Wingfoot Running Camp Sees Largest Attendance in Program History

The 2025 Wingfoot Running Camp marked its biggest year yet, drawing more than 400 middle and high school athletes to the University of Alabama in Huntsville for two sold-out weeks in July.

Hosted annually by Atlanta Track Club, Wingfoot Running Camp offers student-athletes an immersive summer training experience led by experienced coaches, elite athletes and college-aged counselors. This year's edition sold out months in advance and set a new participation record.

While the current version of the camp launched in 2016, it carries more than 50 years of tradition. Several coaches have been involved with the program for decades, and staff collectively bring more than 500 years of coaching experience.

Before the alarm clocks buzzed for early morning trail runs, before the post-run popsicles and before life-long friendships were cemented in the Appalachian hills, the 2025 Wingfoot Running Camp was already shaping up to be unforgettable. And by the time parents arrived at the end of the week, it was safe to assume something special had happened.

For two weeks in mid-July, Wingfoot Running Camp hosts hundreds of middle and high school athletes, coaches, counselors and staff members at the University of Alabama in Huntsville for an immersive running experience. This year, the camp saw the largest number of participants in its history, with more than 400 athletes attending at least one of the weeks and both weeks selling out months prior to the start date.

While Wingfoot Running Camp dates to 2016, it holds more than 50 years of tradition, and the staff coaches alone have a combined total of over 500 years of experience. Each year, coaches temporarily leave their day jobs at various schools to return to their other family—their "Camp Family."

"This camp is my summer vacation—it's my chance to reunite with family, create wonderful memories and make new friends," said Eric Nelson, Atlanta Track Club Event Manager and Wingfoot Running Camp staff member.

Each day started with a 6 a.m. wake-up call from counselors, who made sure all campers were ready to go for the day's trail run. Groups then gathered outside in that day's themed outfit, such as "Merica Monday" and "Wacky Wednesday," before heading out on scenic trails through Huntsville's wooded parks and lakeside gravel paths.

Counselors, many of them former campers or current college runners, led small pace groups for each run and modeled team spirit — often seen chanting, cheering or holding up group numbers for passing cameras during their runs.

Wingfoot Running Camp served as a growth opportunity for counselors, coaches and staff members as well. Lottie Chappell, a sophomore at Georgia Tech and high school state champion, graduated from counselor to Recreation Director this year, allowing her to reignite her love for the sport in a new way. While continuing to lead pace groups and fulfill administrative tasks throughout the week, she realized the "chaos" she felt ensuring everything ran smoothly was creating the "best week of campers' lives."

"I realized this year what true 'Camp Family' is," Chappell said. "Watching the campers make new friends and grow to love the sport even more meant the world to me, and it reminded me that I'm helping with something bigger than myself."

The time between the morning and effort-based afternoon runs was filled with buffet-style meals in the campus dining hall and breakout sessions of their choice. Topics covered include training principles, injury prevention and nutrition.

Guest speakers included experts across multiple fields - from physical therapists to national champion Jane Hedengren. Members of the Atlanta Track Club Elite team made appearances each week to speak on perseverance, give tips for college recruitment and share their love for the sport, especially in Atlanta where many campers called home.

For first-time attendee Bailey Brackett, a rising junior from Rabun, Georgia, the experience offered more than just workouts and education sessions. Inspired by Camp Director Alan Drosky's message— "Try to make the experience enjoyable for everyone around you as well as yourself"—Brackett said the week helped her view the sport through a new lens.

"Running often feels like an individual sport, but it's also about making the experience fun and enjoyable for everybody else around you," she said. "That's something I'm definitely going to take into my next cross country season, and it just reminded me of how important it is to life everyone up around you."

The camp also offers leadership opportunities for returning participants. Georgia Tech sophomore and former state champion Lottie Chappell returned this year as Recreation Director after previously serving as a counselor. In addition to leading runs and helping organize camp operations, she said the week gave her a new appreciation for the camp's community impact.

"I realized this year what true 'camp family' is," Chappell said. "Watching the campers make new friends and grow to love the sport even more meant the world to me, and it reminded me that I'm helping with something bigger than myself."

Once the sessions were completed and campers' bellies were full of dining hall ice cream, each day capped with a recreation activity. No matter what the activity was, from volleyball tournaments to talent shows, campers let their competitive natures shine.

Evening activities gave campers a break from running while keeping the competitive spirit alive. From talent shows to volleyball tournaments, each day ended with recreation and camaraderie.

The last day of the week featured a graduation run through Cathedral Caverns State Park, where athletes braved the dark, cool cave trails. After the run, they gathered in the auditorium for one last guest speaker—the commencement speech from Atlanta Track Club's CEO, Rich Kenah.

When parents greeted their athletes, they were greeted with tired yet fulfilled campers ready to share their stories and hit the roads for more miles, perhaps even dreaming of what they'll experience at next year's camp yet again.

Registration for the 2026 Wingfoot Running Camp is now open here.