Gina Lucrezi is no stranger to many in the trail running community, as a long-time runner and founder of the organization Trail Sisters, which has been and continues to be instrumental in supporting women on the trails, and ensuring that race directors and other entities in the sport recognize and cater to the needs of women runners.
In the new short film, “The Candidate,” we see another side to Lucrezi as she channels her seemingly limitless energy in another direction — running for public office as County Commissioner for Chaffee County, Colorado.
The film first shares with viewers Lucrezi’s story as a runner and the inception of the idea for Trail Sisters — the name of which was inspired by her adventures with friend, co-worker, and housemate Ashley Arnold (now Cohen), with whom she worked at “Trail Runner” magazine.
Having taken Trail Sisters from the small personal blog it started out as to the thriving organization it is today, through her next challenge of running for public office, Lucrezi proclaims a desire to help her local community in the same way as she’s helped the running community through her work at Trail Sisters.
The film takes the viewer along the campaign trail, with a behind-the-scenes look at the combined effort made by Lucrezi’s husband, Justin Patrick Keller, and the rest of her team to give her the best possible chance. Already acting as trustee for her home town of Buena Vista, Colorado, Lucrezi is undaunted by the prospect of a step up in responsibility.
Of the role of County Commissioner, she says: “They have to be willing to put in long hours and hard work. And lucky for me, I’m an ultrarunner, so I’m like, Hey that sounds like everyday life!”
A scene from “The Candidate” shows Gina Lucrezi meeting voters. Photo: Auteur Sportif
Throughout the film Lucrezi’s humility and determination shine through. She says, “I don’t think of my background as being anything super unique, and I just realize that by putting the time and energy into something that you’re passionate about and finding the path forward … [Like in my] work with Trail sisters, it was creating this entity, it wasn’t just talking about the changes I wish happened, it was about actually, How can I create something to help make a difference?”
The film culminates as Lucrezi and her team gather on November 5, 2024, to hear the results of the local election, on U.S. Election Day, the annual day in which public officials are elected for service.
You will have to watch the film, created by trail runner and creative Matt Trappe and his brand Auteur Sportif, to see how it pans out!
Call for Comments
- Did you follow Gina Lucrezi’s campaign trail?
- Do you know of any other ultrarunners who have stepped up to similar challenges?
