Jad Daley - Running Toward a Healthier Future
Over the past month, we’ve shared powerful personal stories from Life Time team members across the country who’ve found clarity, strength, and restoration through movement in the great outdoors. From early morning hikes to mindful trail runs, these reflections illustrated what we instinctively know to be true: the connection between wellness and nature is profound—and essential. The outdoors isn’t just where we move our bodies; it’s where we reconnect with ourselves and find space to breathe, think, and heal.
As we wrap up this series, we’re turning the spotlight toward a partner who lives at the intersection of this truth. Jad Daley, President and CEO of American Forests, doesn’t just advocate for the protection and restoration of our nation’s forests—he lives and breathes the mission, quite literally, on some of the most challenging trails in the country. Last August, he participated in the Life Time Leadville Trail 100 Run, a legendary ultramarathon through the thin air and punishing elevation of the Rocky Mountain terrain.
Wearing a message to “Save the Whitebark Pine,” Jad pushed through miles of rugged terrain not just as a test of endurance, but as a moving tribute to the landscapes we must protect. His journey through Leadville mirrors the endurance required in the fight for forest conservation—a fight he leads every day through innovative policy, advocacy, and partnerships.
Iconic Landscapes at Risk
Last year, Life Time Foundation provided a $1 million grant to American Forests to support restoration of whitebark pine. With this support, American Forests is working to catalyze innovations in restoration within America’s beloved national parks. This innovative partnership highlights the shared commitment of both organizations to fostering environmental stewardship and promoting a healthy planet.
Jad, whose extensive career has redefined forest conservation and climate advocacy—from co-founding the Forest-Climate Working Group to shaping key federal policies—brings a unique blend of leadership and athleticism to this vital cause. His story is a testament to how personal passion and professional purpose can converge, inspiring individuals to protect and celebrate the natural landscapes that nourish both mind and body.
Below, Jad shares his thoughts on the convergence of fitness and nature’s impact on our physical and mental health.
How has spending time in nature influenced your fitness, health, or mental well-being?
JD: I’ve come to appreciate that being in the midst of trees and green spaces does far more than offer a beautiful view—it improves mental clarity and reduces stress. Studies show that even brief periods in nature can lower cortisol levels and boost overall mood. For me, whether I’m jogging through a park or simply walking along a quiet trail, I experience a rejuvenating sense of calm that recharges both my body and mind.
Do you have a specific moment when you realized the power of outdoor movement?
JD: I’ve always been an active person but one of the most pivotal moments for me was when I was in college. I had a friend who was a record-setting runner, and at the time, I was training for a different sport. I started chasing him around, and it was then that I realized just how powerful running could be—not just for fitness, but for connecting with nature in a new way.
I’m grateful that my running journey has given me the daily structure to get outside and stay healthy, and to have competitive thrills like running in the Boston Marathon and the mountains of Austria for the run-bike-run world championships as a member of Team USA. But regardless of where you run or how fast, I love that with just a pair of shoes, vision, and willpower, running can help anyone live a fuller and healthier life.
How do you think access to green spaces impacts overall community health and wellness?
JD: Access to green spaces is a matter of equity and health. In America, our lowest-income neighborhoods and communities of color often have far less tree cover—up to 26-38% less—which makes them significantly hotter and more vulnerable to health issues like asthma and heat-related illnesses. At American Forests, initiatives like the Tree Equity Score highlight these disparities and drive efforts to plant more trees and create “cool corridors.” Ultimately, trees are healthcare for our communities, offering shade, improved air quality, and spaces that foster community well-being.
Why do you believe it’s important to protect and preserve outdoor spaces for future generations?
JD: Protecting and preserving outdoor spaces is not only critical for the environment, but also our responsibility to future generations. The trees in America currently capture 14.4 million tons of air pollutants and prevent 670,000 cases of acute respiratory symptoms annually. With the proven benefits trees provide to both our physical and mental health, I believe it is our moral imperative to ensure everyone, including future generations, has access to them.
We’re especially proud of partnerships, like the Girl Scout Tree Promise, where youth from across the country are directly involved in recovery and restoration efforts, such as those at Yellowstone. Engaging people of all ages in these efforts ensures that we’re building a movement for the future—one that includes everyone and amplifies their voices.
This question reaches the heart of our values here at American Forests, where we embrace diverse perspectives and indeed rely on the knowledge of those who know their community’s needs the best. Through the combined efforts of our forestry innovation and place-based partnerships, we are building a movement, the results of which will be enjoyed by generations to come.
As we look to the future, we are grateful to our partners who help turn bold plans into meaningful action. Forests are the lungs of the Earth, yet deforestation and declining urban canopies are placing both ecosystems — and people — at risk. That’s why the Life Time Foundation is proud to support American Forests this Earth Month and throughout the year as they work to restore and protect our nation’s forests. From forest restoration in large natural landscapes to increasing urban tree canopy, their efforts ensure a healthier, more resilient future for all.
In celebration of Earth Month and our continued commitment to conservation, the Life Time Foundation has provided a $300,000 grant to American Forests to support reforestation of the Rim Fire burn scar in California’s Stanislaus National Forest, just west of Yosemite National Park. This initiative builds on our shared mission to heal damaged landscapes and protect the planet for future generations.
Join us in taking action — because in the fight for a more resilient future, we can’t afford to hold our breath. Learn more at www.americanforests.org.
Why Trees Matter So Much — for the Health of People and the Planet
Life Time Talks With Jad Daley and Sarah Emola
Season 8, Episode 6 | April 23, 2024
From cooling and cleaning the air to improving our mental and physical well-being, the effects that trees have on our health are more powerful and wide-reaching than many of us may realize — or give them credit for. In this episode, we discuss the significance of trees with Jad Daley, chief executive officer of American Forests, and Sarah Emola, executive director of the Life Time Foundation and ESG programs at Life Time. We also talk about how these two organizations are working together to plant more trees and protect existing forests and habitats.