The 2024 US Trail Running Conference & Ultraeum's Mission

For the past several years, I've been looking for a missing piece of the puzzle that's putting together the trail running ecosystem. I've been doing a lot of listening. I've traveled around America and the world to connect with trail runners and race directors, asking questions and listening to what's important to them. And I've had the opportunity to run in some beautiful places along the way.

At the 2024 US Trail Running Conference, I heard about how fast the sport is growing and how people new to the sport do better with a little guidance from experienced trail runners. I didn't hear from a lot of people representing clubs, but I did hear that trail running clubs are important both for familiarizing people with the sport and for getting volunteers out to events.

All of this makes me think that I might have found a missing piece of the puzzle. New trail runners feel safer hitting the trails with people who know what they're doing. Clubs are an easy way to pair new runners with experienced ones. But clubs don't seem to be as powerful a force in the trail running ecosystem as perhaps they deserve to be. Maybe clubs could use a boost in their recruitment & revenue so they can afford to do more powerful things like sending a representative to national conferences. So, Ultraeum has taken on the mission to make trail running clubs more powerful.

Speaking of doing more powerful things, it also seems like the sport could benefit from a nudge toward raising its profile (in a good way) among other trail users. More efforts to collaborate with other trail users might benefit the sport and help to generate mutual understanding and respect. The topic of equestrians came up multiple times in various contexts during the conference. There was discussion about mountain bikers and how much they volunteer for trail maintenance. Trail running as a sport might benefit from making trail maintenance an integral part of what it means to be a trail runner. This activity seems like an excellent opportunity to work alongside other trail users, building rapport, mutual understanding, and goodwill.

At the 2024 US Trail Running Conference, I feel like I might have found the place where Ultraeum's efforts could most benefit the sport that's done so much for me. Trail running carried me through the darkest places in my life. It's made me healthier, both physically and mentally. I'm on a mission to give back at least as much as trail running has given me.

If any of this resonates with you, I want to hear from you. Let's do something great together.

Keep on running!

Chip Trimmier

Ultraeum's founder