I can't believe four years have passed.

In that time I've met new people and taken part in activities I never imagined I'd try.

Each of those experiences has pushed me, taught me, and helped me feel a little more at home here in the Pacific Northwest.

This season, I'm continuing that journey.

You'll see me trying everything from crabbing on the Puget Sound, to golfing at a historic golf course, hanging high on aerial straps for the first time, and kayaking down the Snoqualmie River.

I'm learning from incredible people who are opening doors and creating space for others to feel welcome.

- Natural.

Natural.

To kick it all off, I hosted my first trail race with my good friend Aaliyah Earvin, who you may remember from season two.

We Out Here Trail Fest was an opportunity for runners of all levels to explore the sport.

With over 66% of participants new to the trail, our race provided a welcoming space for folks to find their footing.

Join me as we explore more of the outdoors, create connection, and see the power of community.

- So are you guys here for the trail preview?

Awesome.

Come on in.

The point of the trail preview is really to help you feel comfortable on the trail, so there are no surprises.

So take your time.

It's a beautiful day.

It's a beautiful trail.

When we sat down to create this, what we really hope is that this is the beginning of a shift in trail running.

We know that there are a lot of people just like this who want to try the trail, but who are intimidated, who aren't vibing with the culture.

And so, we hope that other people realize that this is possible.

- So you got to pull in the knee -A big dirt pile.

- You can find some space.

Yeah, there are some like little bumps.

Yeah, so please be mindful.

- And optional high knees or a big march.

Get that heart rate ready for action.

Five.

Four.

Three.

Two.

One.

Nice job everybody.

So from here, there's a trail right behind the trees.

So you're just running towards the trees and you're going to pick up the trail.

- Hey, I know you're listening to my body.

- Yeah I am slow.

- Alright, keep going.

You're doing great.

Took a different trail, but (laugh) they'll make it back.

- When you moved here in the middle of the pandemic, did you ever imagine that you'd be co-producing a race like this?

- I did not think that I would be producing something like this I had experienced trail, but mostly with just white people in a structured space where I didn't envision seeing something like this for us.

And I guess, you know, you have to be the person that creates the space.

And I also didn't have enough confidence in my self to do something like this on my own.

- Are you saying you love me?

- (laugh) I love you.

- I feel safe with you to do this.

- I feel the same way.

When I moved here four years ago, I left everything that I had created and I didn't know if it would be appropriate for me to build my own community here.

Right?

So I took a few years to see what was available, and then realized that this piece was missing.

So many beautiful trails here.

The outdoors is incredible, but there are not enough of us who are enjoying it.

So partnering with you to bring this vision to life, I feel like is just the perfect way to bring together what I had in New York and what's new here.

- How was it today?

- Really good.

- Okay, sweet.

So now you know.

- I'm ready.

(laughter) - Well, get home safely.

It was good to see you.

Oh, yeah.

- What made you sign up for this race?

- I was trying to get back into this, being active in general, but I wanted to try the trail fest world specifically because I feel it could be a little bit more challenging and be a little more mindful.

Have to pay attention more.

And I saw you guys post about, We Out Here and it felt like, my world was aligning.

I was like, this is what I need, right?

And then to click on it and find out it's geared towards Black women and people of color.

I was like, bingo.

- We out here!

- Have you ever run a trail race before?

No.

It's intimidating when you look them up.

Even just like, am I going to buy the right shoes.

Everybody looks really fit.

Everybody kind of looks like a Lululemon model and, um.

- Are you saying that I don't look like a, wait a second.

This is taking like (laugh).

- They don't.

They don't - look like me, you know.

- I'm kidding.

- I was out there with some of the the younger kiddos, girls.

And it was just nice, you know, to be three little Black girls out there running on a trail.

It really was.

It was incredible.

I'm excited to enter this kind of world of of trail running and see where it where it takes me and also who else I can bring in, right?

- Yes.

It's revolutionary right now in this time that we're in to find joy and to continue on that and not really get bombarded by what society is going through right now.

I think it's it's defiant.

It's a way of protesting, which you have to do safely when you're a, you know, a mom and a woman, a Black woman.

So, this is huge.

Even the title We Out Here is a symbol of we're here.

We've been here.

We're still going to be here.

We'll always be here.

That's just who we are as a culture.

- Aw, so good to meet you.

- You too.

- We are so excited to see so many beautiful people, so much melanin out here today.

Now, raise your hand if you're one of the 66% of people who are running their first trail race today.

- (Cheers) - Wow, look at that, y'all.

After this, you will officially be trail runners, and you will know what it means to show up and feel a sense of belonging in this space, I hope.

Because that's what we're doing it for.

Aaliyah and I came to this vision after being in the road and trail space for a long time, and wishing we could have a race where we felt like we could show up like ourselves, where our music was playing, where the swag was dope.

And you know what?

We didn't find it.

So what did we do?

- We built it.

Cheers) - Aye!

So thank you for believing in our vision.

- Are we ready everybody?

(Cheers) - Are we out here everybody?

(Cheers) - Alright, here we go.

On your mark.

- Set.

- Go!

(Cheering) - I'm excited about not just today, but the future possibilities.

One thing is for sure, we out here!

- We are out here!