Eric Lerude has a broad background, and you may know him best for the running races that he directed in the Reno-Tahoe area. Eric and his wife Stephanie founded the Reno-Tahoe Odyssey Relay Run Adventure, the 178-mile relay run around our region. They started the relay the same year that Janet Phillips started the Tahoe-Pyramid Trail – 2003. They became friends with Janet and helped each other with their respective projects. Eric also is a retired attorney and he currently works as a senior planner for Robison Engineering.

Eric has a passion for trails, which are his haven from life’s stressors. He enjoys running, hiking and biking on trails, as well as helping to plan and build them. The Tahoe-Pyramid Trail is one of his favorites. He especially enjoys the section between Verdi, NV and Hirschdale, CA with the views of the Truckee River, Sierra Nevada peaks, and the passing trains.

Eric is a 3rd-generation Renoite. His other interests include travel, history, sports, community organizing, enjoying a hazy IPA, and camping in his teardrop trailer at a scenic destination.