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His adventures reveal a universal bond among runners and that nature can be pretty wild.

Name: Kurt Kohn Hometown: Hamilton, Montana Occupation: High School Guidance Counselor, Artist, and Photographer Time Running: 40 years Reason for running: My occupation helps me really appreciate the mental and physical benefits of running. Running also helps feed my passion for exploring some of the most beautiful and remote places around the world.

I have kept running over the past 40 years because I love to run as opposed to ‘I have to run.’ As author Christopher McDougall wrote, “Our bodies were born to run.” If we stop having an active lifestyle our aging process accelerates. Every day is too important to waste. I want to feel healthy and active as much as I can. And I feel healthy and alive when I run. The feeling of finishing a run or crossing a finish line is magical.

I compare running to the guy that rides his Harley on the open road—it’s my sense of freedom, time to clear my mind, and feel healthy with the breeze in my face. Running allows me to have the energy for long work days, a wonderful social life, endurance, and the ability to dance at night.

I’m also motivated to run because I spend time with very active people. Some of the best bonding time I spend with my sons is on the trail.

When my son, Kyle, graduated from Montana State University in 2016, he had a goal of hiking the Continental Divide Trail from Mexico to Canada, and I wanted to be able to support him and hike sections across the country with him. His goal actually motivated me to bring my endurance up to the next level. After five months and 3,000 miles, my son completed the entire hike from Mexico to Canada, and I tackled a few stretches with him along the way.

Most recently, I became the first person in the country to earn a medal in all the national park races—46 national park running medals in total to date. I’ve been working on this goal for the past six years.

Growing up in Montana made it convenient to see Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks—their beauty is breathtaking, overpowering, and spiritual. As a kid, I was always hiking and fishing the backcountry with my dad and brother so I already had the desire and experience of exploring trails. I reasoned if Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks were such a magical gift to the American people then the other national parks in the country must be incredibly special, too.

In 2016, I saw an advertisement for a half marathon in Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park by Vacation Races and I decided to register. The race ended up being everything I hoped for as I crossed the finish line at the foot of the scenic 13,775-feet-high Grand Teton mountains. It was a good first impression. I took the next two days after the race to explore the park’s backcountry and hike more than 30 miles.

Soon after, I decided to sign up for races in Yellowstone National Park in Montana and Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado. The trips and extra time to explore the trails in each park were just as great as the races. I was becoming hooked on running in as many national parks across the United States as I could.

Through my journey running these trail races across the nation, I’m amazed at how a runner’s bond is universal wherever I go. I have run national park races in all four corners of the United States, as well as hiked and did trail runs in Canada, Mexico, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, Alaska, Hawaii, and Africa, and have found that most runners are drawn to other runners. We support, care, and laugh with each other. And it’s natural to share stories about the places we’ve run and the hardships endured. Beer is often the universal currency. And I can honestly say I’ve made at least one friend in every national park race I have done—I find good people wherever I go.

By exploring the national parks while running, I’ve also discovered there’s natural beauty in every landscape in the country. Most people think of mountains, forests, and lakes as the typical national park, but I have equally loved running through the desert landscapes, prairies, and swamps. There are backcountry treasures in every state that most people never get to see unless they get out on the trails.

I’ve also learned some things about survival while running through the parks. While running in the Grand Canyon this past May, attempting to finish my fifth ultra run/hike in the park—I was doing the rim-to-rim route in a day, which is just shy of 48 miles with almost 23,000 feet of elevation change—a ranger asked us to stop on the trail and get into the creek so that we could lower our body temperature. She said there had already been three helicopter rescues in the last 24 hours, and she didn’t want to see another one today. We all listened to her warning and were glad we did—the temperatures soared to 108 degrees that day and it was still 95 degrees at 10 p.m.

Zion National Park was an equally extreme running experience. It was so cold that runners had to be kept in large circus tents with propane heaters to keep from freezing. The temperature was 10 degrees with a wind chill that made it well below zero. It was the first time I ran a race in a full jacket and arctic gloves. I also found out all of the water stations were frozen and that I’d have to run a half marathon with no water. I smiled the next day, though, when Vacation Races offered all of the runners a 20% discount on the next race by entering the code “BRRRRR.”

Running through Everglades National Park in 2016 was unique, as well. I had been running above 10,000 feet in Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado a few weeks before and now I was running at sea level in sweltering humidity. The birds with exotic plumages distracted me from my discomforts during the run, but I had to be very aware of my surroundings because I could see alligators along the edge of the trail as I ran my way through the park.

While I love running all over the country and the diverse landscapes, there is nothing like returning to Montana. Montana allows me to escape to backcountry trails where I can run solo and center myself away from crowds. It’s still referred to as, ‘The Last Best Place.’

I love being a part of Run Wild Missoula, which is one of the largest running clubs in Montana. One of my favorite social running activities we do is the Last Wednesday Beer Run each month. You have your choice of a three-mile or five-mile run to earn a precious beer token and get to spend time with great people.

Montana is also home to the Missoula Marathon, which I enjoy running every year in June. Runner’s World even named it a top bucket list race. It’s well organized and the route is beautiful. My favorite part includes the more than 1,000 volunteers who run it. You’ll see grandmas handing out cookies and lemonade, motivational signs, bands performing, a grand piano on the route being played by a master in full tuxedo, fireworks at the start, and catered food at the finish to go along with a giant medal. It is a must-do if a person wants to run in Montana.

I’m at a level where I want to maintain what I’m currently doing in fitness for as long as I can. The ultimate goal in life is happiness, and I feel I balance my life with enough good things to be on that path. I am a single guy that has the flexibility of schedule. Maybe I will find an active female that is as passionate about life as I am.

I plan to continue exploring new wilderness areas and running national parks that add new race events. I plan to continue traveling and making friends across the country. I do see myself doing more running and hiking on other continents. I am intrigued by the North Pole Marathon, and have started to set my sights on running the Great Wall Marathon.

Add miles gradually. You will be amazed at what your body is capable of when you progress slowly.

Friends motivate each other. It’s social and fun, and you will start looking forward to your running time. With a club, there are a variety of weekly social activities and you’ll gain a lot of knowledge from the group.

Running, walking, or hiking are all great and complement each other. Explore places you want to be, no matter what activity you’re doing. Be the person that says, “I can’t wait to see this place!”

You don’t have to race or be competitive unless you want to be. Run for health and enjoyment.

Poles give you stability. They also reduce pressure on the knees, help with water, mud, ice, and log crossings, and can be a primitive weapon if you need it.

→ Buff Headwear/Neckwear: I wear a Buff for nearly every hiking, running, or fishing activity. There is an ideal weight and color of Buff for every occasion.

→ Garmin Fenix: This watch is my lifeline. It does it all. It tracks all my activities with accuracy. It is durable, dependable, and the battery lasts forever.

→ Hoka and Altra shoes: I love both brands of trail running shoes and I choose the ones that are tailored to the event I am competing in.

→ Nike Dri-Fit ADV TechKnit Ultra Running Top: This is durable, breathes well, and reduces odors.

→ Osprey Hydration Packs/Backpacks: I love their quality and warranty. I have four Osprey packs for different purposes and I love them all.

→ Under Armour ColdGear Compression Mock: It is a great base layer for warmth and offers support and durability.

Jennifer Acker joined the editorial staff of Runner's World and Bicycling in January 2022. A former freelancer writer and NCAA runner, she started running as a kid and basically never stopped. She also loves outdoor adventures, like hiking, skiing, and mountain biking.  

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