Education, Service, and Running: Join Camp & Run 2024 in Colorado

Camp & Run 2024 gives participants the chance to engage deeply with the Leadville area and give back to the community.

By on May 15, 2024 | Comments

Over the past several decades, thousands of athletes have visited Leadville, Colorado, to run in the iconic town and its surrounding public lands. Now, runners have the opportunity to learn about and give back to the landscape and its community with the new Camp & Run 2024 event.

Scheduled from Friday, June 21, through Sunday, June 23, 2024, participants will run and play in the area, learn about its history, and actively participate in its preservation. Learn more and register for Camp & Run 2024 now!

Camp and Run 2024 - trailwork participants at previous event

Participants in Camp & Run events have the chance to help with service projects. Photo: Bryant Baker

Organized by the nonprofit Runners for Public Lands, in collaboration with Cloud City Conservation Center, Friends of Lake County, and the Lake County Tourism Panel, the event aims to involve participants in the landscape and community through education and activities that will foster deeper relationships between runners and the area. Whether you’re looking to learn more about the history of Leadville or help with a cleanup project, you’ll have the chance to join others with similar goals for a long weekend in the historic and beautiful area.

Lake County Tourism Director Adam Ducharme said, “We’re excited to offer a diverse range of activities that not only showcase the natural beauty of Leadville but also allow participants to make a tangible difference in our community.”

The three-day event will allow participants to enjoy the natural beauty of the surrounding mountains while actively working on projects to improve the area. According to Ducharme, “Camp & Run 2024 is about more than just running — it’s about coming together to protect and preserve the places we love. It is a prime example of regenerative tourism efforts that are critical to our mission as a destination.”

Leadville area trails

Runners will have the chance to experience Leadville, Colorado, area trails during the Camp & Run 2024 event. Photo: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi

Throughout the weekend, participants can learn from local experts, contribute to service projects, and spend time with other runners and outdoor enthusiasts. With chances to run with others or alone and group lunches and dinners every day, there’s something for everyone. At the end of each day, runners will have time to swap stories with others around a campfire.

Everyone who loves Leadville has a different and personal reason for being drawn to the area. Regardless of our specific motivations, getting more involved and giving back to the places we love is always good.

Executive Director of Runners for Public Lands Kathleen Baker said, “We’re thrilled to host Camp & Run 2024, bringing together passionate individuals who share a commitment to environmental stewardship and community engagement.”

You can register for Camp & Run 2024 and contact Runners for Public Lands to learn more.

Call for Comments

  • Have you had the chance to visit Leadville and run in the area?
  • How do you give back to the places you love?
Sunset in Leadville area

It’s easy to fall in love with the Leadville, Colorado, area. Photo: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi

Eszter Horanyi

Eszter Horanyi identifies as a Runner Under Duress, in that she’ll run if it gets her deep into the mountains or canyons faster than walking would, but she’ll most likely complain about it. A retired long-distance bike racer, she gave ultra foot racing a go and finished the Ouray 100 in 2017, but ultimately decided that she prefers a slower pace of life of taking photos during long days in the mountains and smelling the flowers while being outside for as many hours of the day as possible. Eszter will take any opportunity to go adventuring in the mountains or desert by foot, bike, or boat, and has lived the digital nomad lifestyle throughout the west for the past seven years.