about us

The runners

Yamina Pressler

Yamina is a scientist, writer, speaker, desert rat, lover of all things pink, newbie watercolor painter, and runner of any trail she can get her feet on. She has a deep fascination for soils, the organisms that inhabit them, and the community of people who study them. Yamina is a soil ecologist (studying how soil organisms control ecosystem processes) working in savanna rangelands. When she isn't doing science, Yamina spends as much time as possible exploring the desert landscapes of the Western US with her family and friends.

Longest race: Skyline to the Sea 50K trail race
Favorite run: 26 miles through Titus Canyon in Death Valley
Next race: Run the Red Desert, 45K.

You can follow Yamina’s adventures on Twitter @YaminaPressler, on Instagram @alltherunning, or at her website www.yaminapressler.com.

Karen Vaughan

Karen is a scientist, educator, mom, soil pigment enthusiast, and trail (plus a lot of pavement) runner. She enjoys sharing her passion, enthusiasm, and knowledge of soils with the outdoor community. Karen is a pedologist (studying how soils form and interact across landscapes) working in the Rocky Mountains while not-so-secretly dreaming of tropical soil evolution during the long Wyoming winters. She and her family can often be found traversing backroads of North America in their self-converted camper van named Gnarwhal.

Longest race: Goblin Valley 50K
Favorite run: 30 mile unsupported run through Yellowstone NP on Bechler River Trail
Next race: Run the Red Desert, 45K.

You can follow Karen’s adventures on Twitter @vaughan_soil, on Instagram @fortheloveofsoil & @theartofsoil, or at her website www.uwyopedology.com.

Lydia Jennings

Lydia is a daughter, sister, Huichol & Pascua Yaqui tribal member, soil microbiologist, science communicator, runner, and Natives Outdoors athlete. Lydia is currently a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Arizona in Environmental Sciences. Lydia's interests are in soil health, environmental remediation, Indigenous science, and food sovereignty. Lydia has been running since high school, and running throughout Northern New Mexico is what piqued her interest to study environmental sciences. When not in school, she loves running around the O'odham lands of the Sonoran Desert, and getting other Indigenous people into trail running through her #SkoRunDen trail series.

Longest race: Canyon de Chelly 55K
Favorite run: Tushar's Mountain Trail Marathon
Next race: Oracle Rumble 50K

You can follow Lydia's adventures on Twitter @1NativeSoilNerd on Instagram @llcooljennings, or at her website www.nativesoilnerd.com

The film makers

Morgan (Mo) Heim