Building a Basecamp of Community

Morgan Weinberg

Ultrarunner / General Manager of Tava Lodge

​Trail running can be a sport filled with camaraderie and community, but it can also be a lonely one when you don’t know where to look. Oftentimes, you hear from runners when asked the question “What makes this sport special?” and their answer is “Community”. I agree, the community is such a special thing to be a part of, but I’ve also heard from runners who don’t feel as if they belong at all. Sometimes these gaps in belonging can stem from insecurities with pace, skill, social groups, or a variety of other reasons that we all cope with on any given day. Have you ever been to a group run where you instantly felt you didn’t belong? I have, it wasn’t fun, and I didn’t go back. In a world of social media overload, we often see elite running as the definition of the running community and then believe that if we aren’t “elite” that we don’t belong. So, what does building a basecamp of community mean to me?

A Place for Everyone to Land
What is Tava Lodge? It is an up and coming basecamp for outdoor-minded travelers looking to train and play in the Pikes Peak Region. Our vision is to create a space that brings together both our local community and those visiting to connect over a common love of the outdoors. This summer, we hosted two events including the Ultra Tava Tour and the Pikes Peak Marathon and Ascent Camp which brought all levels of runners together to share the joys of our local mountain.

Expectations through Communication
No one likes to be blindsided by expectations that they weren’t aware of. In fact, I think my terrible group run experience could have been avoided if I knew ahead of time the route, pace and goals of the group. Listen, I don’t think every group run needs to be designed to include the elite runner and the back of the pack runner, but there needs to be clear guidance ahead of time as to what to expect. With our events and group runs, we always share the routes ahead of time and provide pace options for everyone who wants to attend so that we can create the best experience for all involved.

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A Culture of Kindness
I do enough to embarrass myself daily that I don’t need to show up somewhere to have others embarrass me too. It can be really scary getting outside of your comfort zone to try something new or participate in something that seems a little beyond your level. Whenever we are pushing ourselves, it’s essential to be surrounded by a supportive environment of kindness and encouragement. The best runs I’ve been on are ones that I’m really struggling, but the people I’ve been with have pulled me through. Fostering a culture of kindness and mutual respect is where human connection can thrive.

Leave No Trace
We live in such a special place with a variety of outdoor spaces to play in. As a part of this community, we all have a responsibility to fight for these lands and preserve their natural state. Connecting over our love for the land through trail work, cleanups and advocacy is essential to building a sustainable basecamp for future generations. One thing I love about these types of community events is that we are all there for our love of the trails, but it has nothing to do with pace or performance. Last year, I worked alongside pro runner Zach Miller as we both did work on Barr Trail (though he may have still been better at swinging tools than me…).

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Through these principles, we hope to build a place in the Pikes Peak region that can bring our running community together both near and far. To help bring our vision to life, Tava Lodge is actively seeking investors. If you or someone you know is interested in being a part of the Tava Lodge legacy and inspiring a community please contact us at
[email protected] or on Instagram @tavalodge. Please visit our website for more information: www.tavalodge.com.