Anybody who has run on the paths round Salt Lake Metropolis, Utah, is aware of that the air high quality isn’t at all times the very best.

The sprawling metropolis stretches for over 80 miles from the cities of Ogden on the north finish to Provo on the south. Whereas the inhabitants of 1.2 million folks is small in comparison with different U.S. cities, the formidable Wasatch Mountain Vary to the east creates an inversion the place polluted air will get trapped within the valley to the west, wherein town lies.

This offers Salt Lake Metropolis the unlucky award of getting the worst air high quality within the nation and the 18th worst on this planet. That kind of air is disagreeable at greatest, and harmful for susceptible teams at worst, and the numerous path working group within the space should ascend excessive into the peaks to get a whiff of contemporary air and practice safely.

A type of runners, Jared Campbell, typically does his coaching for races and runs just like the Barkley Marathons, Nolan’s 14, and extra on Grandeur Peak, one of the vital fashionable high-vert trails round Salt Lake Metropolis. Campbell was horrified by each the quantity of air air pollution, and the way little public involvement there was to vary it.

A view from the highest of Grandeur Peak above Salt Lake Metropolis, Utah, exhibiting the air pollution within the valley under. Photograph: iRunFar/Meghan Hicks

So, a few decade in the past, Campbell created a fundraising race on Grandeur Peak referred to as Working Up For Air (RUFA), which ultimately grew right into a multi-event sequence referred to as the Up For Air Sequence, to lift consciousness about air high quality points and lift cash for organizations working to vary it.

For the primary few years, it was simply Campbell and pals, trudging by the snow, postholing up and down the mountain for enjoyable, and elevating a bit of cash on the way in which. “The fundraising began out small,” stated Campbell. “It was nearly generally like a dare from pals or donors to see what number of laps their runner may get in.”

However in 2016, Campbell determined to broaden the enjoyable run right into a full-fledged race, getting permits, official timing, charging a nominal entry charge, and empowering runners to lift cash themselves — permitting them to be lively contributors within the trigger for clear air. Today, every lap of the Grandeur Peak course is roughly 6.2 miles, climbing 2,700 ft from the Mill Creek Trailhead to the height and again down — as many instances as potential in both six hours, 12 hours, or 24 hours.

On the time of their registration, runners are linked to Give Signup, the place the registration charges, cash raised by runners, and donations from greater organizations are coalesced into one place, and the cash is given on to the chosen clean-air particular charities of Breathe Utah and Utah Clear Vitality.

Runners make their method up Mount Sentinel in the course of the 2022 Working Up for Air occasion in Missoula, Montana. Photograph: Anastasia Wilde

The occasion turned so fashionable that as of 2022, the Up For Air Sequence now has 5 working occasions throughout three states: Grandeur Peak, Malans Peak, and Rock Canyon in Utah; Mount Sentinel in Missoula, Montana; and Staunton Rocks in Pine, Colorado. Every occasion has six-, 12-, and 24-hour race choices: how a lot do you wish to climb, and the way a lot do you wish to fundraise? The Missoula occasion raises cash for Local weather Sensible Missoula, and the Colorado race for Defend Our Winters and Conservation Colorado.

“We’ve plans to proceed increasing the sequence,” stated Campbell. “I’ve already obtained individuals who’d actually wish to see this race format in Washington and California. It is smart to maintain issues native, and the charities they help native to assist that group.”

The format of the Up For Air Sequence was so fashionable, that native climbers wished in as properly: so Climbing Up For Air (CUFA) was born across the identical mannequin. Some actually devoted athletes would even do a six- or 12-hour variations of RUFA in Salt Lake Metropolis, after which go over to The Entrance Climbing Membership to climb for six or 12 hours as properly.

Runners strap on spikes on Grandeur Peak in the course of the 2018 Working Up For Air occasion. Photograph: Andrew Burr

“What’s actually cool about this race sequence, isn’t just the funds which might be raised, however the public consciousness,” stated Campbell. “It’s cool to see how a lot it’s shifted … corporations like Black Diamond and Patagonia supporting, however [also runners] speaking to their households and pals … that’s a strong factor, beginning a dialog.”

It’s not solely Campbell who sees this dialog as a very powerful component of the race: multiyear participant and two-time winner of the 24-hour race in Salt Lake Metropolis, Katie Brown, agrees.

“I really feel like this format must be a extra widespread factor amongst path runners. We’ve a objective. It’s a particularly particular race,” stated Brown, who has lived within the Salt Lake Metropolis space for over a decade.

“We’re all working collectively for a trigger, one which we’re intimately conscious of — we will see and really feel the air high quality very viscerally right here. Having the ability to increase cash towards efforts which might be serving to to carry cleaner air and higher laws to the state is such an exquisite motivator.”

Katie Brown after getting second place on the 2022 Working Up for Air 24-Hour Race on Grandeur Peak in Utah. Photograph: Mike McMonagle

Brown not solely runs within the mountains surrounding town, however is an avid skier and climber as properly, and feels the group surrounding the race makes it the very best one round. Brown not solely made connections along with her local people on the race, but additionally met David Mitchell, who’s now her husband, whereas coaching for her second 12 months of the race in 2019.

Although he couldn’t take part that 12 months — paradoxically twisting his ankle on the very run the place they met — Brown and Mitchell got here collectively the following 12 months to each win in 2020: Brown with 11 laps, and Mitchell with 13.

“Along with elevating funds … you simply really feel such as you’re on this big social gathering working towards a ginormous objective. You get folks within the six- and 12-hour races with a lot vitality, revitalizing you the entire method,” stated Brown. “It feels actually good and fulfilling to make this place higher and … to place your cash the place your mouth is.”

iRunFar’s personal Managing Editor Meghan Hicks has participated within the Salt Lake Metropolis Working Up For Air occasion a few instances and talks concerning the sequence’ place within the sport:

“With out our pure environments, we don’t have path working. For a very long time, we path runners — myself included — took our trails without any consideration. I assumed they’d at all times be there for us. Now, each wild place is threatened by one thing — air, water, and noise air pollution; growth encroachment; local weather change; a lot extra.

“Our motion and advocacy for wild locations must turn into folded into the core of our sport, and the Up For Air Sequence does exactly this. It’s superior that Jared’s mannequin is rising as a result of our surroundings — and sport — want it.”

Name for Feedback

• Have you ever ever participated within the Up For Air Sequence?
• Would you be keen to carry this occasion or one thing prefer it to your personal group to assist increase consciousness of and cash for an area environmental subject?
• Are you able to share a narrative of one other occasion close to you appearing on this identical idea of binding recreation and advocacy?

Runners and volunteers converge on the help station on the 2018 Working Up For Air occasion on Grandeur Peak in Utah. Photograph: Andrew Burr