Vic Thasiah, Executive Director of Runners for Public Lands, will be the keynote speaker at the US Trail Running Conference to be held in a hybrid format October 21-24, 2020, in Fayetteville, Arkansas with both in-person and virtual options.
Runners for Public Lands is building an inclusive community around running, and protecting and restoring the natural places we run and love. Launched on Earth Day, 2019, Runners for Public Lands is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that organizes runners for antiracist environmental advocacy and stewardship.
Thasiah was a panelist on several panels at the 2019 US Trail Running Conference, sharing his passion for diversity and the outdoors, and for environmental advocacy and stewardship, inspiring participants to recognize their power as the largest outdoor recreational group in the country.
Thasiah (pictured below) said, “Trail runners can be said to live off the land. Not of course exactly like people who farm or hunt or fish, but approaching that kind of an intimate connection. It’s time for trail runners to channel their passion for the lands they run to protecting the planet from climate disruption. Let’s get after it.”
US Trail Running Conference Director Terry Chiplin commented, “We are honored and excited that Vic Thasiah has agreed to be our keynote speaker this year. His passion and fight for conservation and environmental advocacy inspired so many participants last year, and his experience and actions matches perfectly with our theme of: Trail running communities for climate action and sustainability. We are also proud to support the mission of Runners for Public Lands, and to engage trail runners across the United States to become active participants as custodians of the land.”
The eighth annual US Trail Running Conference will be held October 21-24, 2020, in Fayetteville, Arkansas and is presented by Race Roster, the fastest growing endurance registration website in North America, and Spartan Trail, who feature epic runs along the world’s most rugged trails. The Conference is also held in partnership with Experience Fayetteville, and the American Trail Running Association (ATRA).
Conference registration includes in-person and virtual access options for race directors and trail runners. Details and registration options can be found on the conference website.
