ABOUT OUR RACE DIRECTOR
The Human Potential Running Series
was created and is directed by ultrarunner John Lacroix.
“I focus on the “the person,” not solely “the runner,” but who they are on the inside. I use adversity as a mechanism for self actualization. It’s not a “race” to me.. it’s an endurance run filled with individuals on the search of personal freedom and/or enlightenment.” ~ John Lacroix
John is a pioneer in endurance sports as the former race director and founder of The New England Ultras 200-Mile Endurance Run, the first 200-Mile Ultra in the World (2008). John also played a pivotal role in the establishment of Obstacle Course Racing in North America as one of the original founders of the Peak.com Death Race. He has helped design several obstacle racing courses in both Vermont and Colorado starting as far back as 2007. He served as a race director apprentice for Vermont’s Peak Races, and as their expert in course marking of remote and navigationally challenging areas, from 2006-2010. Originally from New Hampshire, he moved to Colorado in 2011 at which time he created the HPRS Fat Ass Series held through 2019.
John’s more than 90 trail running events directed in Colorado is the most by a race director in Colorado history. His more than 98 events directed with an ultra-distance present, and his more than 180 ultra distance races directed, is 2nd all time in United States ultrarunning history. John also served as the volunteer race director of The World Championship Pack Burro Race held annually in Fairplay, CO in years 2021 and 2022.
In 2020, 2021 and 2022 he was the only race director in the world, of a major series of events, to host his full schedule of events without a single cancellation despite the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic; and did so without a single report of participant transmission of Covid-19. John’s leadership set the standard for in-person running events by being the first to publish a black and white plan for hosting events during the pandemic.
John is also a thought leader within the ultra-running community as a longtime advocate for crafting a more inclusive and accessible sport that celebrates the everyman and everywoman over the elite. His message has long focused on inclusivity, diversity, equity, equality, accessibility, and the need to abolish elitism. It is John’s willingness to challenge the accepted norms in trail and ultra-running, by asking the community to think deeper, ask bigger questions, and to view topic areas from every possible angle, that has led to him being one of the sport’s more controversial figures on his path to building a more universally accessible sport.
John graduated from The University of New Hampshire with a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology: Outdoor Education; with concentration areas in Recreation Management, Hospitality Management, and Ski Resort Management. He previously worked as a Professional Guide in Boulder, CO where he led various adventure activities for tourists and corporate outings, as well as designed and facilitated Corporate Adventure Training experiences. John’s clientele has included Former New England Patriot and ESPN NFL Analyst Tedy Bruschi, local and national professional (Team Garmin-Sharp Mens Tour de France Racing Team) and collegiate teams and organizations (CU Women’s Basketball) as well as a collection of Fortune 500 and Fortune 100 companies.
John’s Professional Certifications Include: Road Runners Club of America (RRCA) Professional Race Director, Viristar Risk Management for Outdoor Programs, Wilderness Medical Associates (WMA) Wilderness First Responder (WFR) including certification for epinephrine administration and BLS CPR including the use of medical oxygen and AED, Leave No Trace Trainer, The American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education (AIARE) Level 1.
John also volunteers a considerable amount of his time to serving on various local, regional, and national conservation, recreation, and trail initiatives. John (and HPRS) is a partner organization on Outside 285 (O285) since its inception in 2017, a regional planning effort focused on identifying opportunities for trail improvements and wildlife habitat conservation within public lands surrounding the US-285 corridor southwest of Denver. John also serves on the Policy Committee for the Coalition for Outdoor Access (COA), a nationwide group of outdoor industry leaders who are advocating for laws and policies that support and encourage guided outdoor recreation and education activities on public lands and waters. He also served as a member of the Executive Committee of Fix CRUS (Colorado Recreational Use Statute) playing an integral role in working to protect and expand free public access to private and public lands in Colorado. John is the only representative from the trail and ultrarunning community on these committees. He is also a former member of the Care for Colorado Coalition.
As a philanthropist he has raised over $50,000 for various charitable causes through his own personal athletic endeavors. Through HPRS, John has raised and/or donated over $30,000 to local and regional non-profits. As a documentary filmmaker, John self-produced “48”, a first of its kind documentary film exploring peak-bagging in New Hampshire’s White Mountains. Following its 2005 release, he sold over 800 DVD copies of the film in 5 months, raising more than $20,000 in net proceeds for The American Diabetes Association. His film is now available for free on YouTube.
John’s other film credits include a cameo in the 2014 ultra running documentary film titled “100: Head/Heart/Feet,” and photos from his 2010 Barkley Marathons adventure are included in the 2014 ultra running documentary film titled “The Barkley Marathons: The Race That Eats Its Young.” John is also the former host of the Ultra Stories Podcast, where he self-produced over 140 episodes focused on the behind the scenes of the sport of Ultrarunning. He now self produces the Human Potential Running Series Podcast.
Since his first ultra in 2005, John Lacroix has run in over 50 ultra distance group and/or journey runs, and 75 official ultra-distance events throughout the United States. He has completed an official ultra every year for 19 consecutive years (2005-2023), finishing one in each decade of his 20s, 30s and 40s. He ran his first 100-Miler in 2007 and has since run 100-miles or more 24 different times, also finishing one in each decade of his 20s, 30s and 40s. In 2008, he became the first person to run 125-miles non-stop from the western-most to eastern-most points of New Hampshire. He then repeated the journey in 2009 and remains the only individual to have done so. In 2017 he became the first person to attempt to run from the lowest point of Colorado to its highest. He ultimately ran 202 miles, before summiting Mount Elbert at 14,439′, in 4 1/2 days.
John has completed a number of popular and iconic ultramarathons including; The Western States 100 (2x), Leadville Trail 100, Vermont 100 (6x), Massanutten Mountain Trails 100 (2x), Bighorn 100, Cascade Crest Classic 100 (2x), The Miwok 100K (2x), San Juan Solstice, Zane Grey 50, Grand Canyon R2R2R (3x), Trans-Zion, Trans-Bryce, 1 Successful loop at The Barkley Marathons, and countless other races along the way. He brings his near two-decades of experiences within trail and ultrarunning to The Human Potential Running Series.
THE RED HAT IN THE NEWS
The Adventure Jogger Podcast – Saving Ultra Running (October 2023)
Ten Junk Miles (September 2023)
Fox 31 Denver: Tomer’s Trails – Run To Rise Above (October 2017)
ESPN Front Row: Bruschi Tackles Kilimanjaro (May 2011)
NPR’s Weekend America: Running Across New Hampshire (November 2008)
Boston Globe: Runner Goes The Extra Mile (November 2008)
