Looking to increase female participation in trail running, Life Time and Trail Sisters, a women’s trail running community aimed at increasing participation and opportunity in trail running through inspiration, education and empowerment, have entered in a unique partnership.
The partnership kicks off during the Leadville Race Series Silver Rush 50 weekend July 10-11, the 50-mile run event that Trail Sisters found Gina Lucrezi has won twice, in 2014 and 2017. She will host a shakeout run on Friday, July 9, for anyone in town for Silver Rush 50 weekend in Leadville, CO. The group run will be open to anyone and will meet at the base of Dutch Henry Hill, where packet pickup is, and will be a casual out-and-back 5K on the Mineral Belt Trail.
The partnership brings the two organizations together to create educational content and resources on topics such as awareness, gear and conservation through digital experiences and at in-person events with local Trail Sisters run groups. Together, the organizations will tap into Trail Sisters’ 35,000-plus network of women runners across the country to foster community, connection and empower women to feel comfortable hitting the trails.
Life Time will now serve as the presenting sponsor of Trail Sisters’ first-ever run event, the sold-out Women’s Trail Half Marathon in Buena Vista, CO, on Sept. 11.
Also as a part of the partnership, a Trail Sisters Coaching Grant presented by Life Time will be created to support women looking to get into the sport. Recipients of the grant will receive training throughout the year from Life Time run coaches and a race entry into one of Life Time’s fall running events. This grant ties together both Trail Sisters’ and Life Time’s mission of growing the sport and providing opportunity for everyone. More information about the grant and application will be available soon on the Trail Sisters website.
“What I’ve learned over my five years running Trail Sisters is that if someone is educated on a topic and really understands it, then they feel empowered and have the ability to help other people out,” says Gina Lucrezi, founder of Trail Sisters. “There’s a lot you can do if you’re an empowered person — it makes you feel confident and like you can take on anything. Giving people free access to help them grow their skill set and feel strong mentally, physically and emotionally can really set someone on their path to do anything in life.
“Our goal is to generate more educational content for the trail running community to enjoy and learn from, while also empowering them to participate and embrace opportunities,” Lucrezi adds. “Alongside and with the help from the Life Time team, we can grow the whole sport for women.
“We’ve worked with Gina and Trail Sisters for four years now on various projects, including women’s trail runs and more recently, Her Summit, both focused on empowerment for females in the outdoors,” says Michelle Duffy, associate marketing director for Life Time’s Off Road Events. “I know and see the impact that Trail Sisters has made in building confidence and education for women in this space, and am so excited to create a more formal partnership intended to enable Trail Sisters to continue their growth. Together we look forward to bringing more women into the sport of trail running,”
About Life Time – Healthy Way of Life
Life Time champions a healthy and happy life for its members across 144 destinations in 39 major markets in the U.S. and Canada. As the nation’s only Healthy Way of Life brand, Life Time delivers an unmatched athletic resort experience and provides a comprehensive healthy living, healthy aging and healthy entertainment experience that goes well beyond fitness to encompass the entire spectrum of daily life for individuals, couples and families of all ages. For more information visit www.lifetime.life.
About Trail Sisters
Trail Sisters was created to constitute for an equitable outdoors both recreationally and throughout the industry. Female voice and representation are essential in the future of the outdoors, impacting the role women play both on and off the trails. To break through long-standing barriers, Trail Sisters generates educational content and resources, while fostering an inspirational community that encourages self-advocacy and life-long friendships. For more information: visit www.TrailSisters.net.
