Today we’d like to introduce you to Erik Stanley.
Hi Erik, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I grew up running with my mom at an early age when my siblings and I would visit her during the summers in the Las Vegas desert. We did a 5 mile route and listened to old country tunes from the 80’s and early 90’s on our Walkman radios and talked a little bit about life. I was only in elementary school at the time, but It became one of our favorite ways to start the day. From those days on, running became a center part of my daily routine, whether it was through a sport like soccer or just heading out to jog the neighborhood bayou trails of the Houston suburbs. Fast forward 15 years after just completing my collegiate running days at the University of Texas and I began working at a local running store in Austin. I worked in the store but also began building a trail running training program. After about five years, it became evident that I had outgrown the company and branched out to start Trail Roots in 2014. It was one of the hardest decisions at the time to leave the business that had meant so much to me, but I’ve since realized that it was one of the best decisions I’ve made as well. Starting Trail Roots taught me to make decisions based on what drives me, my dreams, and how I want to see my future. If I would have stayed where I was, it would have been because I was afraid of losing friends and people close to me.
I also was afraid that I might not have what it takes to start a successful running business. So in 2014, I started off with a group of 10-15 runners and currently have over 100 members. I realized quickly after having my son that I needed much more help! We now have 3-4 coaches working part-time and another part-time staff member that helps with marketing, emails, design, and onboarding. In 2015 I ran into a runner friend named Jacque Peppler who I coached in the past. She encouraged me to start putting on trail races. Until that point, it was just something I talked about doing but didn’t know if I ever would. As a project manager, she convinced me that we could do it together. We ended up soon in love, got married, and have a four year old son. Our goal is to bring Jacque on board in 2022 to have a full-fledged family business. Now we have three successful trail races each year, 2-4 “Runcation” style trips, and a very connected and supportive run community that meets throughout the week. We’ve found that while we love helping runners reach (and in many cases exceed) their potential, we are passionate about getting people outside, stepping away from the screen, and moving together on the roads and through the woods and trails around of our city.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has been a full journey! My first challenge with Trail Roots was taking the leap to start. I had to take a risk and leave a place that was a consistent paycheck, but I realized happiness isn’t always found in the “safe” spots of life. I didn’t know anything about the business side of owning my own business. I just knew that I loved helping people run. So with lots of help from friends and family over the past seven years, I’ve started to dial it all in! I had a divorce about one year into starting the business. That was scary for me. Fortunately even in the early years, I was making enough to support myself. I had friends that moved in with me to offset my house payment, and we made it work! The divorce also taught me that I was enough just as I am. I didn’t need someone else to complete me.
One of the biggest challenges for me has been paying attention to detail. People talked to me about the importance of a company’s mission, but I didn’t really get it. Within Trail Roots, I had no job titles, job descriptions, or plans! I skirted over that stuff and until this last year (working with a business coach, Ray Blue), I struggled to gain traction. I had a tough time defining what was important to me, why I did some of the things I did, and what I envisioned for the future. I found myself somewhat bogged down in a cycle of just repeating daily tasks without understanding where I was headed.
With the help of other staff members in Trail Roots, my wife, and my business coach I really started to dig into these things. Unearthing a mission, vision, and our values has really helped my energy, motivation, and quality of life within my business. It has also helped me dial in what is working well, what things we can let go, and what goals and dreams to shoot for.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
It’s right in our mission. We help people find their best selves by unplugging, lacing up, and exploring the wilderness with others. That’s it! We help get people outside, away from their screens for a bit, building relationships with others while running. What sets us apart is that we are a true community. When someone needs a place to stay, we got you. When someone is feeling down on a run, we ask and listen to what’s going on. Early on during covid, if someone lost their job and couldn’t afford the membership fees, others stepped in to donate. We are a true community that cares for one another that is known for being welcoming and inclusive. Whether you are learning to run your first trail 5k, headed to Hard Rock 100, or training for the Boston Marathon, we support you. We cheer each other on in all stages of your “running life.” We are confident in our ability to elevate your training runs, make new connections, and enjoy playing outside.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
I started talking to people that I looked up to and valued their input. I started sharing some of the struggles I was dealing with. I went through a few volunteer mentors before I decided that this was something I wanted to pay for. I needed someone who had some stock in the game and was committed to helping me and my business grow. Check out “Blue Crow Group”.
Pricing:
- We offer up to 5 guided/coached weekly runs for $69/mo
- Custom Training and Coaching starting at $99/mo
- Personal Training/Coaching starting at $99/session
Contact Info:
- Email: erik@trailroots.com
- Website: https://trailroots.com/
- Instagram: instagram.com/Trail_Roots
- Facebook: Facebook.com/Trailroots
