo Reservation. In mid-October she took on the infamous Moab 240. Candace grew up in a family of runners and shared how her relationship to running has evolved over the years. When reflecting on this she noted, “At the beginning I didn’t quite like running, but I think a couple of years ago I started to enjoy it. I think it was because of ultrarunning…being out there free with nature, it’s absolutely soothing to me”.
After volunteering at Moab 240, she knew she wanted to run the race herself. When recounting this experience Candace said, “I saw the runners, how they started in the morning and how they were when they came back. It’s just something about it that made me want to do the race”. The Moab 240 requires an immense amount of training, as well as an increased amount of funds, expertise, and gear compared to other trail and ultra runs. After learning about Runners for Public Lands through Native Women Running, Candace knew she wanted to apply for the ERF.
Leading up to Moab 240 Candace also competed in the Silver Rush 50 in Leadville and the Run the Rut 50k as part of The Rut’s diversity scholarship. Along with having a few races on the calendar, Candace also worked with a strength and running coach to help ensure she was race ready. As her mileage ramped up, Candace incorporated more speed work and terrain specific workouts to help increase her strength on climbs and her speed on descents. Along with a strength coach, the ERF also allowed Candace to get a running training coach. With running specific strength exercises, she was hopeful that she’ll be able to complete these longer distances while continuing to prevent injuries.
Along with her coaches, Candace also noted how immensely helpful the support of her family was as she worked towards these goals. “They’ve been helping me a lot, accommodating my schedule, changing events to different times just so I could train. I think with them, with their support and just having them there, has been a great help”.
When asked what she hopes others get from hearing her story, Candace stated that “I think my main motivation is I hope I inspire others that they can do it too, especially with us Native Americans, Indigenous people, because there’s hardly any of us out there on the trails. I think in Moab 240, I think there’s only four of us and if we get more people, Indigenous people out there, it would really diversify the sport. It’s just that we’re such a minority and ultrarunning is an expensive sport and not everybody has the funds to do a sport like this. Hopefully, it will inspire someone, maybe to get into it or even to try running in general to have a healthy lifestyle. With our population we have alcoholism, diabetes, and mental health issues here on the reservation so hopefully my story will encourage them to say ‘Hey if she did it, I can do it too!’”.
Get to know ERF Recipient Mensah Bey
Mensah Bey is a San Diego-based artist who participated in the Mount Rainier Half Marathon on July 20th. Mensah grew up running track and field with his siblings and noted that running has always been a part of his life, but he stopped competing around middle school. When reflecting on his reintroduction into running, Mensah noted that it coincided with the rise of obstacle courses races in the 2010s.
Like many runners, Mensah’s love of running was reignited in 2020 after he and some friends downloaded the Nike Run Club App. In 2021, Mensah moved to San Diego, which is where he started to run with Black Men Run’s San Diego Chapter. When reflecting on running with Black Men Run, Mensah noted, “that’s where it just really picked up for me, and it’s just been a part of my life since that moment.”
Mensah was drawn to ERF after learning that the Black Men Run West Regional Meet-Up would be a trail race. After not being able to make the 10 year anniversary meet-up of Black Men Run, Mensah wanted to ensure he could join the next group meet-up which took place at the Mount Rainier Half Marathon. When talking about how he got into trail running specifically, Mensah shared that there were a few people in the San Diego Chapter who wanted to get more into trail running.
“I saw that as an opportunity to step up to the plate and be a representative within our group for trail running and introduce the group to something a little more technically challenging. For me, it’s more beautiful to be able to experience nature this way and I enjoy witnessing that interest grow in others.”
Mensah was joined at his race by other members of Black Men Run, who came together to experience this course together. While the half marathon distance isn’t a new feat for Mensah, getting more involved in trail running is. In order to be prepared for the race, Mensah noted that his main focus was spending more time on trails, including meeting up with one of his local run groups, Urban Trail Runners. Group meet-ups, along with solo runs, helped ensure he got out on the trails at least a couple of times a week. Along with time on trails, Mensah focused on consistently running hills and strength training.
From travel expenses to proper trail running gear, the ERF helped to support him as he worked toward this running goal. Mensah expressed his excitement and gratitude about getting to travel to a new location in order to complete this race, and was hoping to learn more about the land he was running with.
Get to know ERF Recipient Mauricio Zuniga
Mauricio Zuniga is a Latinx runner who’s located in Oakland, California, raced at the Pikes Peak Marathon in September. When reminiscing about his relationship with running, Mauricio shared that it began during the pandemic in 2020, not only as a way for him to get outside and move his body but also as an activity that is now the strongest contributor to his mental health.
Running in the Bay Area has also brought up a lot of internal assumptions and hypotheticals about health and running for Mauricio. When he first began running he often thought “I don’t think I am allowed to run in these streets or pockets? Maybe I’m not even fit or healthy enough to be doing this daily?”. After joining running clubs in the Bay Area, Mauricio realized that many people had similar experiences to his and quickly learned how uplifting running communities can be. He loves being open about how embarrassment and shame can sometimes be the sole cause for someone to hesitate to join a local wellness community. Opening up about the internal challenges with new runners is how he contributes to making this sport more inclusive.
After running a 50k near Lake Tahoe in 2023, with little to no previous trail running experience, Mauricio was hooked on the feelings and emotions that trail running can provide. Shortly after the race, Mauricio began to learn about the trails within the Bay Area as well as the trail running community there which encouraged him to push his limits and apply for scholarships, such as the Trail Mix Fund and Everyone Runs Fund.
As Mauricio was training for his race in Colorado, he also shared his goal of making public trails even more accessible and welcoming for others. “Spanish is my first language, and it would be nice for more Spanish-speaking communities to understand the benefits of public environments, like advocating for more visual illustrations or language that provides helpful information about the occupied space and land. Many of my goals in this project are to detect barriers to accessibility, help sustain the communities doing the work, and become an ally where support is needed. This is bigger than me.”
When it came to his training for the Pikes Peak Marathon, Mauricio was primarily focused on finding consistencies and patterns around recovery and time on his feet. Through trial and error, he has realized that strict training plans aren’t what works best for him, and instead prefers running by feel and discovering new trails through that method. The ERF helped to ensure Mauricio had all the necessary gear for his race, including items such as trekking poles to help on the notoriously steep climbs at Pikes Peak.
When asked what Mauricio hopes others get from hearing his story, he stated, “I wish that whatever audience I am attracting understands that my running journey is nothing more than an individual who is unapologetically advocating for others to engage in healthy mental health activities, public trails, and shed light on awesome community projects…I also hope that members involved in protecting and preserving public outdoor spaces are allowing someone like me to practice gratitude and battle shame. That means everything.”
Runners for Public Lands hopes to continue to expand the Everyone Funs Fund in the years to come.
Trail running, and running in general, is continually growing as a sport, and as this sport grows so does the need for uplifting underserved, underrepresented, and marginalized runners. Organizations within this industry must recognize that there are a multitude of different barriers to entry when it comes to running. Whether it be a local community race or a multi-day ultramarathon, everyone has a right to recreate. It is vital that the running industry continually works to ensure that running is accessible to all.
The Everyone Runs Fund is a step in the right direction, a step that hopefully inspires everyone within the running community to ensure all feel welcome, supported, and uplifted while running. For those looking to further support Runners for Public Lands and the work they are doing, be sure to follow along on their Instagram, newsletter, and website.