We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kayla Fitzgerald a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Kayla, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

At Palmetto Ultras our mission is:

“To inspire everyone to embrace the trails, push seasoned runners to new heights, and cultivate lasting bonds in our community.”

I grew up spending lots of time outside in the woods and there’s something that has always felt comforting about it. Many people look at trail running as something that’s scary or just for elite runners when in fact it’s the complete opposite.

Trail runners have a more “chill” and welcoming vibe than any other group of runners I’ve ever known. And that’s what we want runners to feel at our races.

When we started Palmetto Ultras and thought about our mission, there were 3 main components that kept coming up.

First–I want everyone to feel comfortable getting outside and exploring trails. Here in the Lowcountry we actually have a lot of trails! In order to make this happen we started a running club that exclusively happens on different trails around the area. I know showing up to a trail race can feel super intimidating if you haven’t spent much time on trails. The group runs are a great way to get experience on the trails in a safe and supportive environment while also connecting with other runners. There are also a lot of new trail runners that have been showing up to our races. I think it’s because we give you everything you need to be successful on race day! We have amazing volunteers, aid stations with all the drinks and snacks you may need, and we cook up hot food throughout our races (we’re pretty well known for our quesadillas!)

The second part of our mission is about pushing seasoned runners to new heights. It’s always really exciting to see course records get smashed and to see runners set personal PRs! We had 5 course records broken at our last race! I’m at the start/finish line for the duration of our races and you better believe if you come across doubting that you can continue on, I’m going to be there pushing you to keep going because I know you can do it. We love to celebrate when you hit a milestone!

The last part of our mission is all about cultivating relationships in our community. We do this through our sponsors and partners. Their generosity is what allows these races to happen so we make sure we give that same support back to them! I own two small businesses and I know firsthand how great an impact word of mouth can have. Later in the year we would love to start adding in some service projects–maybe some trail work with the Palmetto Trail!

Kayla, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m Kayla Fitzgerald and I’m the owner and Race Director for Palmetto Ultras. We host 6 trail races throughout the year that range in distance from 5k-100 miles and we want you to come out and have fun in the woods with us! We also do group trail runs twice a month that are free and open to the public.

I also own a second business called Endurance Nutrition where I use my degree as a Registered Dietitian to help runners at all levels learn how to fuel their body for their sport. My goal is to help you not only feel great during your run but to also have the energy you need to live all the other parts of your life.

Becoming a trail race director wasn’t on my to do list. But when our local trail race director said he was stepping down, I decided to step up. I couldn’t imagine there not being any trail races in Charleston. Turns out I absolutely love it and am having a blast putting on these events for runners!

I think what sets us apart from others is that being a runner myself I understand what runners want out there during a race and I make that happen. Little details like having ice in the coolers during our summer race (Hell Hole) can make all the difference in the world when you’re out there pushing your limits. We like to think of our races as “parties in the woods”. There’s food, music, and fun. We want your friends/family to come hang out. We want you to pull up a chair and hang out when you’re done and not just grab your award and head home.

Our races usually have distances that are achievable for anyone. There may be a 5k and a 100 miler going on at the same time! We want both beginners and seasoned runners to feel welcome at our races.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

There are 3 things that I feel have been instrumental in our growth during these first few months of putting on trail races: word of mouth, social media, and starting the trail run club.

So many runners that show up at our races usually have a friend that ran a previous race and they heard good things and wanted to come check it out for themselves.

We are active on social media whereas these races previously weren’t marketed much.

The trail run club is a great opportunity for runners to come run some miles, get to know other runners, and run some of the trails that we host races on

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

Being a runner myself has been instrumental in building my reputation. I’ve ran races all over South Carolina and know a lot of the race directors. I like that it doesn’t ever feel like a competition and that we’re all supporting each other and promoting each others races.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Www.palmettoultras.com
• Instagram: https://Instagram.com/palmetto.ultras
• Facebook: https://Www.facebook.com/palmettoultras

Image Credits

Greg Shore
Ruben Felix Visuals