I have learned some great lessons from the Conference, including one from Ryan Montgomery. A lot of things that we do in the sport are evolutionary and they are a process, and you don’t have to do it all or nothing. Ryan shared some things you can do along the way to help in terms of diversity and to work towards a long term goal.

The 2024 edition of the US Trail Running Conference was the most diverse group of peers I’ve been around. Age, gender and ethnicity!!!

The US Trail Running Conference presented a unique experience where the panelists and presenters shared valuable tips and insights directly related to growing the sport and improving how we all organize events. It was refreshing to be at a conference where the focus was dialogue and interaction amongst the attendees. I highly recommend this conference to everyone involved in the trail running industry

I have been attending USTRC for six years now, and aiming for my seventh! You are going to learn so much, how to connect with all runners from all walks of life in your community, how to be sustainable, and to run a better race. You’re going to have a great time!

The conference is always an amazing place to connect and expand on ideas for our race organizations. The trail running community proves to be a space where collaboration is possible and the conference provides the space for race directors to do so. I always leave the conference inspired to better my organization for runners in my community and the trails we utilize.

The conference was fantastic with amazing people presenting on the panels. There were valuable nuggets of wisdom that I got from each presentation and hope to work some of them into the way I do things

I’ve now been to the last 3 US Trail Running Conferences – 2 in WA and 1 in TN – and each one has been better than the previous one. Each time I meet new runners and RDs and learn ways to better our own events. And each time I walk away inspired, motivated and enlightened about the what makes the trail community so special. I am constantly reminded about how fortunate I am to be part of all this

I very much enjoy meeting and talking with other race directors and vendors each year at the US Trail Running Conference. Since Western States is an established race it would be easy to just continue to do what has worked. While I think we have a lot to offer to new races, it also behooves WS to see what other race directors are doing

The highlight of the conference was connecting with like-minded folks from all walks of life. It inspired me to know that I have people I can bounce my ideas off of, and also support in their endeavors. I would definitely consider attending again.

I’d recommend anybody interested in taking part in a great running Conference to check out the US Trail Running Conference!

A big thank YOU for putting on such an amazing event and allowing Lara and I to be a part of it. It was truly an incredible and insightful experience that I will carry with me moving forward. Would love to attend again next year

2024 was my first year attending USTRC. The main thing I loved was the ability to, not just once, but for three continuous days, collaborate with, hear from, co-conspire, & just generally congregate with not just runners, also fellow creatives, event planners, & visionaries in the sport that we love so much. We need to share this with more people!