Ventura, CA —Runners for Public Lands (RPL) is thrilled to announce that it has joined Outdoor Alliance, the national coalition of organizations advocating for human-powered outdoor recreation. As the 10th member of the Outdoor Alliance, Runners for Public Lands will strengthen the voice of runners alongside nine of the country’s most powerful outdoor recreation organizations working together to protect public lands and waters.
Millions of Americans run on public lands, and as trail running continues to grow in popularity across the country, representation in public lands policy and advocacy has emerged as a vital need of running communities, race events, and the running industry. From local trail systems to national forests and parks, runners rely on healthy, accessible landscapes and are eager to steward and protect these places.
“Trail runners build deep connections to public lands through daily use, stewardship, and community,” said Kat Baker, Executive Director of RPL. “Our community understands that the health and accessibility of the places we run are not guaranteed. They require care, investment, and advocacy. Joining Outdoor Alliance dramatically levels up our ability to protect the trails and public lands that make running possible.”
RPL’s membership in Outdoor Alliance is an important step forward for runners, race directors, and the broader trail running community. For too long, runners have lacked a consistent, formal voice in national public lands advocacy, even as running events, training routes, and everyday access depend on the same lands, trails, permitting systems, and conservation protections that support outdoor recreation in general. Without that voice, the needs and perspectives of runners can be overlooked in decisions that shape public land management, recreation access, conservation priorities, and the future of trail-based events.
“Until now, runners have not had a formal, organized presence among national outdoor advocacy groups. Without that consistent presence, the specific needs and perspectives of our community are too often left out of public land, recreation, and conservation policy conversations and decisions,” said Baker.
Running on public lands depends on healthy landscapes, well-resourced land management agencies, fair and workable permitting systems, durable recreation planning, and well-maintained trails that support safe, sustainable, and high-quality experiences. By joining Outdoor Alliance, RPL will strengthen its ability to advocate for both run-specific priorities and the broader recreation and conservation issues that affect all public land users. The partnership also expands RPL’s ability to mobilize runners when access, conservation, and public land stewardship are on the line.
Outdoor Alliance represents the broadest coalition of human-powered recreation communities, including climbers, paddlers, mountain bikers, backcountry skiers, hikers, surfers, and now runners. Together, the coalition works to advance policies that protect public lands, expand recreation access, strengthen stewardship, and ensure that outdoor recreation remains a priority in public land management.
“Runners experience public lands in a uniquely direct way. They build deep connections to trails, forests, deserts, mountains, and local parks through daily use and stewardship,” said Adam Cramer, CEO of Outdoor Alliance. “Runners for Public Lands has done an exceptional job turning that connection into advocacy, and we’re excited to welcome them to the Outdoor Alliance coalition. Their leadership will strengthen our collective voice and help ensure that the people who love these places are helping shape their future.”
RPL joins the coalition at a pivotal moment. Outdoor recreation contributes more than $1 trillion annually to the U.S. economy, yet public lands face mounting challenges, from funding shortfalls and maintenance backlogs to development pressure and threats to access. By uniting runners with the broader human-powered recreation community, Runners for Public Lands and Outdoor Alliance are ensuring the people who know these landscapes best have a strong voice in their future.
About Runners for Public Lands: Runners for Public Lands mobilizes the running community to protect and steward public lands. Through advocacy, education, and community engagement, RPL empowers runners to become effective champions for the landscapes and trails they depend on.
About Outdoor Alliance: Outdoor Alliance is the national coalition of outdoor recreation advocacy organizations working together to protect public lands and waters and ensure sustainable access for human-powered recreation. Outdoor Alliance brings together the voices of millions of outdoor enthusiasts to advance policies that conserve the places where people climb, paddle, ride, run, hike, ski, and surf.
Featured photo by Liam Pickhardt