To kick off giving season, we share the story of Allison Powell, who will be running the 2026 Cocodona 250 under a Wander Project charity bib in support of Runners for Public Lands. You can support her bib and RPL by donating here.
Public Lands have always been important to me. Growing up in North Carolina, my backyard bordered the state Wildlife Game Lands. When it wasn’t hunting season, I could explore for hours on trails maintained by the Corps of Engineers, getting lost in nature, feeling safe and in awe of the world around me. These explorations were slow hikes of adventure. I didn’t start running until I moved to the West Coast after college.
When I began running in Southern California, I ran totally alone. This was somehow way less scary to me than finding a group to run with and *gulp* talking to fellow runners. They all seemed a thousand times faster, more knowledgeable, and just better at trail running than I was. I didn’t think of myself as a “run club” type person. I was wrong.
In early 2020, after learning about Runners for Public Lands, I drove north to Ventura for my very first group run and trail work day, and I had a blast! The runners at this RPL event were warm and welcoming. We laughed and joked as we hacked out the beginning of what is now the Harmon Canyon trail system. One runner even offered to show me the race course for the Leona Divide 100k we were both registered to run in a few months. Wow!
We all know what happened just a few weeks later. With lockdowns in place, running groups (and hundreds of other things) were put on hold. I wasn’t able to run the 100k. I never got a chance to do more work in Harmon Canyon with RPL. Over the summer, I left Los Angeles and, after a long road, landed in Bozeman. But I remained connected to RPL. As a founding member and monthly sustainer, I read the newsletters eagerly and participated digitally whenever I could.
I also kept running. And thanks to that first event with RPL, I also learned the joy of being part of a local community of runners. I’m now a Chapter Head of Women in Ultrarunning and Group Leader for Bozeman Run Club. I guess I am a “run club” type person after all!
Last spring, I ran Cocodona 250, my 4th 200+ race. While I finished, the conditions were extremely challenging, but I knew right after crossing the finish line that I wanted to come back. I knew the race would sell out quickly, so I reached out to the Wander Project to inquire about running under a charity bib. With a pledge to raise $6000 for a chosen non-profit, I was in!
I knew instantly I would choose to run for Runners for Public Lands. With so many of the stunning ultras I’ve run, including Cocodona, taking place on mostly Public Land, it’s become crucial for me to protect these gorgeous and vulnerable spaces. At a time when our country feels so divided, Public Lands provided a way for us to unite. Whether the lands are used by runners, hunters, hikers, fishers, bikers, or backpackers, it seems that most of America loves our public lands and wants them to remain safe.
2025 has not been an easy year for our public lands. RPL has worked tirelessly to provide resources, education, and advocacy to runners so that we might stay engaged and informed in the struggle to keep America beautiful. The new Race Director Collective is an additional way RPL is building assets to help races and runners thrive. Raising funds for RPL has never felt more urgent. Being only $800 away from my current goal of $6000 is a privilege and a reflection of the strength we, as runners, have.
Toeing the line in May with the support of my backers, RPL, and the running community will be powerful. I’m honored to be representing RPL at one of the biggest races of the year. I hope you will join me on this journey from Phoenix to Flagstaff. You can become a member of RPL (like I am) or donate and share my charity bib (or both!). All of the proceeds go directly to Runners for Public Lands. Thank you for taking the time to read my story and getting to know me a little better. See you on the trails!