|
 | | If you missed it, you can see what RPL’s been up to - from advocacy work to TRE - and learn how to further support RPL this Giving Season. Our continued growth wouldn’t be possible without your support! |
| | | Race Director letter urging Congress to fix the USFS hiring freeze and budget shortfall |
| This month RPL organized race directors to sign a letter to Congress advocating for greater funding for the U.S. Forest Service in FY 2025. In September, the USFS announced that it would not hire seasonal workers in 2025 (except firefighting staff) due to severe budget shortfalls, which could significantly impact trail running and trail races occurring on national forest land. RPL released this blog post explaining our concerns and launched this letter on Saturday, Nov 16th. |
|  | Race directors from across the country responded by signing and sharing testimonials and insight about how this issue is impacting their communities. Within two weeks, the letter was signed by a group of 163 race directors who organize 727 race events across 33 states, including 170 race events that operate under special use permits in 54 national forests. On December 5th, the RPL team sent the letter to the staff of the full Appropriations Committee and the House and Senate Subcommittees on the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies. |
|  | RPL is busy analyzing the data, but here are some highlights of what we’ve learned:
First, we hear race director’s concerns loud and clear - many of you are experiencing significant challenges related to permitting and communications with the Forest Service at this time. However, it is important to note that many of you also highlighted the positive experiences you have had working with USFS permitting officials. This shines a light on the strong relationships the running community has built with public land agencies and the desire race directors have to facilitate positive changes for the benefit of the agencies and our recreation community. Our team is so proud to empower this collective group to continue building positive relationships with land managers and influence necessary change for the benefit of our runners, our communities, and the places where we love to run.
If you are a race director who signed this letter please stay tuned for a follow-up email, which will include a copy of the final letter we sent to Congress on Dec 5th, the impact of this effort, and an overview of our next steps. This is not a one-time effort - we still have a lot of work to do in FY25 and will continue to build on this great effort as we look to future fiscal year appropriations. |
| |  | In addition to our work on USFS appropriations, RPL is continuing to advocate for passing the Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences (EXPLORE) Act, which takes important steps to expand and improve outdoor recreation opportunities. Highlights of this package include providing permanent direction for the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership, which funds the development of green spaces, such as running trails, in the highest-need urban areas, and Simplifying Outdoor Access for Recreation Act (SOAR), which will improve recreational permitting for outfitters and guides. |
| The EXPLORE Act passed the full House by voice vote this past April and is now being considered in the Senate. For more background on the EXPLORE Act and to take action, check out Outdoor Alliance’s recent action alert by clicking here. |
| | | |  | We were excited to bring “Run with Heart in Mind,” our signature community-based activation, to TRE this year. This interactive exhibit, which we first introduced at our five-year anniversary on Earth Day 2024, is a gathering space for road and trail runners to share the who, what, where, and why they run.
Through the simple but powerful act of putting pen to paper, runners from all around the country and world answered 6 questions, sharing what running does for them individually and collectively. With over 60 million people who identify as runners, we make up the largest human-powered recreation group in the country, which means we can do a whole lot of good when we come together. And right now, that is very much needed. Read more about the event here! |
| | | | Thank You to Our Community |
| This Giving Season, we are incredibly grateful for how much our community of volunteers, members, and RPL champions give to us. Thank you to our incredible Board of Directors and especially our Ambassadors Denise, Wilson, and Holly in Ventura, Rich in San Diego, Edwin in Boulder, Austin in Flagstaff, and Kirk in Indiana, who have helped us launch RPL communities, deliver trail work events, and lead runs in new locations! |
| | Because of the generous support of our members, supporters, and partners, we’ve created more hands-in-dirt opportunities for runners through our Trail Work Series, attended our first advocacy fly-in to Capitol Hill, supported more runners through the Everyone Runs Fund, and drafted RPL’s first sign-on letter that we sent to Congress just this week! We are excited to keep this momentum going in 2025 and appreciate contributions of any size to help us continue our work and further our mission. Click here to support our team!
We would also like to give a massive shout'-out to RPL’s Brand Coalition including Teva, HOKA, ON Running, Athletic Brewing, Fractel, GU, REI, nomadix, Topa Topa, and Patagonia. Thank you for supporting our work to protect public lands and expand access to nature for all in 2024. We are proud to continue working with you in 2025 and excited to grow our collective impact even further. If you represent a brand that is interested in joining RPL’s Brand Coalition in 2025 contact us here. |
| | | We are excited to announce that RPL recently became a member of Patagonia Action Works. You can now gift a donation to RPL on behalf of friends and family through Patagonia Action Works! Click here to learn more about how to give this holiday season.
Looking for a last minute gift that will also support RPL? Do your online holiday shopping with nomadix between Dec 3 - 9th and RPL will receive 10% of sales!
Interested in helping RPL by running a race in 2025? Consider signing up for a charity bib to raise funds for RPL through the Wander Project! You can sign up now to run a number of events in 2025 - don’t wait because charity bibs are going fast!
|
| | |  | We are gearing up for a busy year ahead that will present many new challenges and opportunities to protect public lands and expand access to nature. Stay tuned for new ways to team up with RPL to give back to the places where you love to run in 2025!
Our growth this past year would not have been possible without your continued support. Donate today to help our continued growth in the year to come! |
| | | | |
|
|
|
| |
|
