What is Kåduka?

People often ask about our name. Kåduka comes from the Chamorro language of Guam, where our co-founder Jason’s family is from. It means “insane” or “crazy” — the kind of word people might use when they hear you’re running 50 miles through the mountains for fun. To us, it’s the perfect way to capture the spirit of trail running: bold, a little wild, and always fueled by passion.

What is Kåduka?

What is Kåduka?

Our Mission

Kåduka's mission is to make trail running accessible for everyone, inspiring people to get outside, connect with nature, and experience the physical and mental health benefits of being active.

We empower our community to discover the beauty of natural trails, foster meaningful connections, and champion environmental conservation. By encouraging exploration and responsible outdoor practices, Kåduka aims to promote a healthier, more connected, and environmentally conscious world for all.

Our Mission

Kåduka's mission is to make trail running accessible for everyone, inspiring people to get outside, connect with nature, and experience the physical and mental health benefits of being active.

Meet the team

Lil Abelha

Co-founder

Lilian has always been drawn to the space where design meets human experience. Early in her career, she realized that good design isn’t just about aesthetics, it’s about shaping the way people connect with ideas, each other, and the world around them. That perspective carried her through years of leading product design teams and ultimately led her to pursue an MBA in Design Strategy.

From corporate teams to startups, Lil has guided products from concept to impact. Along the way, she discovered that the most meaningful work happens when design meets values. As a board member of Footprints Running, she’s helped support initiatives that combine sport, sustainability, and community, proof that running can be about more than just miles; it can be about building a better future.

Lil is co-creating Kåduka with that same belief at the core: that trail running is about connection, belonging, and shared purpose. Her vision is to help build a platform where the trail community can see itself, grow together, and thrive, on and off the trails.

Jason Santos

Co-founder

Jason has always felt at home in the mountains, whether running up ridgelines, exploring new trails, or pausing on a peak to take in the endless possibilities below. Adventure has always been his compass, and over time, it’s become his clearest value: the drive to step into the unknown and see what’s possible.

That same spirit shaped Jason’s career in design. He started in marketing design but realized that selling things people didn’t really want didn’t feel like the kind of impact he was after. What pulled him in was product design and the craft of solving problems, of making it easier for people to accomplish something meaningful. Over the years, he honed those skills while running further and further into the mountains, pushing past new distances and learning the quiet resilience of ultrarunning. Eventually, the two paths converged: his love of adventure and his passion for designing solutions that matter.

Now, Jason is co-creating Kåduka, a platform built for the trail running community he loves. For him, it’s not just about races, routes, or data, it’s about honoring the spirit of adventure that unites trail runners and designing tools that help them connect more deeply with the trails, the community, and themselves.

Yao Djilan

CTO

Yao’s journey has always been shaped by connection; whether to people, to data, or to the trails. Originally from West Africa, he’s carried that sense of community with him everywhere he’s gone. In the Pacific Northwest trail running scene, he’s a familiar face: you’ll spot him racing, volunteering at races, or simply cheering others on. Everyone knows Yao, and Yao knows everyone.

That same energy flows into his professional life. After graduating from the Universities of Miami and South Florida, he pursued a career in data science, where his ability to see patterns and insights mirrors the way he reads the rhythms of the trail. Today, he brings those skills to the Federal Government, serving at the Department of Veterans Affairs, where his work has a direct impact on the lives of our service members.

Outside of work, Yao travels the world, exploring new cultures and landscapes with the same curiosity that drives him in his data and running. Now, as a co-creator of Kåduka, he’s blending it all —community, science, and adventure—into a platform built to reflect the global trail running spirit he lives every day.

The Intelligence Layer for Trail Running

Kåduka is redefining how trail runners discover, plan, and share their adventures. By combining GPS data, smart difficulty scoring, and a global community, we deliver the most personalized trail recommendations on the planet and create unique opportunities for brands, events, and destinations to connect with an active, engaged audience.

Why Partner With Us