Trail Sisters emerged almost a decade ago from a simple idea: to create a welcoming and empowering community for women in trail running. Over the past nine years, the organization has grown exponentially, evolving from a small blog and grassroots effort into a globally recognized movement and platform offering community events, retreats, best practices for races, and essential resources. Below is a timeline highlighting major events, projects, and milestones.
Founder Gina Lucrezi launches TrailSisters.net , an online crowd-sourced journal dedicated to articles written for and by women trail runners and hikers.Trail Sisters mission is to grow women's participation and opportunities through inspiration, education, and empowerment.
Trail Sisters Trucker Hats were the first piece of merchandise to hit the trails. The hats signled fellow Trail Sisters as well as bringing awaresness to the journal and community. Shirts and BUFFs followed in the fall.
Gina traveled to the PNW camping out of her XTERRA for three weeks while hosting presentations about Trail Sisters and trail running education at local running stores. The best way to inspire, educate, and empower was by meeting women face to face, sharing in stories, and joining them for a run.
This photo is from The Pulse Running and Walking in Median, Idaho. Trail Sisters first ever real retail visit.
The PNW tour was a hit, so Gina and her partner Justin purchased a used van and built it out so that they could travel around the country hosting Trail Sisters trail running presentations and join in local fun runs. The van was much more comfortable than the XTERRA.
Gina and Justin begin their seven month tour traveling around North America sponsored by Vasque, visiting 20 local running stores. The tour began by exploring the Southeast with a kickoff at the Nashville Running Company in TN, then to the Northwest visiting Seattle, WA, crossing into British Columbia for stops in Vancouver and Squamish, and then dropping South to San Diego, CA making visits all along the west coast.
Trail Sisters hosts its first women's panel event at the Hardrock Hundred Endurance Run. This event was created to celebrate women's participation in the Hardrock 100 with the intent to encourage more women to participate in the race (as well as other 100 mile races). This was a novel event at the time. July 2026 will mark the 8th Annual Women of the Hardrock 100 Panel Event.
Trail Sisters goes to China! Tour sponsor Vasque takes Gina and Justin to Hangzhou, Shanghai, and Beijing to speak about women's trail running and trail running products.
Team Trail Sisters was created for women who champion the Trail Sisters mission and who want to represent the Trail Sisters brand and community. Limited quantities of Team Kits were produced per year twice per year. After COVID, the Team shifted to a membership model, available anytime throughout the year, providing Team specific gear with various discounts and perks.
The first Women of WSER event was held in 2018 and quickly became one of the most popular pre-WSER events. 2026 will be the 8th Annual Women of WSER Panel event. The panel features a diverse set of women athletes highlighting their journey, background, and why running WSER is meaningful to them.
Trail Sisters began hosting its signature, multi-day women's-only retreats. These retreats are designed for all-abilities and experience levels. The retreats foster camaraderie, break down barriers, instruct technique, and help build confidence on and off the trail. Trail Sisters has hosted 14 retreats to date, locations include Boulder, CO, North Conway, NH, and Chattanooga, TN.
After a successful collegiate career that culminated with 10 All-American honors and a national championship in the 1500 meter, Gina turned to trail and ultra running before parlaying her passion into creating Trail Sisters.
Trail Sisters Local Groups were established to create IRL connectivity, support, and community. Today Trail Sisters has approximately 150 volunteer-led local groups across the USA and Canada. In 2025 Local Groups hosted over 2,700 free events! Fun fact: Iowa City, IA was the first official local group!
Recognizing the need for specialized female coaching, Trail Sisters created a free online directory connecting runners with qualified female coaches. This resource promotes women and their profession in the sport and helps runners find specialized guidance. In 2025 the directory was expanded to include: therapists, chiropractors, massage therapists, psychologists, and more.
In celebration of the recently established Trail Sisters Local Groups, Merrell sponsored a spring and fall tour for Gina and Justin to visit with 15 local groups across the USA. The spring route covered the Midwest up into the Northeast, with the fall tour focusing on Mountain region and PNW. The touring experience allowed Gina and Justin to better engage with the groups, and to experience local run culture and community impact.
The Trail Sisters Approved Standards were a huge step in creating a more equitable race day experience for women. The five standards were thoughtfully crafted so that cost and logistics remained attainable for the race organization, while making a noticeable and appreciated impact for women race participants.
Trail Sisters created this annual panel to celebrate and bring awareness to the women runners of the Leadville Trail 100 Run (The Race Across The Sky). Like the Women of Hardrock and Western States Panels, this panel highlights a diverse set of female athletes and their journey to the start line of one of the toughest 100-mile races in the world.
