Bonus Smiles (Hosted by Public Radio Runner)
Sep 12, 2026 · 15 min · 9 segments
Against the backdrop of the August 18th proposal to rescind the Roadless Rule, we’re looking through the lens of the Runners for Public Lands episode for this reflection. As George Plomarity says…
That was Bryant Baker, Director of Advocacy and Education at the nonprofit Runners for Public Lands.
The wildflower galore painting you get to see as you breathe in the crisp mountain air and catch a waft of the Christmas tree smell on the way up is exactly what the roadless rule protects.
Adam Kramer, CEO of Outdoor Alliance, a coalition of activity, specific members like RPL says, "...the roadless rule has long provided a practical balance for managing backcountry national forests." It protects these landscapes from development while still allowing for active management and a wide array of recreation, including human-powered and motorized opportunities.
Policies that successfully balance conservation, recreation, and management are rare.
Brian Baker says RPL's goal is to...
Empower runners to be able to help protect these public lands and expand access to these public lands and to nature for
Policy and coalition advocacy on a national and federal stage, regionally through events, and locally through their ambassadors and individual runners.
Executive Director Kat Baker shares how RPL organizes runners regionally.
One of the main ways we organize runners is by organizing race directors.
And we have a race director collective of nearly 400 race directors from across the country who comes together for a collective voice.
in advocating for policies that support running on public lands.
They are leaders in their community and they have an incredible opportunity to lead their events based on values that we believe in.
And those values are ecological and cultural values, sustainability of the environment and creating a sense of belonging for all people to come and enjoy the sport and connect with nature so that in experiencing a trail running race, you are leaving wanting to protect the place that you just ran.
Tim Tollefson, RD of Mammoth Trail Fest and the Mammoth 200, adds, It's an educational
opportunity.
opportunity to share that one of the core values of trail running is stewardship and is giving back to the place that we're using.
And as myself, as an example of someone that just took, took, took for so many years, I think it is just that opportunity that, Hey, let's let people know that as they're coming in or people that have been around that this is something that not only is a value that's important, it's super fun to get out and put your hands in the dirt and you'll never look at the trail the same way.
And so I think it's really just an opportunity for all of us to invite someone out or encourage them to reach out to a race and see how they might have a trail day or, you know, if there's a volunteer opportunity.
Just, I think, you know, meet people where they are and try to remind them that it's actually super fun and it should not be intimidating.
Whether it's bringing back the old-school volunteer or trail work as a prereq to towing the line, or meeting people where they're at, giving back to the trail community is a great way to engage individuals.
Claire Gallagher, Pro Runner and Environmental Studies PhD candidate, reminds us.
We decide as a community, we're all here as runners trying to get more people involved in this amazing sport that our culture is caring about the environment.
That was Bryant Baker, Director of Advocacy and Education at the nonprofit Runners for Public Lands.
The wildflower galore painting you get to see as you breathe in the crisp mountain air and catch a waft of the Christmas tree smell on the way up is exactly what the roadless rule protects.
Adam Kramer, CEO of Outdoor Alliance, a coalition of activity, specific members like RPL says, "...the roadless rule has long provided a practical balance for managing backcountry national forests." It protects these landscapes from development while still allowing for active management and a wide array of recreation, including human-powered and motorized opportunities.
Policies that successfully balance conservation, recreation, and management are rare.
Brian Baker says RPL's goal is to...
Empower runners to be able to help protect these public lands and expand access to these public lands and to nature for
Policy and coalition advocacy on a national and federal stage, regionally through events, and locally through their ambassadors and individual runners.
Executive Director Kat Baker shares how RPL organizes runners regionally.
One of the main ways we organize runners is by organizing race directors.
And we have a race director collective of nearly 400 race directors from across the country who comes together for a collective voice.
in advocating for policies that support running on public lands.
They are leaders in their community and they have an incredible opportunity to lead their events based on values that we believe in.
And those values are ecological and cultural values, sustainability of the environment and creating a sense of belonging for all people to come and enjoy the sport and connect with nature so that in experiencing a trail running race, you are leaving wanting to protect the place that you just ran.
Tim Tollefson, RD of Mammoth Trail Fest and the Mammoth 200, adds, It's an educational
opportunity.
opportunity to share that one of the core values of trail running is stewardship and is giving back to the place that we're using.
And as myself, as an example of someone that just took, took, took for so many years, I think it is just that opportunity that, Hey, let's let people know that as they're coming in or people that have been around that this is something that not only is a value that's important, it's super fun to get out and put your hands in the dirt and you'll never look at the trail the same way.
And so I think it's really just an opportunity for all of us to invite someone out or encourage them to reach out to a race and see how they might have a trail day or, you know, if there's a volunteer opportunity.
Just, I think, you know, meet people where they are and try to remind them that it's actually super fun and it should not be intimidating.
Whether it's bringing back the old-school volunteer or trail work as a prereq to towing the line, or meeting people where they're at, giving back to the trail community is a great way to engage individuals.
Claire Gallagher, Pro Runner and Environmental Studies PhD candidate, reminds us.
We decide as a community, we're all here as runners trying to get more people involved in this amazing sport that our culture is caring about the environment.
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