Over the last few weeks, I have had the privilege of stepping away from the laptop to spend time in the field with our community. This summer, I helped host RPL’s Camp & Run event in Leadville, CO, spent time with industry partners and RPL Ambassadors at TrailCon, and immersed myself in the beauty, emotion, and inspiration of the iconic Hardrock 100 Mile Endurance run as a pacer and fan. During this time I listened to runners, land managers, activists, race directors and industry leaders, share their experiences of navigating the recent policies and actions from elected officials that threaten the people we love and the places we cherish.
It has been a hard few months and I share feelings of fear, sadness, and anger that I heard from this community. But there was also a collective sense of hope and an eagerness to continue to unite, speak up, and take action to do all that we can to ensure nature remains safely accessible to all people and landscapes are recognized for their intrinsic ecological, cultural, and recreational values. And the past few months show that we are powerful. Together, we have called lawmakers, written dozens of letters, sent hundreds of postcards, and taken the initiative to encourage more runners to make their voices heard. This was an incredible effort, and the work is not over. As we face new threats to public lands, I am grateful to be a part of such a passionate, persistent, and uniquely gritty community. Thank you to all of you for showing up for each other and for showing up for our landscapes. I am more inspired than ever to be part of this community, and committed to continuing this wild and tough journey alongside you.
In stride,
Kat Baker
Executive Director of RPL
