Run Leaders
Local, passionate, and experienced mountain runners will lead all 6 mountain runs. Our Run Leaders have been chosen based on their ability to lead people outdoors, running experience, and personality. Feel free to ask them all your running questions. They are there to keep you safe, as well as encourage, motivate, and share their knowledge.
Silke Koester: Elite Ultra Runner / Rocky Mountain Runners Co-Founder / La Sportiva Mountain Team
Silke lives in Boulder, Colorado with her husband and La Sportiva Mountain Running teammate, Ryan Smith. She has been running ultras since 2008 and co-founded the local running club, Rocky Mountain Runners, in 2013. Silke works full-time in the educational non-profit world, enjoys baking bread and embarking on overly ambitious DIY home remodeling projects. She is also a novice beekeeper. Silke does a lot for the running community, a true ambassador of the sport, and one hell of a mountain runner, which is why we are honored to have her returning to camp next Summer!
Silke has many race podium finishes, but her proudest accomplishments include:
- Finishing my first marathon, the NYC Marathon, in 2006
- Supporting Ryan in his 9th place UTMB finish in 2015
- Two Top 10 finishes at the Pikes Peak Ascent
- Earning the WS100 silver buckle, my first 100 miler, in 2014
- The finish line of every race!
You can follow Silke’s adventures on her blog and running club website:
Phil Germakian: Camp Director / Competitive Mountain Runner / Running Coach
Phil has been a competitive athlete for over 25 years, competing in the sport of wrestling, triathlon, and running. He started running trails over a decade ago, and has finished over 75 races from 1 mile to 100 kilometers. Phil was a school teacher for many years, but is now a full-time stay at home dad, a Lydiard Certified Level-2 running coach, with over 12 years experience leading people of all ages outdoors as an educator. Originally from the east coast, Phil found his love for trail-running in the Catskill Mountains of New York. His passion for exploring mountains brought him to Colorado in 2013, where he now resides with his wife, Christine, and son, George.
Phil’s recent adventures:
- 2019: Moab Trail Marathon
- 2018: Mount Evans Ascent
- 2017: Bryce Canyon 50 Mile – (9th Place)
Follow Phil’s adventures on Instagram: @germakian
