With a lifetime of running experience behind him, Justin Ricks launched Mad Moose Events, a series of trail races in Utah and Colorado, in 2015.

Those who know him realize the company name fits well. Ricks stands about 6-foot-3 and has plenty of muscle to power up the trail. But his mind for business has kept him occupied this winter.

Mad Moose will host nine events in 2016, including the 30K U.S. Trail Championships (July 30) which will include some of his favorite trails in the foothills southwest of Colorado Springs.

A Mad Moose event is a low-key family affair as his wife, Denise, is usually by his side - keeping things organized - while their kids Malachi, 14, and Kylah, 12, are romping around nearby.

Ricks backed off his torrid pace of organizing races and running in the local Winter Series long enough to answer a few questions for us. Here's the scoop straight from the Mad Moose himself.

Nice score for Mad Moose. What led you to apply to host the 30K U.S. Trail Championships? When I began directing races, it was important for me to further the sport of trail running.   I wanted to host events that gave runners a great experience; one that made them love running on trails!  But, I also like to have a competitive race, and I make a point of inviting some front pack runners to my races.  All along,  I’ve had a goal of hosting championship events.  I applied for the 30k Champs, in Colorado Springs, because we have such a great running community here!  It is a great place to host a national championship!  It has been great to see the local excitement for the race.

You've organized some fun events, can you tell us about the Pikes Peak Ultra and what can runners in the championship race expect? It will start in Bear Creek Park and it runs through one of my favorite sections of Colorado Springs, High Drive and Cheyenne Canon.  I have been in Colorado Springs for a long time, and I chose some of my favorite trails for the race.  Competitors, of 30k, are in for fairly smooth trails.  It should make for a fast race!

What kind of course will you lay out and where, exactly? There’s a map on our website and a Trail Run Project race profile.  The course isn’t technical, but it offers an opportunity to run on some of the best trails Colorado Springs has to offer.  The trails are local favorite and are usually not as crowded as many other trails in town. With an exciting climb up High Drive, a smooth quick downhill to Cheyenne Canon, and a tour through Cheyenne Canon on Columbine Trail, runners will enjoy all that Pikes Peak Ultra has to offer.

Your races are about as "down-home" as they come ... and we think that's a good thing. With that in mind, do you think it will be a challenge to meet USATF's expectations and keep the funky Mad Moose vibe alive? The race should be fast up front, but it won’t lose the “down-home” feel we have at all our of races.  It should just add to the overall experience, not take away.  My entire family is involved in the hosting of races; you will find my mom, wife, and daughter at the finish line, my dad, sister, brother-in-law, and son are usually at an aid station.  I think they are the ones that create a family atmosphere!  

You have lots of experience as a runner and race director, what do you think makes for a good trail race? The most important part of a good race is a well designed course with great trails. Beautiful views don't hurt either. Also, not all of our courses are extremely technical, but every event has its own challenges that come with it. I also want friendly aid stations, where runners feel welcome and taken care of!  That goes the same for the finish line, whether you just ran a 50k, 50 mile, or even a 10k you want there to be a fun finish line atmosphere...and good food!

MUT running seems to have huge momentum in the running world. Where do you see it going? I see trail running as way to get out and explore the outdoors. It is a natural progression; eventually people will get bored of the road scene and will look for a new adventure! I think that they will be drawn towards trail running. I see people sticking around for a very long time.  Trails don’t beat on you the way roads do, and there are so many trails to explore!

And finally, just how mad is the Moose, really? The Moose is extremely mad nowadays!  With the expansion of our race series, the moose has been extremely busy.  It usually makes him hangry and MAD!  We have added a total of five new events this year to our schedule. These races are Dead Horse Ultra, NORAD Trail Race, Cimarron Endurance Run, High drive Challenge, and Mueller Marathon.