born the running kind
born the running kind
words x
aimee kohler
photos x
steve maggio, devon walker
The Running Kind was born from a place of yearning for a better connection to the grounds we run on. As runners, more specifically, trail runners, we often utilize trails in nature with little to no understanding of our individual impact on those lands. When The Running Kind was founded in 2022, we set out to change that.
The Running Kind is a Climate Neutral organization hosting running events in the Northeast with a mission to move trail running towards carbon neutrality. The promotion of sustainable movement is intertwined in every element of what we do.
As an organization we are committed to:
Offsetting runner transportation
Providing access to resources such as sustainable brands, products & methodologies
Using reusable materials for race items like course markings & bibs
Offering exclusively vegan aid stations
Providing proper waste management including recycling, composting & terracycling
Offering recycled finisher awards
Giving runners the choice to run sustainably
The Running Kind is a Climate Neutral organization hosting running events in the Northeast with a mission to move trail running towards carbon neutrality. The promotion of sustainable movement is intertwined in every element of what we do.
As an organization we are committed to:
Offsetting runner transportation
Providing access to resources such as sustainable brands, products & methodologies
Using reusable materials for race items like course markings & bibs
Offering exclusively vegan aid stations
Providing proper waste management including recycling, composting & terracycling
Offering recycled finisher awards
Giving runners the choice to run sustainably
we experience a deeper connection to nature through trail running and the running kind aims to bring that to the forefront of the conversation as the sport evolves.
As humans we are born to move.
As trail runners we are nature.
Each of us is born The Running Kind.
Putting the power in your hands… and feet.
As I became more embedded in the running scene, I was often disturbed by the lack of dedication to sustainability as a critical component to event management. Over the course of many years working in event operations and running races around the country, I noticed massive amounts of waste in addition to little care for the ecosystems we were disturbing.
As trail runners we are nature.
Each of us is born The Running Kind.
Putting the power in your hands… and feet.
As I became more embedded in the running scene, I was often disturbed by the lack of dedication to sustainability as a critical component to event management. Over the course of many years working in event operations and running races around the country, I noticed massive amounts of waste in addition to little care for the ecosystems we were disturbing.
But, they were cupless…
So they’re sustainable right?
Turns out, others felt that hypocrisy too.
Though at the time I felt like a small fish in a very large pond, I knew the power was in my hands to ignite change.
It was a dream for me to merge the grit and purity of trail running with the desire to protect and fight for the planet. Through The Running Kind these two things that I had become so passionate about became one. I saw a glimpse of hope for what races could be.
So they’re sustainable right?
Turns out, others felt that hypocrisy too.
Though at the time I felt like a small fish in a very large pond, I knew the power was in my hands to ignite change.
It was a dream for me to merge the grit and purity of trail running with the desire to protect and fight for the planet. Through The Running Kind these two things that I had become so passionate about became one. I saw a glimpse of hope for what races could be.
in its infancy, a community rallied around the running kind and that initial support gave me the confidence to dive head first into developing the running kind movement and building my dream race, climb it for climate.
climb it for climate: where sustainability meets mountain running.
Many things draw us to running – for me, it’s the meditative feeling I get when pushing my limits in the mountains. It’s the feeling of driving hard to get to the top of a burly climb, cruising on some sweet singletrack, and flowing over rocks and roots with ease. These moments make me feel at one with nature, and that connection, in turn, helps me recognize I need to fight to protect it. This feeling called me to create a race with that connection at its core.
The search wasn’t long. I found a ski resort in the heart of the Catskill High Peaks that touched some of the purest trails to be found in the backcountry of the Northeast. So, I started testing the options for what I could build that would give runners both a challenging and euphoric experience. Traversing 15 miles in the Catskills with a combination of ski slopes, service roads and gorgeous singletrack made for what I perceived as the perfect course. Runners that toe the line embrace over 5,000 feet of climbing and descending, challenging amateur and professional runners alike.
The search wasn’t long. I found a ski resort in the heart of the Catskill High Peaks that touched some of the purest trails to be found in the backcountry of the Northeast. So, I started testing the options for what I could build that would give runners both a challenging and euphoric experience. Traversing 15 miles in the Catskills with a combination of ski slopes, service roads and gorgeous singletrack made for what I perceived as the perfect course. Runners that toe the line embrace over 5,000 feet of climbing and descending, challenging amateur and professional runners alike.
In 2023, I ventured up to the mountains with a team and put on Climb It For Climate for the first time. We combined the purity of Northeast mountain running with sustainability in every element of event operations. In addition to all of the sustainable logistical elements and setting out to achieve Climate Neutrality, we also developed a strong partnership with The Catskill Center. Proceeds from this event each year are donated to The Catskill Center, whose mission is to protect the Catskills through advocacy, education, land protection and community engagement. We believe that hosting this event and allowing runners a safe space to explore their limits through the beauty of the Catskills is one of many ways to engage them in future land protection and advocacy.
Returning to Belleayre Resort for another year in 2024 and now again in 2025 was a no-brainer. Climb It For Climate will return as our most rugged event with the most competitive field we have ever seen. Through every twist and turn on the trails of the Catskill Mountains, we know this race will continue to leave runners humbled by the nature they face.
The running kind is built on connection.
Connection to nature.
Connection with one another.
Come see for yourself.
8.10.2025
learn more about the running kind.
register for the race.
Returning to Belleayre Resort for another year in 2024 and now again in 2025 was a no-brainer. Climb It For Climate will return as our most rugged event with the most competitive field we have ever seen. Through every twist and turn on the trails of the Catskill Mountains, we know this race will continue to leave runners humbled by the nature they face.
The running kind is built on connection.
Connection to nature.
Connection with one another.
Come see for yourself.
8.10.2025
learn more about the running kind.
register for the race.
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