Siblings Leading the Trails

The 2011 XTERRA Trail Run season started on Jan. 9 with races in Arizona and Southern California. It will pick up again on Feb. 6 with races in … Arizona and Southern California.

"Pure coincidence," said Shannon Lindner, race director of the XTERRA Arizona Trail Run Series.

What's not coincidence is that both the XTERRA Arizona and SoCal Trail Run Series are experiencing success through solid leadership.

Brennan Lindner has been the race director for the SoCal Series for several years now, and his younger sister, Shannon, started the Arizona Series in October 2010.

"I've always been the little sister trying to follow my big brother," Shannon said. "Brennan was my biggest influence in getting into race production.  He's had years of experience I could draw from, and I've competed quite a bit in events from tons of different production companies.  I've seen what I'd want and don't want at an event as an athlete, and that's what I try to provide to the athletes here in Arizona."

If there is an XTERRA series to copy, it is SoCal. Under the guidance of Brennan Lindner, the XTERRA SoCal Series is the most popular series on the entire XTERRA Trail Run circuit. The SoCal races often draw more than 500 trail runners.

Brennan and Shannon are experienced triathletes, so they had an idea of what competitors wanted in an event.

"I got into race directing for I wanted to create an event experience that was social and competitive," Brennan said. "Meet people, race. Do your best and have a great time doing it."

Shannon used to enter Brennan's trail runs as a competitor, but also helped him with the race production. Because she lives in Phoenix and he lives in Santa Monica, she eventually decided to create her own series closer to her home city.

"Brennan's been my mentor in all of this, but we don't really go over all the details with each other," Shannon said. "Before my first event I called him quite a bit with tons of questions.  I've worked at quite a few of his events and volunteered at others, which also helped introduce me to the non-competitive side of things."

Brennan added: "It's been interesting watching her go through the learning curve that I went through (at a much quicker pace). I try not to offer up too much direction, for there is no better learning than by doing. She's got a big brain and can figure out most anything. I've given her some pointers, but for the most part, she's created this on her own. And based by the growth of the events, she's doing just fine."

The Arizona events are already drawing close to 300 runners per race, and are expected to grow by next season.

On Feb. 6, Brennan will be directing the XTERRA Mission Gorge Trail Run. On the same day, Shannon will be directing the XTERRA McDowell Mountain Trail Run.

"I would have preferred to have different dates so he can work mine and I can run his," Shannon said.

Entries for both races are still open. For information on the SoCal Series, visit www.trailrace.com or www.xterratrailrun.com. For information on the Arizona Series, visit www.aztrailrace.com or www.xterratrailrun.com.

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