No, it’s not Cowgirl, it’s Cowgill, and yes, members do wear spotted cow shorts and hats.

Cowgill Trail Collective began group runs along trails in 2021 to build community in Seattle and beyond through running. Co-founders Aaron Long, Rachel Dam, and Brad Leatherbarrow saw a need for a trail-specific running group, and he wanted to make it fun, social, and something folks would return to again and again, and not just a training group. 

Each week Cowgill hosts events, runs, and social activities where you can find a wide range of people from all backgrounds. A report from athletic shoe store RunRepeat found that 63.5% of trail runners are men, and 69% identify as white.

 

“Members often attend and see each other at numerous events each week, from local runs and socials to weekends filled with camping and spending all day in the mountains together,” Long says. One of the most fulfilling parts of the collective, he adds, is the support and a sense of being a part of a larger community, making it easier, more fun, and less intimidating to do hard things — like, well, trail running. 

A big focus of the group is inclusivity in a sport that isn’t always known for its diversity. 

“We are always working on ways to be more inclusive and make trail running a more accessible sport,” Long says. Each event is free and open to all genders, races, and backgrounds, and Google calendar of events is kept up to date. Though cow-themed attire is fully optional, the sense of fun and lack of seriousness is evident, and Long says it’s not unusual for member to form lasting friendships.