Wild Ideas Worth Living · Tuesday, September 8, 2026
Growing up, Alison Mariella Désir did not have a concept of the 'outdoors' as a space for adventure, viewing it simply as going outside. She was an active child, involved in activities like climbing trees and running track, but only began to approach the outdoors intentionally about 10-15 years ago. Her return to distance running in 2012, after experiencing depression and joblessness, was a pivotal moment.
“Yeah, you know, I would say that growing up, I didn't have a concept of the outdoors. I thought about the outdoors as going outside. Right?”
“I would say it wasn't until, like, 10 or 15 years ago that I started to think, um, about the outdoors as a space for adventure in a more intentional way.”
“And I returned to distance running after being very, very depressed. I was at home during this time in my life because I couldn't find a job.”