Running is not an enigma to Boulder; it seems more people here do it than don’t. Recently, I was told the local scaling for a Boulderite’s running adeptness equated to something like “number one in the world, number five in Boulder.” That idiom seems to sum up just how into running people in Boulder really are. With countless amounts of diets to try, shoes to wear, Strava runs to log and teams to join, it can be overwhelming when trying to find your footing. Luckily, there’s The Trail Team, America’s first and only elite development trail running team.
There are three different sectors of The Trail Team: elite, club, and the Boulder team. To join the elite or club team there is an application process, however, anyone can become a member of the Boulder team. The Trail Team Boulder offers a range of support and new opportunities and helps build camaraderie within the community regardless of one's pace or goal.
Founded in 2022 by professional road and trail runner Andy Wacker, The Trail Team is a love letter to the running community. Operating under the umbrella of the American Trail Running Association, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, every type of runner truly gets the guidance and attention they need. Andy emphasizes the importance of “finding people where they’re at, whether they’ve been running for twenty years or running for one year.” He continues by adding, “We want people to work together; we are better together than anyone would be individually.”
Andy ran for the University of Colorado Boulder and met his wife, Karley Rempel, at a summer training camp in Boulder when she was running for the University of North Carolina. Karley has since been instrumental in the founding and development of The Trail Team. When Karley moved to Boulder full-time, both she and Andy felt the Boulder running community was missing something. “I think there is still a gap in Boulder,” explains Andy. “There’s many extremely elite runners and clubs, but there’s not a good sub-elite serious training group for people who ran in college or are enthusiastic about the sport and looking for a serious training group.” Thus, The Trail Team was born. Karley elaborates on her experience: “For me, [Trail Team Boulder] really helped my training. Now I have a strong community and training group, and outside of running, they’re my friends.”
Community is a huge aspect of The Trail Team. Whether you are a professionally sponsored athlete competing across the country as part of the elite division or training for your first marathon with the Boulder team, members feel welcomed and connected to the organization. Boulder team member Tucker Grose describes The Trail Team Boulder as “a community of amazing humans who are supportive, kind, and also super strong runners.” Trail Team Boulder also holds community events to amplify this sense of togetherness, illustrating that the purpose behind The Trail Team is much bigger than just running.
Andy and Karley set this precedent, all the while giving back to the sport they love. Last year, they raised $25,000 to help athletes compete on the world stage, funding Trail Team elite and club members’ airfare, housing, food, and more. “The athletes are doing like 95%, and sometimes people just need this last little shove, the last little 5%, and that’s what we are,” acknowledges Andy.
To learn more, vist Trail-Team.com