Columbia Winter Trail Series
First Run
Sunday, January 4, 2026Start Time
7:00 amTraining Runs
Sunday Sunday SundayStart Time
7:00 am 8:00 am 8:30 am
Share With Friends
Coach: Ryan Williams
Ryan lives in Columbia, Maryland with his wife, adventurous three-year-old daughter, and energetic Wheaten Terrier who’s always up for a run. He grew up in Carroll County surrounded by hundreds of acres of woods, and as a kid, spent countless hours exploring every trail, stream, and hidden corner he could find. That early love for the outdoors sparked a lifelong connection to nature and running, where running has become both a place for adventure and a space to
grow as a person. Running has been a constant throughout his adult life—a space where challenge, self-discovery, and calm coexist. There’s nothing quite like a crisp 5 a.m. run through fresh snow or a gnarly singletrack shared with good company. These moments remind him that running is a journey, not just a goal. It’s this mindset he brings to coaching: helping athletes build a lifelong love of the sport while becoming stronger, more resilient humans along the way.
Ryan has competed in everything from 5ks to 24-hour races. He is excited to share the magic of the trails with anyone looking to have some human-powered adventure in nature. You can usually find him running trail loops in Wincopin or long out-and-backs in Patapsco while eating a quesadilla and dangerously bombing some technical downhills.
Sponsored by Altra
Description
Join Coach Ryan for a welcoming, community-based trail series designed for every runner. Whether you’re dipping your toes into trail running (1–2 miles) or building up to longer adventures (1–2 hours), you’ll have a place here.
With over a year of leading “Intro to Trails” groups across Howard County, Coach Ryan brings expert guidance, local knowledge, and an inclusive spirit to help you grow your skills — and your love for the trails.
What You’ll Learn
- How to navigate trails safely and confidently
- Essential gear that keeps you comfortable
- Trail technique for all terrain types
- Group pacing and trail etiquette
- Where the best local trails are hidden
Schedule
Each week features looped routes so you’ll always have others nearby — including your coach.
Choose your start time based on your goal:
7:00 AM → Up to 2 hours (long adventure)
8:00 AM → ~1 hour (steady run)
8:30 AM → ~30 minutes (beginner-friendly)
Locations rotate between top local trail systems:
Wincopin Trails (Savage) • Gorman Nature Area (Columbia) • Middle Patuxent Environmental Area (Clarksville)
Who Can Join?
Everyone. Seriously.
No trail experience required. Beginners welcome. Road runners curious about dirt welcome. Veterans looking for company welcome.
Winter Series Dates (2026)
Jan 4,11
Jan 18 – Off
Jan 25
Feb 1
Feb 8 – Optional: Froggy Hollow 5/9
Feb 15, 22
Mar 1, 8, 15, 22
(We’ll support popular local spring races, but the program is not tied to a single goal event.)
Requirements
No prior trail running experience is required to join this group. Required Equipment: Trail Shoes, Method to carry 15 oz of water
What To Expect
- 1X WEEKLY RUNS
-
POSITIVE AND WELCOMING ATMOSPHERE FOR RUNNERS OF ALL LEVELS
-
ACCESS TO EXPERT COACHING SERVICES AND ADVICE
-
10% STORE DISCOUNT AT CHARM CITY RUN
- $20 CHARM CITY RUN GIFT CARD
- 15% OFF CHARM CITY RUN SIGNATURE RACES
-
NUTRITION, GEAR AND INJURY PREVENTION EDUCATION
- ALTRA PREMIUM
Questions
Do you have a question about our training programs? Send an email to our Training Director, Natalie Ferguson, at natalie@charmcityrun.com and we will get back to you with more information.
Columbia Winter Trail Series
First Run
Sunday, January 4, 2026Start Time
7:00 amTraining Runs
Sunday Sunday SundayStart Time
7:00 am 8:00 am 8:30 am
Sponsored by Altra
Description
Join Coach Ryan for a welcoming, community-based trail series designed for every runner. Whether you’re dipping your toes into trail running (1–2 miles) or building up to longer adventures (1–2 hours), you’ll have a place here.
With over a year of leading “Intro to Trails” groups across Howard County, Coach Ryan brings expert guidance, local knowledge, and an inclusive spirit to help you grow your skills — and your love for the trails.
What You’ll Learn
- How to navigate trails safely and confidently
- Essential gear that keeps you comfortable
- Trail technique for all terrain types
- Group pacing and trail etiquette
- Where the best local trails are hidden
Schedule
Each week features looped routes so you’ll always have others nearby — including your coach.
Choose your start time based on your goal:
7:00 AM → Up to 2 hours (long adventure)
8:00 AM → ~1 hour (steady run)
8:30 AM → ~30 minutes (beginner-friendly)
Locations rotate between top local trail systems:
Wincopin Trails (Savage) • Gorman Nature Area (Columbia) • Middle Patuxent Environmental Area (Clarksville)
Who Can Join?
Everyone. Seriously.
No trail experience required. Beginners welcome. Road runners curious about dirt welcome. Veterans looking for company welcome.
Winter Series Dates (2026)
Jan 4,11
Jan 18 – Off
Jan 25
Feb 1
Feb 8 – Optional: Froggy Hollow 5/9
Feb 15, 22
Mar 1, 8, 15, 22
(We’ll support popular local spring races, but the program is not tied to a single goal event.)
Requirements
No prior trail running experience is required to join this group. Required Equipment: Trail Shoes, Method to carry 15 oz of water
What To Expect
- 1X WEEKLY RUNS
-
POSITIVE AND WELCOMING ATMOSPHERE FOR RUNNERS OF ALL LEVELS
-
ACCESS TO EXPERT COACHING SERVICES AND ADVICE
-
10% STORE DISCOUNT AT CHARM CITY RUN
- $20 CHARM CITY RUN GIFT CARD
- 15% OFF CHARM CITY RUN SIGNATURE RACES
-
NUTRITION, GEAR AND INJURY PREVENTION EDUCATION
- ALTRA PREMIUM
Questions
Do you have a question about our training programs? Send an email to our Training Director, Natalie Ferguson, at natalie@charmcityrun.com and we will get back to you with more information.
Share With Friends
Coach: Ryan Williams
Ryan lives in Columbia, Maryland with his wife, adventurous three-year-old daughter, and energetic Wheaten Terrier who’s always up for a run. He grew up in Carroll County surrounded by hundreds of acres of woods, and as a kid, spent countless hours exploring every trail, stream, and hidden corner he could find. That early love for the outdoors sparked a lifelong connection to nature and running, where running has become both a place for adventure and a space to
grow as a person. Running has been a constant throughout his adult life—a space where challenge, self-discovery, and calm coexist. There’s nothing quite like a crisp 5 a.m. run through fresh snow or a gnarly singletrack shared with good company. These moments remind him that running is a journey, not just a goal. It’s this mindset he brings to coaching: helping athletes build a lifelong love of the sport while becoming stronger, more resilient humans along the way.
Ryan has competed in everything from 5ks to 24-hour races. He is excited to share the magic of the trails with anyone looking to have some human-powered adventure in nature. You can usually find him running trail loops in Wincopin or long out-and-backs in Patapsco while eating a quesadilla and dangerously bombing some technical downhills.
