I’m not saying I will, but IF I ever attempt to run 100 miles without stopping, I think it’s going to be at the Vermont 100.
Recently, I had the pleasure of chatting with Race Director, running champion, award-winning coach, and guide for blind runners, Amy Rusiecki, about the complexity of her sport and the positive impact she’s been able to make in the trail and ultra community.
Amy is a tireless athlete, advocate, and exemplary Pioneer and Rope Teammate. She holds down a full-time job, races up and down the East Coast, mentors high school, college, and adult runners, and somehow has reserves in her tank to direct 4 major races every year — where she thoughtfully tries to expand accessibility and address inclusion issues.
Amy has successfully petitioned for the Vermont 100 to be the first ultra in the country to recognize athletes with disabilities in their own division; she has helped fundraise nearly $1,000,000 for Vermont Adaptive; she has created non-binary divisions in all of her events, and she has graciously led discussions nationwide about how to better manage gender equality in the race industry.
What I love most, though, is that Amy doesn’t claim to have all of the answers. She is simply getting valuable conversations started, and I think there’s something beautiful and courageous about that kind of work. Change cannot happen without someone like Amy willing to stick their neck out first.
Episode 126 of our No Barriers Podcast is available on our show page (https://nobarriersusa.org/…/interview-with…/everywhere) and everywhere you get your podcasts. Feel free to let me know what you think in the comments — or if you have ideas how Amy and other RDs can continue to close the gaps. Thanks to our sponsor Winnebago for making this one possible.
