06/29/2026
Dearest Animal Run community. This post is a little long, but one of the most important ones we've shared..
From Eileen Francisco Founder:
🩵 To the friends I know by name, to the ones I recognize from seeing you race year-after-year, and to those animal lovers close to me, not by distance, but to my heart.
It’s time for me to step down from the Animal Run as I am at a solid inflection point for rest and renewal. I am still happily and actively supporting the inaugural July Tunnel Tops BBQ + Guided Tour as well as our spectacular 3rd annual Tofurkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning at the San Leandro Marina. Links are below. For the same reasons as mine, the intrepid Mike Stough, creator and Race Director for the ever-popular Tofurkey Trot, is also stepping down from the board of directors.
Enter the indomitable Victor Ballesteros who, from today, will carry the Animal Run’s vegan-forward mission and fundraise for Bay Area animal organizations. For the past eight years, Victor has been there, supporting my growth as a race director and seeing all the good mistakes and euphoric successes. Victor has watched the core team grow, and now he is seeing it self-correct. I couldn’t think of a better, more experienced, more kind-hearted human to lead this unique and precious organization.
Please support Victor, Jennifer Tobits and Gus Luong as they continue to innovate new experiences while delivering fun-filled mornings of outdoor joy for our 2-and-4-legged friends. I am SO honored to have worked with this dedicated, talented and loving set of individuals.
With love, pride and appreciation for all the GOOD this mighty community has done together, eat kindly and run lightly,
💜 From Victor Ballesteros:
When I first met Eileen Francisco, I had just discovered the sport of Canicross (Canine Cross Country) where your speedy four-legged teammate is specifically tethered to you as you race. And boy, is it a race!
At the same time, Eileen was supporting Harvest Home Animal Sanctuary as a race director. Her crusade would eventually blossom into The Animal Run, an amazing cause promoting a healthy vegan lifestyle, environmental awareness, and most importantly, raising money for animal welfare organizations.
Since her first event, I've been grateful and honored to support the cause along with a number of incredible people. I'm humbled to continue carrying the torch as The Animal Run's new Event Director with the support of Jennifer Tobits and Gus Luong. I truly cannot express my excitement to continue the growth of this amazing endeavor. It's my ultimate hope to see you in the future either running with us virtually, solo, or as a six-legged team.
💥Our next event is the inaugural Summer Tunnel Tops BBQ in the Presidio of San Francisco which includes a fantastic dog-centered guided walking tour. Registration is $50. Please join us and share your ideas for the future of The Animal Run. Our big event will be the annual Tofurkey Trot on November 26th! As our beneficiary is yet to be determined. Stay tuned!
👉🏽Registration is open to both events, so come out in support of all creatures big and small🤟🏽💙🐾
🐾Tunnel Tops Fundraiser:
https://raceroster.com/events/2026/138171/tunnel-tops-presidio-bbq-picnic-and-guided-tour
🦃(not for eating!):
https://raceroster.com/events/2026/115278/the-animal-run-5k-tofurkey-trot
