Trail Talks 2.0: On Shared Running Journeys

by Julie & Jeff Morrill

Trail Talks is a series of conversations with Aire Libre friends about the deeper meaning of movement. For both them and us, running goes far beyond being a sport. It’s a pathway to connection, self-discovery, empowerment, wisdom, and ultimate freedom—an experience that transcends the physical and touches every aspect of life.

What brought you together, and what motivates you to run together?

Julie: We met back in 1997 at an event in Washington DC to honor a mutual friend. Jeff says that he immediately became interested when he noticed that I was wearing an “Ironman” sports watch. We married in 1999.

We both loved sports, but I was the runner. Jeff was more of a cyclist until a flat bike tire miles from home forced Jeff to run. He realized he wouldn’t die and slowly started running more and more. Eventually he became a fit enough runner to keep up with me. We began a tradition of running trails together every Sunday morning — a 6-mile loop in a state park outside of Boston, where we were living at the time.

Jeff: Now I can’t keep up with Julie because she’s too fast.

What first drew you to book a running experience with us, and what inspired you to continue joining our adventures together over the years?

Julie: I was originally introduced to Aire Libre by my friend Janet. She and I were scheduled to take a trip together in March of 2020. Obviously, that never happened due to COVID. Janet and I couldn’t make our schedules work to take another trip together, so I cajoled Jeff into joining me for a trip to the Pyrenees. He says that I “dragged him along,” as travel is not always his favorite thing due to challenges with jet lag. The people on the trip changed his mind! The group was amazing, and we all bonded within the first day. Jeff went from being “dragged along” to loving Aire Libre adventures. We call many of the people from the Pyrenees trip our “chosen family.” Our WhatsApp group stays intensely active, and we even set up a spreadsheet to track meetups among attendees. Upon returning home from France, we immediately signed up for Costa Rica and have also been to New Zealand with Aire Libre.

Jeff: And now we’re signed up for Greece. One of the Pyrenees participants will be guiding that experience. There’s something about the qualities of the people who sign up for these trips — fun, thoughtful, seeking — that keeps me coming back.

How do you find the balance between moments for self-discovery or personal growth and shared experiences when traveling together?

We’ve been married for 25 years. I don’t know that we really know anymore where one of us ends and the other begins. So the self-discovery and shared experiences blend as we talk about them.

In your view, what role does running together play in understanding and experiencing the world? Has sharing those adventures changed your perspective in any form?

In our day-to-day life, we don’t run together. Our comfortable running paces don’t align, and we each use our daily runs to think and problem-solve in our heads. However, that changes when we travel. We like to run together to explore, share in the wonder of a new place, and experience nature. It’s a chance to decidedly get out of our heads and into the environment. There is something magical about discovering a new place when you get to share it with your life partner. When we travel, runs become less about “training” and more about play and adventure.

“There is something magical about discovering a new place when you get to share it with your life partner. When we travel, runs become less about “training” and more about play and adventure”.

Can you share a memorable experience from one of our retreats?

The last night of the Pyrenees, I stayed up until 2am for a final party together. (I usually go to bed about 9.) After I went to bed, some stayed up another couple of hours and went to the pool. (They were a lot younger!) We just didn’t want to say goodbye to all these new friends. The WhatsApp group from that trip is still quite active, and I use a spreadsheet to track the occasions (with photos) when we’re able to meet up with each other around the world. That trip has yet to end…

About Julie & Jeff

Julie is an instructor of self-defense, equipping her students with essential skills for safe and confident outdoor activities. Jeff is an entrepreneur and author. They live in Charlottesville, Virginia and both are Aire Libre ambassadors.

Learn more about them and the rest of the crew here: Aire Libre Ambassadors