NORTHFIELD — For the dozens of runners who participated in Beast Coast Trail Running’s All of the Above Trail Fest races on Saturday, the event was more about building community and having fun, rather than winning.
“It was fun,” said Liv Lohmeier, who ran the 20K race. “I don’t worry about the time too much. I’m just here to have fun.”
The event at the Northfield Mountain Recreation and Environmental Center was a fundraiser for the Venture Out Project, a nonprofit dedicated to making outdoor activities more accessible and welcoming for the LGBTQ community. Perry Cohen, founder of the Venture Out Project, explained that, as opposed to other races that have men’s and women’s divisions and prizes awarded to the fastest runners in each division, All of the Above Trail Fest has a single group for “all of the above.” The event awards prizes based on whose runtime is closest to their predicted time.
Farid Kadyrov took first place in predictions, completing the 20K course four seconds off the predicted time of 2 hours, 10 minutes and 21 seconds. Micah Kennedy was six seconds off the predicted time of 2 hours and four seconds, and Jess Goldberg was 13 seconds off the predicted time of 2 hours and 42 minutes.
A total of 92 racers participated in Saturday’s event, which included a 20K prediction race as well as a shorter fun run/hike and a children’s race.
The Venture Out Project launched in 2014 and has volunteers leading outdoor adventures from Maine to California, which Cohen said are designed to push people out of their comfort zones while encouraging them to learn new things and find community. Activities include day and overnight hikes, camping excursions, canoeing, kayaking and other boating adventures, rock climbing and more. Upcoming activities in the Pioneer Valley include a Sept. 3 night hike in Ashfield and a Sept. 12 pollinator promenade in Amherst.
“I started Venture Out really with the simple idea that I just wanted to be outside with other queer people, and I thought, for me, being outside had been this safe place,” Cohen explained. “There were no mirrors, no gendered bathrooms. It was just safe, and I thought, wouldn’t it be wonderful if other queer people could have this experience. … It turns out other people wanted that, too.
“The idea is that the outdoors should be for everyone,” Cohen continued. “And we found, in a lot of ways, it isn’t and we’re trying to do our small piece to make it different.”
Cohen said that in addition to hosting events for LGBTQ people, the Venture Out Project works with different outdoor brands to host trainings and review policies, language and products to ensure brands are accessible and inclusive.
Administrative Manager Jacob Sheppard-Saidel said the Venture Out Project set a fundraising goal of $5,000 for the All of the Above Trail Fest. As of Saturday morning, the organization was about halfway to its goal. It is continuing to collect donations on its website to support future events.
“We definitely want to make sure it’s possible for folks to access these kinds of transformative programs,” Sheppard-Saidel said.
Salem Mazzawy ran the full 20K and said the race was fun but tiring.
“Twenty-five years ago, I did mountain biking here. It’s a lot easier going down the hill when you can roll,” he said jokingly.
Kate Thompson, whose daughter Carmen Daniels, 6, participated in the children’s race, said Carmen loves to run and wishes she could run even more than she did.
For more information about the race or other events hosted by the Venture Out Project, visit ventureoutproject.com.
