Chris & Anne Barnwell: Creating Texas Trail Community

As a seasoned technology leader with over 20 years of experience, I specialize in building and nurturing thriving communities both running and technical

Anne Barnwell is the co-founder and operations manager of Blaze Trails Running, one of Texas's premier trail racing organizations. Together with her husband Chris, she oversees 12 trail races across the state, from accessible 5Ks to challenging 100-mile ultra-marathons. Anne discovered running in her early thirties as a practical solution for staying active while raising young children—simply throwing them in a jogging stroller and hitting the pavement. What began as a convenient workout evolved into a passion that sustained her through life's challenges, including a divorce in her early forties when running became her mental health lifeline. A dedicated half-marathoner with a personal best of 1:54:22 at Grandma's Marathon in Duluth, Minnesota, Anne proudly advocates that "you can live a happy, fulfilled life and not run a marathon." Her only venture beyond the half-marathon distance was a 30K at Big Horn in the mountains, and she's perfectly content with that choice. Anne met Chris at the Raw Running Club in the Dallas area, where their relationship began during a group run that included the now-legendary "Fireman Ken." Their first official outing was to a Cake concert—with Anne insisting on paying her own way to make clear it wasn't a date. While Chris handles the technical aspects of race directing, Anne manages communications and operations for Blaze Trails Running, all while maintaining her full-time career in communications for a financial services company. She's passionate about making trail running accessible to all distances and abilities, believing that every runner—from first-time 5K participants to seasoned ultra-marathoners—deserves support and encouragement on the trails. Anne is also a mother who successfully balanced raising four children (two of her own, including a son with autism, and two stepchildren) with building a trail racing business, proving that passion projects and family life can coexist with the right priorities and timing.

Chris Barnwell is the founder and race director of Blaze Trails Running, a premier trail racing organization that has become a cornerstone of the Texas ultra-running community. What began as volunteer work with struggling local races has evolved into a thriving business featuring 12 trail races across Texas, from beginner-friendly 5Ks to grueling 100-mile challenges. Chris's journey to trail running began with a wake-up call from his doctor when he weighed 245 pounds. Initially dismissive of the advice, a job layoff became the catalyst for change as walking eventually turned to running. His transformation was remarkable—progressing from an overweight tech worker to a sub-10-hour 50-mile runner whose qualifying time at Rocky Raccoon 50 (9:38) earned him entry into the Western States 100 lottery, making the legendary California race his first 100-miler. For over 25 years, Chris built a successful career in technology and business intelligence, working with organizations like the National Wildlife Federation before taking the entrepreneurial leap into full-time race directing in October 2019—timing that would prove challenging when the pandemic hit just months later. Chris's approach to race directing is meticulous and runner-focused. He spends countless hours scouting venues, mapping trails with GPS technology, and designing courses that maximize the available terrain. Whether it's navigating the 40+ miles of trails at Lake Murray or rediscovering overgrown paths at remote ranches, Chris is known for creating challenging yet fair courses that showcase the best of Texas trail running. His personal ultra-running résumé includes not only Western States but also the iconic Comrades Marathon in South Africa (56 miles), demonstrating his commitment to experiencing the sport from a runner's perspective. This firsthand knowledge informs every aspect of his race management, from aid station placement to course marking. Beyond race directing, Chris contributes to the broader trail running community through volunteer trail work at events like the Hard Rock 100 in Colorado. He met his wife Anne at the Raw Running Club, and together they've built both a successful business and a reputation for putting on some of Texas's most beloved trail races, including Grasslands Trail Run, Rockledge Rumble, and the technical Dana Peak Challenge. Chris believes in making trail running accessible to all abilities while maintaining the authentic, supportive community spirit that makes the sport special.RetryClaude can make mistakes. Please double-check responses.