I am a political strategist, author, and trail runner.


Born & raised in the beautiful backwoods of Southern Appalachia and the North Cascades, mountain trails underfoot have been a constant for me ever since I took my first steps. I have been running as a means of play & exploration for most my life, frequently startling deer and foxes in the open meadows and farmlands near our home and ducking through forests of rhododendron to link up forgotten logging roads hidden deep in the mountains. I keep coming back for the grounding sense of connection - to self, others, and the land - that flows unrestrained on the trail, and which feels all the more essential amidst this digital world. It's those same things, manifested in a very different way, that draw me to the work of organizing for political change. 

In 2018, with - and at the behest of - my dear friend and fellow climate activist Chloe Maxmin, I set out on a journey to explore what might be done to rebuild rural politics. Chloe ran for the District 88 Maine House of Representatives seat where she grew up and I managed her campaign, knowing we faced steep odds. Our approach worked, and it was the first ever Democratic win in a rural district that had voted Republican by a 16-point margin over the past three elections. 


In 2020 Chloe ran for State Senate in the most rural county of the most rural state in the nation, challenging the most powerful Republican in the Maine government: Dana Dow, the Senate Minority Leader.


A longtime fixture of Maine politics, Dow had never lost a general election since he was first elected to the Senate in 2004. In fact, the last time that Senate leadership had been knocked out by either party in Maine was in 1992 – the year Chloe was born. The Bangor Daily News, one of the state’s largest papers, would later compare our race to the boxing match between Buster Douglas and Mike Tyson (one of the greatest upsets in sports history, Douglas – a 42:1 underdog – won that match by knockout against then undefeated heavyweight champion of the world Tyson). On November 3rd, 2020, Chloe won, becoming the youngest woman Senator in the history of Maine. 



Generation Green New Deal x Inherited: Maine's Green New Deal Champion



The Dirtbag Diaries: What Unites Us





Blue Ridge Outdoors: Meet Canyon and Forest Woodward

Dirt Road Revival

Chloe and I are co-authors of 

Dirt Road Revival: 

How To Rebuild Rural Politics And Why Our Future Depends On It      (Beacon Press, Boston. March 2022)


The Democratic Party left rural America behind. This urgent rallying cry shows how Democrats can win back and empower overlooked communities that have been pushing politics to the right -- and why long term progressive political power depends on it.


PRE-ORDER
Race Results
Upcoming Races
Race Results

8/8/21 - USATF 50K Trail Championship // 5:18, 5th Overall // Danbury, NH

5/14/21 - Cruel Jewel 100 (106mi, 30,000 ft of elevation gain) // 22:36, 1st Overall (Course Record) // Blairsville, GA [Race Recap]

3/20/21 - Assault on Blackrock // 1:06:21, 1st Overall (Course Record) // Sylva, NC

1/18/20 - Tsali Frosty Foot 50k // 3:57, 1st Overall // Almond, NC

10/5/19 - The Naturalist 50k // 5:02, 1st Overall // Franklin, NC

4/20/19 - Hellbender 100 Miler (24,000+ ft of elevation gain) // 23:22, 3rd Overall // Asheville, NC

1/20/19 - Tsali Frosty Foot 50k // 4:10, 2nd Overall // Almond, NC

Upcoming Races


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“I’m voting in this election because everything I hold dear is at stake.” - @canyonwoodward, Maine trail runner. ⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ “As a young person living in the most rural county of the most rural state in the nation, I worry about the future as more and more young people leave to find work in cities. We need to elect people who will help Maine evolve so that our children and grandchildren can stay and build lives here too. I want them to know the simple pleasures of Saturdays at the speedway, fresh lobster at the wharf, trail runs in fall, and the deep absorbing quiet of winter. I’m voting for all the rural youth and Mainers of my generation who face the agonizing decision of whether we can stay and build our lives here.”⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ Make a plan to vote through the link in our bio. Photo: @forestwoodward

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✍: @annacalla If you haven’t voted yet, it’s time to get moving. If you have, then maybe you’ve got time for a film. In “Rural Runner” filmmaker @forestwoodward follows his brother @canyonwoodward as he runs a political campaign and runs trails in rural America. Canyon is the campaign manager for Chloe Maxmin, who was elected to Maine’s House of Representatives in 2018, becoming the youngest woman to do so. This year she’s running for a seat in the Maine State Senate. “Both politics and trail running require running through the seasons and not just going out when the sun is shining and you’re feeling great. It takes getting out there day in and day out even when it’s really difficult,” says Canyon. “There’s something especially gratifying and fulfilling on a deeper level when you slog through those cold, dark times and make it through to the other side.” The film's about politics and it’s about running, but mostly it's about showing up and about finding common ground. [https://vimeo.com/473942482]. Photos: Forest Woodward.

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“Everything that we love is affected by politics for better or worse, and we can't afford to not be engaged with it,” says Canyon Woodward. Today we hear stories from two people who’ve leaned in and worked directly with elected leaders to have a say in the future of the places we love. Canyon Woodward explains how trail running is a lot like running for office, and Kareemah Batts shares what it’s like to Climb The Hill on behalf of public lands and the outdoor community. We will also hear from a broad set of voices across our country about why participation in the democratic process matters. Please listen to What Unites Us at www.dirtbagdiaries.com or find us wherever you get your podcasts. Also, please vote. Produced by @ashleelangholz and @cordeliazars. Big love to everyone who contributed to this episode: @herhopness @adaptclimbgroup @canyonwoodward @perrylcohen @theventureoutproject @amachuuf @josebilingue @eliz_nakano @drewhh @freemanexplore Huge thanks to our primary sponsor for The Diaries, @patagonia. Big high fives to our supporting sponsors @kuatracks and @kickinghorsecoffee. #ReadyToVote Illustration by @waltronic Layout and type by @anya_miller

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