Hi there,
My name is Freddie Henttonen and I’m delighted to be your host for this week’s For Wild Places newsletter. First of all, thank you for being interested in the state of trail running and the future of our wild places. We do not take your attention for granted and want you to feel this is a space for contribution and collaboration, but also a place to simply enjoy a moment of connection to this magical sport of ours.
I stopped being the fastest 100m runner in 4th or 5th grade. Instead, I’ve been gently pushing the finish-line further away until somewhere along the trail, running became just as much about finding stillness as gaining motion.
Today, the idea of stillness in motion has evolved into a philosophy that informs how I approach most things in my life. I thank trail running for; friendships, community, belonging, companionship, and an ever-increasing curiosity for the connection between body and mind… and of course, the usual gifts of blue toes, oozie blisters, unmentionable chafing and a deep expertise in how to properly go about your business in nature.
Most of all, trail running is my simplest expression of fundamental gratitude for the wild and natural places I choose to spend my time in, and with it comes the urgent awareness that we can no longer take these places for granted.
As runners, I believe we have an undeniable opportunity to create a stronger connection between our love for running and the places we love running on that will benefit, not only our own health and wellbeing, but that of the world at large.
I’m looking forward to putting one foot in front of the other with all of you for a long time to come.
Don’t be a stranger.
Freddie
Follow Freddie at @freddiehenttonen
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