“ He is passionate about the outdoors, his community, the environment and most importantly he works in the mental health field helping those in their darkest times. ”
- Riley's Mom
“ He's the friend on the trail who makes sure everyone is safe and taken care of, often lending his gear out and sharing his trail snacks. He's knowledgeable and loves to share his ideas and skills with everyone he meets on the trail. He truly is one of the most amazing humans I have ever known. ”
- Mel Elam | Riley's best friend and Obōz Ambassador
"The mountains are a pretty special place. They teach us, humble us, and show us the ups and downs, physically, emotionally, spiritually, but also the beauty within."
Born and raised in Southern New Hampshire, I have been quite fortunate to have been able to experience the joys of the mountains, the ocean, the small-town feeling, and the city of Boston with ease. I wasn’t much of a hiker or runner when I was growing up, we would frequent campgrounds as a family with trips to Maine, New York, and New Jersey. It wasn’t until about 5 years ago that a patient of mine inspired me to start getting outside and running.
Working in a psychiatric inpatient unit, my job is not easy on the body or the mind. Walking all day long, assisting patients, and potentially restraining them too. I needed an outlet, so I started running, and hiking. Now that has taken me all over New England, through the high peaks of New Hampshire, and I am working towards running my first 100mi ultramarathon! I am now working towards my nursing degree, as I will be able to have a bit more of an impact on each individual and their treatment plan. My patients inspire me to get out and try challenging things, and often I come back and inspire them with my pictures and documentation of my adventures.
Riley's Favorites
Favorite Local Trail System:
Tuckerman Ravine Trail | Mt. Washington, NH
Favorite Local Oboz Dealer:
REI | New Hampshire
Riley's Quick Tip
Compress all your gear in a single dry sack, inside your running pack.
"Everything is compressed and then there's drawstrings on the outside that can cinch it down even more. Your pack feels like a second skin, that's what I tell people. It fits that nice."
Trail Talk
Derick & Riley
Obōz Athlete, Derick Lugo, sat down with Riley McGurn to learn more about his time spent on the trail, and commitment to getting others on the trail.
