Ep.26 - Trail Parties, Race Directing, and Mental Health
Bob and Dina huddle with Kim Levinsky, full time Race Director for Sassquad Trail Running based out of northern New Jersey. Kim is also an ultrarunner who has been preparing for the Tahoe 200 in June 2022 which was rescheduled from September 2021 due to the wildfires that took place in the area. In this episode, she shares her insights for creating her own career in Race Directing, the growth of her trail running series, and the community aspects that bring people together. She also shares more about her own training for the Tahoe 200 and coming forward with her experiences of depression.
We also chat about:
The origin story for Kim starting the Sassquad Trail Running series in New Jersey
The many draws of trail and ultrarunning, including the community vibe and laid back spirit
Enhancements Kim has made to the Sassquad aid station offerings to serve more runners
The trail running scene in New Jersey and how Kim welcomes all peoples of all abilities
Her preparation for the Tahoe 200 race
The role of the non-profit Bigger Than the Trail in helping with mental health
The realization that we can’t outrun depression
Follow Kim Levinsky on IG and FB at @sassquadtrailrunning and her YouTube channel (Kim Levinsky) to see her super fun Vlogs. Check out Sassquad Trail Running to sign up for one of their awesome trail parties! You also gotta check out Kim’s custom woodworking on Etsy.
Learn more about Bigger than the Trail and please consider making a donation through Kim’s fundraising link.
More about Kim:
Kim Levinsky is an ultrarunner in northern New Jersey and is the full-time race director for Sassquad Trail Running. After playing collegiate softball and basketball at Gordon College in Massachusetts from 2006-2010, Kim went on to complete her Master's of Education degree while coaching softball at Cedarville University in Ohio from 2010-2016. Kim moved back to New Jersey and launched her own business in 2017. With the enthusiastic support of the local trail running community, Sassquad Trail Running was founded and over 100 runners and hikers from 9 different states came out to the first event. Since that first trail party in January of 2018, Kim has race-directed 35 events and continues to expand the series north into New York state. Along with race-directing, Kim does custom woodworking at the Squatch Shop and creates wood art for trail runners and hikers around the country (including custom wood medals for events). Kim is currently training for the Tahoe 200 mile trail race in June of 2022. She enjoys solo runventures as well as leading group runs around the tri-state area for her local trail community. Several of the runventures that she has created are now published routes on FastestKnownTime.com, including a gnarly 100 mile mountain loop called "The Hudson Highlands Hell No Hell Hole Hundo". Kim enjoys giving back to the trail community by volunteering at local races, trail clean-up days and serving as a board member for the South Mountain Conservancy and member of the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference.
Listen to full episode :