The Trail Sisters x Merrell shoe collaboration was a celebration of the strength in sisterhood. Custom graphics were provided by artist Sarah Uhl, a friend of Gina's and supporter of the TS mission. The design included printed quotes from Gina in the TPU overlay, Trail Sisters teal brand color-way, a beloved Colorado mountain range, and TS logo inserts throughout.
Trail Sisters Launches the Trail Sisters Communities Platform. This is the home to the Trail Sisters Local Groups where members can join groups, see their local group's events and connect with other Trail Sisters!
Trail Sisters launches the iOS and Android Apps for the Trail Sisters Communities Platform. The mobile apps provide on device notifications for new group events and creates more opportunity for connection to the Local Groups!
Shared values of equity and opportunity along with an aligned community focus have made for a productive and successful partnership. HOKA’s support has provided Trail Sisters the ability to create programs, events, and resources that champion women in trail running. These include: Local Group Events, Run with Her Retreats, Women of WSER Panel, content resources, trail work events, and a new Leadership Summit. We're excited to continue our six year partnership with HOKA.
Trail Sisters hosted its first signature event in Buena Vista, Colorado. The race (initially a half marathon, later adding a 10K in 2024) was designed to foster camaraderie, eliminate intimidating barriers, support first-timers and experienced runners, with a celebratory atmosphere for female participants of all abilities.
Gina Lucrezi took over as the Race Director of the iconic Lake Sonoma 50 Mile ultramarathon, and added a new marathon distance to weekend event. This move integrated Trail Sisters' core values of community and equity, while creating additional opportunity and growth into major, established race event.
Gina Lucrezi took over as the Race Director for the iconic Lake Sonoma 50 Mile ultramarathon (for the 2022 event). This move integrated Trail Sisters' core values of inclusion, equality, and diversity into a major, established race.
Trail Sisters expanded its partnership with Life Time and the Leadville Race Series by offering training runs followed by trail technique workshops. These events provided trail time on feet, valuable educational elements, and social opportunities to speak to fellow runners interested in the LT race series. Skratch Labs Cafe hosts Boulder events, and provides nutrition for runners for the LT 100 on-course events.
Firstly, congratulations on making it to the end of the timeline! As you’ve noticed, we’ve been pretty busy the past nine years. With that said, 2025 was a year we spent focusing and enhancing the events and projects that already exist in the Trail Sisters ecosystem.
To date we host per year:
In addition we also maintain the journal, Team Trail Sisters, business directory, store, and local group needs.
2025 was a great year to reflect on what we’ve been doing, while preparing for where we want to go in 2026 and beyond.
Dearest Trail Sister,
It almost feels surreal to be writing this note, as I didn’t envision being in this position 10 years ago. To be honest, I’m not sure what I envisioned for the future 10 years ago, but what I was certain of was that the landscape for women in trail running needed to change.
When I launched TrailSisters.net highlighting women’s voice and perspective in trail running, I was unsure of the impact it would make, the ripple effect it would have, or the amount of support it would receive. My unsureness sounds a bit silly now, but like many, my confidence was wavering on whether I had the chops to make a difference.
But as Trail Sisters has grown and expanded over the years, so have I. I credit both to the exceptional support from the entire Trail Sisters community. From local group leaders, team members, mentors, and contributors, to partnered brands and organizations, anyone who has purchased a trucker hat, joined in a local group run, or participated in a Trail Sisters Approved race. We share in a collective success, and one that enriches each of us in our personal journey.
In these 10 years Trail Sisters has progressed from an online journal, to a resource center, an IRL community with local groups, to a race organization. Trail Sisters has hosted grant programs for childcare, adventures, and coaching, traveled across North America (multiple times) to instruct trail running basics and education, created a community Team, sold-out Run with Her Retreats, and established the widely recognized and accepted Trail Sisters Approved Standards. And that’s just scratching the surface.
The once “passion project” has morphed into a movement that has forever changed the sport. Restructuring opportunity, redefining ability, and reaffirming women’s place on the trails.
Join me in celebrating Trail Sisters 10th Year Anniversary in 2026. It is a milestone we’ve achieved together, and proof that you can make a difference when you take a bet on yourself.
Happy New Year & Anniversary
Gina
Trail Sisters would not be where it is today without the support of our partners. Throughout the past 10 years we’ve been privileged to work with many of the leading and up-and-coming brands in the outdoor industry.
Like Trail Sisters, these brands value the importance of equity and opportunity. We greatly appreciate the shared synergy in the efforts and actions Trail Sisters has been able to put in motion for our collective goals.
