Trail Blazing and Trail Running: Keri Bowzaylo

Keri Bowzaylo: A Trailblazer in the Outdoors

Keri Bowzaylo is nothing short of a powerhouse in the outdoor industry. She’s a passionate runner, hiker, backpacker, instructor, coach, writer and so much more. Wearing many hats, her mission is rooted in getting people outdoors, empowering women, and educating others to protect the beautiful spaces we’re fortunate to explore.

Keri is proudly one of our own: a certified OCC instructor. For her, this has meant delivering an adapted field leader course specific for trail running groups and guides. She has instructed the trail running course from Vancouver all the way out to Winnipeg so far, and she has no plans of slowing down.

Trail running is bigger than ever and continues to gain traction. While the skill sets of guiding hiking and guiding trail running have a lot of overlap, it’s important to recognize the new challenges guides face when their group wants to travel “light, fast and often with an ego.” Keri explained how, “Trail runners can have a bad rap when it comes to things like trail etiquette and leave no trace. I want to get people out there and I want to teach them how to do it right.”

So far, Keri has been able to certify over 75 participants, giving them the foundation, skills, and knowledge it takes to lead a trail run. She has two more courses coming up—one at the end of May in Canmore, Alberta, and another in Chilliwack, British Columbia in September.

A Trail Runner’s Journey

While growing up outdoors camping, hiking, and fishing it wasn’t until Keri embarked on her own personal fitness journey that she discovered her passion for trail running. Trail running has enabled Keri to “see the world and really embrace being out there and pushing her limits just a little further.” Keri built her career in the fitness industry, instructing classes and offering coaching, when, with the help of people around her, she decided it was time. Within days, Keri had uprooted her whole life to chase her dreams and move to the mountains, not knowing where it would take her. Keri committed to following her ‘why’ in life and used trail running as a catalyst to continue to grow and help others do the same.

Since then, Keri has tackled a long list of ultramarathons with an energetic attitude and has become a key part of races such as the Death Race for over 20 years and Sinister 7 since its start. Keri works as a Race Director for the Death Race. For her, this means flagging the course, managing runners, coordinating search and rescue, mitigating and managing risks, and much more.

Finding the Why

Keri’s heart is in the right place when it comes to why she is a guide. “My number 1 goal is to show women that where you are right now isn’t necessarily where you need to be, I would have never imagined that I would be living the life I am,” she says. “My wings were clipped so long ago… I just want women to know that we can do these things.”

When speaking to her own ‘why,’ she said, “I feel the difference when I am outside, I feel the difference when I can just stop and take a deep breath, I feel most connected to myself when I am out there and I want to share that with people, I want to show them how to do that.”

Keri encourages everybody to discover their why. It’s a practice she uses very often in her coaching. “What is your why? If you have a good why, nobody can fight you on that. What do you really want?” If you don’t live to your why, “What are you going to do with your life? Living by everyone else’s expectations?”

Not only does Keri enable other women and runners to live their lives authentically, she sets a crystal-clear example of what that truly looks like. Within five minutes of meeting Keri, it’s easy to see Keri’s passion and exactly how her ‘why’ manifests in her work.

Giving Back to the Outdoor Community

Despite running her own programming and working with other organizations like the OCC, Keri contributes to the outdoor community in so many ways. Recently, she has taken on the role of chapter leader for Protect Our Winters in the Bow Valley, as well as a volunteer role as a Hut Ambassador with the Alpine Club of Canada. Her motivation for getting involved is no different from her motivations to guide. Keri lives by the belief, “When you connect people to the land they will start to appreciate and respect it.”

Just as much as she wants to get people outside and connected with nature, she sees it as her duty to ensure that access remains for generations to come. “I have grandchildren that I want to be able to appreciate this. I learned how to ski in Jasper, I taught my kids how to ski there and they want to teach their kids how to ski there.” Keri explained how it can be hard for someone who doesn’t live in the mountains full-time to see the climate crisis progressing as it is, and she takes her responsibility seriously to use her work and platform to educate people. Keri’s involvement with Protect Our Winters is just one example of how she embodies these values.

The Alpine Club of Canada’s backcountry hut system is well known and cherished by the outdoor community. Another way Keri gives back is through her new role as a Hut Ambassador. Donating her time to be the eyes and ears for the huts’ well-being as well as a helping hand is vital to keeping these spaces in good condition and accessible for generations to come.

Beyond the Trail: A Writer and Advocate

Keri also continues to deliver and develop programming with organizations such as Run Like a Girl and Women Run Wild, to name a few. She tracks her adventures through blogging and as a writer for The Trek. In her writing, she also challenges societal ideas of women on the trails and especially those who seek to adventure solo. Her article, Wild and Unapologetic: Women Breaking the Solo Adventuring Rules, has been submitted to be published in Wild Women, a book featuring stories of women working in nature.

“We tell our stories so we can connect,” Keri says—that’s why she started writing. Not only does Keri excel in telling her stories, but she also prioritizes making sure women’s stories of the Canadian Rockies continue to be told, often speaking on icons such as Mary Schaffer, Phyllis Munday, Lindsey Rummel, Elizabeth Parker, and more. Keri is also in the process of co-authoring a book titled Be Aware – Her Guide to Getting Outside on everything you need to know to get started on your first or next outdoor adventure.

Getting Started

When it comes to getting started—whether it’s getting outside, running, guiding, writing, or anything in between—Keri’s advice is to just take the first step. “Once you take that first step you won’t look back.”

So what does the first step look like? One of the first things Keri did when she knew she wanted to pursue guiding was to sign up for certifications. She completed training through the OCC and the Interpretive Guides Association, which gave her not only the knowledge to guide a group but also the skills to connect visitors and clients with the land and with themselves. “The OCC has ensured their instructors are extremely knowledgeable and passionate about what they do.” When it comes to getting started, knowledge is power and knowledge is confidence. Taking a course not only teaches you the skills, but connects you with the community.

Of course, the first step will look different for every person and every endeavor. “After taking the first step, though, my vision only expanded and my brain kept saying, ‘what else can I do?’”

Other advice Keri gave for getting started is to start small, build your confidence, and send her a message.

Keri Bowzaylo’s journey is more than just a career, it’s a living testament to passion, perseverance, and purpose. From her first step into the outdoors to her role as a guide, mentor, and advocate, Keri exemplifies what it means to live authentically and inspire others to do the same. She shows that with commitment to your ‘why’ and the courage to take the first step, anything is possible.

Her work isn’t just about guiding people through the wilderness; it’s about empowering others to discover their own paths, break down barriers, and find strength in nature. Keri’s approach to life is simple: follow your dreams, live with intention, and make time for what truly matters.

As she puts it, “It’s not luck. Luck is in weather and lottery tickets; everything else requires compromise and sacrifice if you really want it.” Keri has dedicated her life to doing just that—not only for herself, but for everyone she’s guided along the way.

Through her relentless passion for the outdoors, her deep commitment to empowering women, and her ongoing efforts to protect the land, Keri is shaping a legacy that goes far beyond the trail. She’s creating a ripple effect of positive change, one that will be felt for generations to come.

Keri’s story proves that when you live with purpose and align your actions with your values, you don’t just find success, you inspire others to do the same. And that is the heart of true leadership in the outdoors.