Locals –
Meet Holly Espinoza.

When I met Holly Espinoza to chat about Midwest trail running over coffee, it wasn’t a surprise that she arrived on her bike. But don’t let her new wheels fool you—Holly’s heart (and most of her time) is firmly on the ground, with two feet in the dirt. As Race Director of the West Michigan Whiskey Rollers, she’s become a driving force in West Michigan’s trail running community.

Whether she’s organizing events like the Midwest Everest or pacing friends at ultra-marathons across the country, Holly radiates a passion for trails—and the people who run them.

Growing up in Northwest Ohio, she was more about speed on the track than serenity on the trail. “I ran track in high school—short distances, like 400 meters or less. Long-distance running was never on my radar back then,” she said. Holly moved to Michigan in 2000 to attend Grand Valley State University. “I fell in love with the area and never looked back,” she shared.

Her love of trail running started in 2013 when a friend invited her to run the Fall Classic Dirty Herd at Robinette’s apple orchard in Grand Rapids, Michigan. “It was four miles, and I was hooked,” Holly said. “I fell in love with the trails, the community, and the challenge.” Since then, she’s become a fixture on the Midwest trail scene, not just as a runner but also as a race organizer. She’s run races all over the U.S., recently completing the Gorge Waterfall 100K in Oregon this past April. But for Holly, nothing compares to the Midwest.

“What’s special about the Midwest is the community,” she said. “Our trails are tough—technical and demanding—and they’re not what people expect. You think Midwest, you think flat and boring. It’s not like that at all. And the people? They’re the best. There’s always someone ready to run with you, no matter your pace.”

That sense of community is woven into the events Holly helps organize. The Midwest Everest, which she co-founded in 2020 with Jake Roersma and Patrick Dunning, is a one-of-a-kind challenge. Participants complete 152 loops of 0.6 miles at Cannonsburg Ski Area, climbing the equivalent of Mount Everest: 29,029 feet. “It’s the only event like it in the Midwest,” Holly said. “It’s mentally tough—seeing the same people every 0.6 miles, loop after loop, can get to you—but it’s also incredibly rewarding. There’s a camaraderie that you don’t find in every race.”

The event draws runners from all over, including one participant who makes the trip annually from Minnesota. “It’s hard, but people can do hard things,” Holly said. “We’re here to help them make that happen. We provide everything from motivational support to pancakes and bacon at the aid station. It’s a whole experience.”

The Midwest Everest event offers something for every level of trail runner, from the full Everest challenge to the Base Camp half Everest, which covers 50 miles with 14,500 feet of gain. For those looking for shorter yet equally hilly experiences, there’s the Sunset 10K, the Sunrise 20K, or a combo of both for double the fun and adventure. This year’s event is on Saturday and Sunday, September 28-29, 2024, and registration for all races is open.