The US Trail Running Conference, presented by Marathon Printing, provided new information on its race director mentorship program. This initiative invites race directors to complete an online application ahead of the conference to apply to be a mentor, mentee or both. The initial cohort from its 2024 event comprised nine mentees and eight mentors.
Mentors and mentees were assessed by event organizers ahead of the conference, then assigned mentor or mentee roles based on responses to the online application. Both mentors and mentees were then introduced at the conference on the first day, and encouraged to meet up during the lunch break on day two, as well as to organize future meetings and begin to plan the content and timing of the support program.
Both mentors and mentees were given a race director mentorship program guide, created to serve as a framework for all program participants. This guide outlines suggested best practices for the USTRC race mentorship program. Guide content was generated from a recent survey completed by race directors and event organizers who expressed an interest in participating in this new program. It also contained input from experienced race directors who have been both a mentor and mentee in their career.
Mentors included in this program are:
- Peter Downing (Suffer Better)
- Dale Garland (Hardrock 100)
- Mandy Mullen (run.Windsor Race Series)
- Paul Jurasin (EmPathIze Innovation)
- Kimberly Aubuchon (Prickly Pear 50k)
- Steven Aderholt (Cocodona 250)
- Jamie Nott (Iron legs Mountain Races)
Mentees include:
- Ron Mackenzie (Eco Racing Northwest)
- Kim Levinsky (Sassquad Trail Running)
- Katie Wallace (Over the Rainbow Runs)
- Samuel Hartman (TINAR Race Series)
- Heidi Quinn (AKtive Events)
- Jamie Nott (Iron Legs Mountain Races)
- Mechella Lara (Chingona Race Productions)
- Aimee Kohler (The Running Kind)
Program members will meet on a quarterly video call to share individual progress and ideas to organically develop the program. It is also planned for as many program members as possible to attend the 2025 conference, and report back as a group to the other Conference participants. The program vision is to provide the necessary resources to sustain ongoing growth of the program membership.
The US Trail Running Conference will return to Tennessee, Oct. 15-17, at the University of Tennessee Conference Center in downtown Knoxville. Registration is open now for race directors and event organizers.
“I’m super honored to be contributing to the inaugural USTRC race director mentorship program,” said program member, Kimberly Aubuchon, “and believe it’s going to be a great outlet to share knowledge with, and help RD’s connect to resources and make a difference in their community via the sport of trail racing. I also look forward to listening, learning, and growing from RD’s as well.”
“I am excited to be a part of the first edition of the USTRC mentorship program, being able to collaborate with other RD’s is invaluable in becoming a better race director,” added program member, Jamie Nott. “It does not matter if this is the first year of being a race director or the twentieth, there is always something to share and learn.”
“As an RD in Alaska, this mentorship program is an exciting way to connect with other RD’s to learn more about what is working for them and what trends or patterns they are seeing with their races and participants,” said Heidi Quinn, another program member. “We can often feel a bit out of the loop up here so any opportunity we have to network and collaborate with others in the industry, I consider a huge win.”
“Mentorship is a powerful tool that contributes greatly to individual successes and growth,” added ATRA executive director, Nancy Hobbs. “By offering the mentorship/mentee pairing, US Trail Running Conference organizers have filled a need in the race director space which will reap rewards for the participants in the program, and will build community and enhance our sport.”
“We are very excited to have initiated this innovative and important program for race directors and event organizers,” said Terry Chiplin, event director. “The Conference has had informal mentorship relationships develop in recent years, and we are thrilled that introducing a formal program has been so well received by these program participants. We heard from many race directors that they often feel like they are operating in a vacuum, and this program was designed to break through the isolation and create a connected community of race directors and event organizers. We look forward to maintaining momentum and growing this program to include more race directors and event organizers as word spreads. We also look forward to hearing updates from our program members in Knoxville as part of an exciting and inspiring event in October 2025.”
