Erik Stanley

Erik founded Trail Roots in 2014 to help others not just to challenge themselves, but also to find connection with others in their community. He has coached hundreds of runners in the Austin area and across the country. Erik has trained dozens of Boston Qualifiers, 100 milers, as well as intro level runners learning to run for the first time.

Erik was an All-American runner for UT Austin 🤘. He then ran for Adidas Rogue Athletic Club, a post collegiate olympic development team in Austin. What he loves most about running is the ability to continually challenge himself in new ways.

Trail Roots Founder and Lead Coach

NCAA Highlights

University of Texas Letterman Athlete 2004-2008

NCAA All American - 1500

Big XII Champion

Penn Relays Champion 2006,2007,2008

4 X Mile School Record

Athletic Director's Honor Roll

Highlights

* Course Record

‘24 Tunnel Marathon 2:28 *

‘19 CIM Marathon 2:20:50

‘15 Leadville Marathon 4th

‘15 Statesman Capital 10k Champ

‘14 Austin Turkey Trot Champ

‘14 3M Half Marathon Champ

‘13 Bandera 100k 4th

‘12 Cactus Rose 50 Mi *

‘12 Big Sure Marathon Champ *

‘12 TX Relays 5k Champ

‘11, ‘12, ‘14 Bandera 25k Champ *

‘11 Angel’s Staircase 25k Champ *

‘07 NCAA All American

Personal Bests

400 - 49s - ‘04

800 - 1:52 - ‘07

1500 - 3:41 - ‘07

3k - 8:07 - ‘05

5k - 14:09 - ‘05

8k - 23:51 - ‘05

10k - 29:30 - ‘11

13.1 - 65:56 - ‘10

26.2 - 2:20:55 - ‘19

50mi trail - 7:14 - ‘12

100k trail - 9:21 - ‘13

100m trail - 21:16:09 - ‘24

Coaches

  • Kyle Jones

    Tues PM & Sat AM Run Coach

    UESCA Trail & Ultra Certified / BS in Kinesiology

    Kyle has a passion for the running community bringing high energy and stoke to his athletes, while helping them balance training with their daily lives and achieving their goals.

    With decades of experience as an athlete, Kyle has found the balance between pushing his physical, mental, and emotional capacity with compassion, recovery, and a growth mindset. He also deeply understands the power in each person’s journey. Kyle will help you focus on the big picture while building a sustainable practice that leads to success.

    As a former manager of a specialty run shop in Colorado, Kyle brings a wealth of knowledge about shoes, gear, nutrition and all things running, including training for races at elevation. As a master’s athlete, he firmly believes it’s never too late to achieve your dreams.

  • Jacque Stanley

    Tuesday AM Run Coach

    RRCA Certified

    My running experience runs the gamut. I started running late in life training for a marathon and was hooked. Due to injuries I moved into triathlons and completed a full Ironman. After that, I heard the call of the mountains and trail became my new obsession. I won the 50k at Big Bend, paced one of my closest friends for 40 miles of the FatDog120 in Canada and completed my own 50 miler. The yearn to see how fast I could run brought me back to the road, where I qualified for Boston, and now my marathon PR lives and resides at the Boston Marathon.

  • Clark Honeycutt

    Thur & Sat AM Run Coach

    UESCA Certified

    After growing up playing team sports in the bayou state, I took up running my freshman year at LSU as a way to stay active. What started as an opportunity to clear my head turned into something I would eventually incorporate into my career as a fitness professional. With a background in behavior analysis and an emphasis on cross training for runners, my goal is to teach others how running is far from one dimensional. Strength, mobility, core, and balance are vital in creating a healthy, efficient running athlete.

  • Amy Willis

    Wed Discovery Run Lead & Marketing

    NOLS WFA Certified

    I started trail running in 2015 and never looked back. I love being on the trail with friends and often go for big goals including Javelina Jundred, rim-to-rim-to-rim at the Grand Canyon, and 80 miles at Yosemite National Park. I also co-lead the Big Bend Runcation, which is my favorite trip of the year. Being a back of the pack runner, I enjoy helping new people feel comfortable on the trail while leading the Trail Discovery class. I want everyone to feel like they belong outside and within Trail Roots.

Pack Leaders

  • Matt Fletcher

    Likes’s a good whiskey and women’s running shorts (because he likes short shorts). Lots of BQ finishes and a 100 miler

  • Tucker Dona

    New York City!? Moved to ATX with his fam during Covid and found his people. Ironman who smokes brisket on the weekends.

  • Lise Plantier

    Our first of two French runners who loves a good croissant. Crushes mountain 100 milers like they’re nothin’

  • Christy Kuehn

    This lady is a workhorse! Bikes as much as she runs, and loves running in the dark. Travels parts of the summer in her Mini Winnie. BQ and Salmagundi CR holders.

  • Ryan Irelan

    Started skateboard lessons as an adult, and coaches his daughters middle school XC team. Converted his shed into an office, and ran his first 50k with TR and has a PR at CIM

  • Kelly Paulson

    Moved from CA, but we still love her. She found her crew immediately and hasn’t stopped talking since! Finished her first marathon at Tunnel in ‘23. Outgoing is an understatement and now serves as our onboarding team!

What are pack leaders?

Our goal is to create meaningful relationships through running. Our pack leaders help facilitate this by lending support to our new runners by serving as supports for the coaches. They keep tabs on runners at any given workout, and help keep our crews running together. Outside of the runs they help plan and coordinate social hours and events with the group as well.