Trent Swanson

Trent Swanson of Fruitland is not known for sitting still. He directs multiple races as head of Algonquin Ultras and is always coming up with new races and events.

When did you start running and why?
I started running in the fall of 2011 after a Turkey Bowl football game. My friend Kevin told me that my arm was strong, but I couldn’t run. So the next week he and I started running. We ran the Galloway method at first using the run/walk intervals. We built up to around five or six miles three times a week, which is when I suggested we should sign up for a 10k race. Kevin responded, why train for a 10k when we are already running that distance, and suggested we run the Island to Island Half from Ocean City to Assateague. That was my first race and I have been running ever since.

Do you prefer roads or trails?
If I were a race car driver, I would love the roads. Roads are for cars. Trails are for runners. I actually started my running journey on the roads but quickly discovered the trails and fell in love. The very first trail mile I ever ran was with Joey DiCarlo at Pemberton after running five miles on the roads. Now, because of safety, I hardly ever run roads. My favorite runs are adventure runs on the trails that often have little to do with races. Runs like The Grand Canyon, The Wonderland Trail, running the length of Assateague and just enjoying some cold miles on Algonquin.

You’re the race director of The Algonquin 50K, the first race in the Algonquin Ultras. Why did you start it? Did you foresee the growth that followed?
I find it interesting that the first real race we put on as an organization was The Algonquin 50k in 2017. We really organized it because we loved the trail and the remoteness of it all. We had no idea it would take off and have such an insane following. One of the coolest things was seeing a handful of people sign up on the first day of registration. We actually were trying to downplay the flooded trails and the muddy terrain the first year… then we learned to embrace it. I never really had planned for it to go on for this many years, but we are blessed to have a great crew, amazing volunteers and a growing tour of trail runners on Delmarva that all add fuel to the fire. Mud, briars, snowbombs, Goatman, cake, mugs, pickle juice, sandy beaches and cold flooded trails all make for a wonderful running experience.
 
You call yourself the Race Dictator. Explain.
My wife doesn’t like the name. No one can give themselves a nickname. The Race Dictator and the smashing of mugs both came about around the same time and both were pretty much from a conversation the first year about how we had to keep things official and strict. I believe it was Grizzly (Nicole Bellamy) who first mentioned I was running the race like a dictator in the nicest way possible. 🙂  “What are you going to do if we don’t finish? Smash our mugs?” Yes. The truth is we want everyone who signs up for a race to train, prepare and crush their goals. Although we joke around, our greatest joy is seeing people finish our races.

Your ideas for running events seem never-ending. Is there anything else brewing?
The best ideas for races come from being out on the trails with friends. So the more time spent running, hiking and exploring the more craziness. The Islands Tour popped in my head as I was running Chincoteague. So, yes there are always potential runs/races brewing in my head. I could share a few here, but what fun would that be? Okay. Maybe one idea I can throw out here. I was thinking about a Cities Tour next summer, which would take Delmarva runners to Baltimore, Annapolis, NYC, Boston etc. That would take a lot of planning and a lot of traveling… two things I love.

Tell us about an achievement of which you are particularly proud.
Nothing makes me prouder in life than the accomplishments of my kids. Watching my oldest, Lukas, run Tuckahoe and Algonquin brought me more joy than anything else in my running journey. That’s not truly a personal achievement but it is very special. An achievement that my team can be proud of is being able to put on all our local races during COVID. We did not have to cancel a single race on Delmarva. Credit to the Crushers, the ALQ crew, Wicomico County, City of Salisbury, Maryland State Parks, Maryland States Forests, the State Police and The State Health department for all pulling together to make races continue during the pandemic. We kept running.

Your whole family is involved in your run events. Tell us more!
Family support is the only way these events can happen. My wife and kids continue to help with the planning and execution of the races and during Pemberton 24, they also love to race and hang out. They have to hear all my crazy ideas and see all the t-shirt and sticker designs, but they love the fun of being part of the running community and the great people we have met along the way. We just need more miles 🙂