Whether it’s a trail run, street run, short distance or long, members of Sacramento’s Trail Running Adventures group can be seen logging miles seven days a week.
Hassan Aboukhadijeh and Carina Kool started Trail Running Adventures with a handful of friends about five years ago. Fast forward to 2019 and there are nearly 2,000 runners in the group making it the second-largest running group in Sacramento.
Hassan has two sons that both ran cross country and track at Oak Ridge High School in El Dorado Hills, keeping the family extremely busy. “Once my sons left for college, I found myself sitting on the couch eating snacks and watching TV,” said Hassan.
In 2010, Hassan decided to change his sedentary lifestyle after watching one of his sons guide Folsom resident Richard Hunter, who is legally blind, through the California International Marathon. “I thought to myself, here’s a man that can’t see and he just finished a marathon,” said Hassan. “It’s time to make a change.”
Carina started running track in 8th grade and went on to run track and cross country in high school. She ran throughout the years but didn’t get into running long distances until 2012. “A friend from another Sacramento running group paced me for my first half-marathon and I’ve been running ever since,” said Carina.
Running is also a family affair in Carina’s household. “My daughter has the endurance running bug too,” said Carina. “She is an inspiration to me, training and running by my side in many long-distance races.”
Hassan and Carina have been running together for about seven years and share thousands of miles between them. The running duo challenged themselves by running three marathons, in three days, in three different states.
The groups’ motto is “no runner left behind.” There are members of all ages and paces which means you won’t find anyone running alone. “We’ve had the opportunity to mentor and inspire many runners and help them train for their first marathon and or 50k,” said Hassan.
Some members of Trail Running Adventures have signed up for the Salmon Falls 50k in February 2020. The race is put on by Coloma River Races and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), raising money to help cure type 1 diabetes. “We have 80 people so far that are signed up for the ultra,” said Carina. “It’s a great course and the organization puts on a fantastic race.”
Hassan and Carina said their group is a fun bunch to be around and runners love their energy and enthusiasm.
If you happen upon any Trail Running Adventures members at the Salmon Falls 50k, be sure to stop and smile because they love to take pictures! And, if you'd like to join in on some Salmon Falls 50k fun and run alongside this group of trail enthusiasts, check out www.salmonfalls50k.com.