Time to take a deep dive into the world of trail race directing and the state of ultrarunning. This is a really entertaining chat with John Lacroix, owner of Human Potential Race Series, based here in Colorado. I got to visit with John in his business’ very impressive HQ/studio. John first got into ultrarunning himself before later having friends twist his arm into becoming a race director. Less than 10 years after starting HPRS, he is directing one of the largest schedules of trail events in the country, and become one of the most prominent directors as well. He has also become one of the great analysts of the trail racing world, so his foresights into where the sport is headed are well-worth paying attention to. I would highly recommend reading his detailed and insightful blogs on the HPRS web site and listening to his HPRS podcast to stay abreast of current developments. Included among these is the often-controversial topic of diversity in the sport. I highly respect and support John’s stand on inclusiveness, despite the fact it has garnered him both praise and potshots. His championing of the LGBTQ+ community often overshadows his honoring as well of the Indigenous communities over which whose lands his races often tread upon. John unabashedly says that if you don’t like the way he thinks, there are plenty of other races in which you can run. Above all, John believes races should challenge the human mind and spirit, hence the name of his organization. You won’t find a mamby-pamby race on HPRS’ schedule, and they often have fun twists to attract runners of all abilities. John believes strongly in creating races “for the people,” so he places emphasis on valuing every runner equally, not focusing on the 5% who actually compete for spots on the podium. I have personally experienced his kindness on the trail when he ferried me off the course when the Last Call 50-miler in Fairplay, CO kicked my ass. Please enjoy this spirited chat!

Do you deal with bloating, cramping, or frequent porta-potty stops when running or racing?  Ixcela uses gut testing + a performance dietitian to understand why your symptoms are happening and what to do about it.  I’m working with one of their dietitians now, Shelby, and she’s AMAZING!  Find out if Ixcela is a good fit for you by scheduling a free 15-minute session. Go to ixcela.com/superman  If you like their services or products, use the code SUPERMAN10 to get a 10% discount.

John Lacroix
humanpotentialrunning.com
[email protected]
Facebook Human Potential Running Series
Instagram @hprunningseries
YouTube @humanpotentialrunningserie4275
Human Potential Running Series Podcast

Bill Stahl
[email protected]
Facebook Bill Stahl
Instagram @stahlor