Member Spotlight: Ed Remaley

Ed Remaley has been a long-time member and tribe leader with Trail Roots. He has earned the loving nickname “trail dad” because he consistently shows up to all the workouts and can be found guiding new trail runners, making sure they don’t get lost. He’s a person you want as a friend and as a trail buddy. Ed is no stranger to road and trail races, he’s competed in dozens of races, from 1mile to 50k since 2004 and has a wealth of knowledge in this sport and the outdoors. He is also certified in Wilderness First Aid and working towards Wilderness First Responder certification. We are so happy that he is a part of our community and wanted to ask him a few questions about his journey with running and Trail Roots.

What inspired you to start running and why did you join Trail Roots?

I started running for a change of pace (no pun intended) from cycling, which I had been doing for about 7 years, but had grown bored with, so I joined a Run Tex U. (who remembers them???) half marathon training group and never went back to the bike. Fast forward about 10 years. I had been running and training solo for a while and kept seeing Erik out and about. We knew each other from his time at Rogue and his awesome Bigfoot Wallace Race Series (ask him about it sometime). Each time I saw him he would invite me to come run with his group, but I didn’t feel like I really wanted to go back to running with a large group. Eventually I decided I wanted to learn more than the one or two trails I knew and was tired of running alone. From my first Tuesday run at the Austin High School track I knew I had found my people.

What’s your favorite post-run snack/meal?

Breakfast: tacos and coffee. Any other time: tacos and beer.

What’s your dream run?

The next one on my schedule! I just love to run, so whether it’s an easy day around the neighborhood or a trip to pace someone in some gorgeous location, I think every one of them is special.  I get injured often enough that I try not to take any of them for granted.  Even those miserably hot runs in the summer.

Do you have a race ritual? Do you have a race mantra? 

I’m not sure if it is a ritual or not, but I always take a shower before a race, if I can.  I know it’s just a mental thing, but I feel like I run better.  Weird, I know.  I guess if I had a race mantra it would be “relentless forward progress”, because that’s really what it is all about.  Whether you are having a PR day or riding at the back of the struggle bus, just keep going. The only way to the finish line is forward.

What’s your favorite trail with Trail Roots?

That’s like asking me which one of my children is my favorite! But if you forced me to pick, I would have to say there are two: Walnut Creek in Austin, since I know it back and forth and have been riding and running out there since 1997, and West Contrabando, out in Big Bend State Park.  Trail Roots doesn’t get to run there often, but it is such a harsh and starkly beautiful place that it’s hard not to fall in love. (Insert advertisement for the Trail Roots Big Bend trip, April 8-11, 2021) 

You’ve been quite consistent this past year, even with the 5:30am workouts. How have you motivated yourself to keep training during 2020 and now the craziness of 2021?

With all of the chaos of 2020 and 2021, it feels like the routine of workouts and trail runs has given me some normalcy, and a feeling that everything will be ok if we just keep going (see race mantra above). Also, working from home can feel a little lonely and isolated, so getting out 4-5 days a week and seeing people really helps. Socializing face to face at 5:30am is better than a Zoom meeting any day.

 As a Koda, how have you helped motivate your tribe?

Are you kidding?!? The tribe keeps ME motivated! There is no way I could force myself out of bed for a 7:00am run every Saturday and Sunday without knowing that they might be there waiting for me. It’s the ultimate accountability exercise. I can only hope that I have given back to my tribe some of what they have given me, because they inspire me every day, pushing through workouts, fighting through injuries, stepping up in race distances - the Hot Tamales are the best tribe, and no one can convince me otherwise.

We know you’ve had some challenges getting to the Zion Ultra 100k, can you share some of these challenges with us and how you’ve dealt with the setbacks?

This question was written before I had made the decision, but I just withdrew from Zion 100k due to injury, after having the race canceled on me last year due to Covid. It was a tough decision, but it didn’t make sense to train through the injury and end up having a terrible day or injuring myself worse. If 2020 showed me anything, it’s that there’s always next year. I have gone through injuries while training for a race before (too often, unfortunately), so I just try to keep an even keel, and know that the race will be there next year. If not, there are hundreds of other awesome races out there, and I don’t want to overlook the hours of training with my Trail Roots family by focusing on not being able to run some race that I DEFINITELY wasn’t going to win. It is cliché, but you have to enjoy the journey as much or more than the destination.

“Find the community of people that inspire you, support you, and enrich your life, wherever they may be.”

You recently ran a marathon around Lake Georgetown and then an unsupported 50k at Big Bend State Park, all for fun. What motivates you to take on these big challenges that most people can’t even fathom?

You have to do some things in life that scare you, because pushing through that doubt and fear just makes you stronger for the next challenge that life throws at you. Plus, these types of activities are great excuses for more tacos and beer.

 What advice would you give people who are new to trail running and want to join a group?

Find the community of people that inspire you, support you, and enrich your life, wherever they may be.