It has truly been a pleasure to get to create the brand for Wolfpack Running Club.
A few years ago, my kids joined a cross country team at their school through an elementary program. It was a fun intro-to-running program that was game-based and taught kids how to love running and be part of a team. They showed some natural talent when training and in 2021, my youngest was invited to join the competition team where he qualified to run at the USATF Cross Country National Championships. We weren’t able to attend that meet, but he was determined to qualify for Nationals again the following year.
In the following spring, the folks who ran those teams moved away from the larger, multi-city organization they had been part of and created their own nonprofit running club. Wolfpack Running Club was born with an elementary program for kindergarten thru 6th grade and a competition program for 3rd through 8th grade. In the spring they do track and field and in the fall they do cross country. They are affiliated with USA Track & Field and compete at local meets, state meets, and sometimes USATF National meets.
That spring, both of my boys joined the competition team and learned the ins and outs of track and field.
Throughout all of this, I have been the designer for their logos, merch, website, social media, and branding. I take photos at meets and some trainings. We started with these navy t-shirts and the hashtag that goes on everything #OnePack.
From there we created uniform singlets, hoodies, jackets, pullovers, drawstring backpacks, beanies, and hats. We also have vinyl stickers, temporary tattoos, Croc charms, and we are looking at possibly adding a tie-dye hoodie and a trucker running hat next year.
Every cross country season, athletes on the comp team keep track of their miles. When they reach 100 miles, they earn a t-shirt that has a different design each year.
100 Mile Pack tee from 2022 Cross Country
100 Mile Pack tee from 2023 Cross Country - I’m really proud of this design.
In the spring with track and field, rather than track miles (because sprinters and kids who specialize in field events don’t get much mileage), they are encouraged to train and/or compete in ALL of the events and keep track of them. Lots of kids join track with an idea of what they want to compete in, but then later realize they’re awesome at something else. My cross country kid turned out to be great at hurdles. My youngest thought he wanted to be a sprinter but turned out to be awesome at mid-distance. Also, if they join the track team in high school, odds are high they won’t get to do more than one or two events.
2022’s Track & Field earned tee. We learned this color tee doesn’t look that great in person.
2023’s Track & Field earned tee. I was really happy with the design on this one. One Pack Mind… get it? Like One Track Mind? For track & field?? Lol.
For cross country season, we typically have a large group that will qualify and make the trip to USATF Nationals. So I design a t-shirt for those kids and a parent version that family can purchase.
2022 USATF XC Nationals Tees
2023 USATF XC Nationals Tees
Throughout the seasons, I have also created certificates and inspirational things that we do for these awesome kids along with flyers, meet posters, yard signs, banners, and social media graphics. Some are super simple, some are more complex.
Little 4x6 signs for track or cross country, and bookmarks.
In the spring, we are hoping to buy these trucker running hats to sell to our athletes and their families that are adorned with a watercolor painting that I did of Lone Peak here in Utah. Almost all of our training happens around the base of this mountain.
It has truly been a blast creating this brand and I am so proud of how it has become cohesive and evolved into something that I hope these kids are proud to represent. We see a local high school cross country team doing runs around town and nothing makes me prouder than seeing former teammates wearing their Wolfpack t-shirt.
On social media, give us a follow! We’re @wolfpackrunningutah on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.