Fast Women: Runners who made a difference in 2025
A look at some of the people who make their running communities better.
Issue 387
It was a very quiet week in running, so this week’s newsletter mainly focuses on people who made a positive difference in the sport in 2025. But first, briefly, some news.
Last week, USATF issued a permanent SafeSport ban to longtime Saratoga Springs (NY) High School cross country and track & field coaches Linda and Art Kranick over emotional and physical misconduct. The most surprising aspect of the ban is its timing, because Art Kranick died on November 8. The controversy surrounding the program is well documented, but you can read more of the background here. Linda Kranick reportedly told The Daily Gazette (two-sentence article) that she will appeal the decision. Becca Peter posted a good rundown of some of the details on TikTok. As she pointed out, it’s not clear if USATF knew Art was already dead when they banned him, but if his name disappears from the database in the coming weeks, that will be a sign that it was an accident.
Josette Andrews, Alabama’s Doris Lemngole, and BYU’s Jane Hedengren will race the 3,000m at the Millrose Games on February 1.
Front Office Sports’ Margaret Fleming reported that Grand Slam Track is more than $31 million in debt, and the rest of the league’s current situation is best explained by Fleming. She also did a 33-minute interview about GST with Sports Talk Tech, which is available on YouTube. (And it sounds like GST’s $1.1 million loan from Winners Alliance has been approved.)
Kellyn Taylor is moving ahead with her pursuit of a firefighting career, and that unfortunately conflicted with her plan to run the Marathon Project. She posted that the day before the race, she underwent rigorous testing, which went well. She hoped that she would magically feel good the following day, but she did not, which led to her dropping out of the race 15 miles in.
Gabi Rooker shared that she underwent a myomectomy last week.
I appreciated learning more about and getting an update from Katie Izzo on the Fast People podcast last week. She recently had a breakthrough runner-up finish at the USATF Cross Country Championships, and she’ll represent the U.S. at the World Cross Country Championships on January 10 in Tallahassee. She talked about what makes her so good at cross country and told the story of the titanium rod in her tibia, among other things.
Additional Podcasts: It was good to get a Steph Bruce update on Road to the Trials, and Tessa Barrett was also on the show after running under the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials qualifying standard twice this fall, which wasn’t the original plan | Jane Hedengren was on the Citius Mag podcast | And USATF’s Amy Begley and Rob Mullett discussed the USATF Tour, scheduling championships well in advance, and the Olympic Marathon Trials on Fast People.
Runners who made a difference in 2025
This has been a very hard year in many regards. In an effort to end it on a bright note, I asked you to share who you appreciate in the running community. I’m deeply thankful to everyone who took the time and care to nominate someone.
I received 148 nominations, and it was difficult to narrow those down to 32 finalists. It’s impossible to determine someone’s worthiness from, in some cases, a couple sentences, so what remains is just a small sample of the many wonderful people and organizations that have had a positive impact on the running community in 2025. (So many of you had such glowing praise for your coaches that it was very difficult to stand out in that category. And I’m touched that a few of you nominated me, but sorry, I’m not putting myself on my own list.)
Almost all of these submissions have been edited significantly for length and lightly for clarity. In the cases where people had multiple nominators, I listed only the ones whose submissions I have quoted.
In memory of Christina Chambers
Christina, who died on December 16, was a pivotal part in our Birmingham running community. Our hearts are broken. She recently met her goal of running a sub-19:00 5K in November, and recently won another 5K. In our core running group, she was always the one who met at 5:00 a.m.; you could always count on her. She had plans to run the NYC Half Marathon in March and Boston in April. Her next plan was to run the 2027 Berlin Marathon to gain another star. She was a sub-3:00 marathoner and showed up every day, no matter how tired she was, and gave her best because she loved running just that much. —Shea Zablan
In memory of Susan Hurley
Hurley founded CharityTeams and died on November 1.
She helped so many people—many who would not describe themselves as runners—run a marathon and find joy in running. I ran my first Boston as a charity runner in 2015 with her guidance. The CharityTeams group led me to discover a love of running and become an overall fan of the sport. She did a lot for everyday runners. I think her memory lives on in all the charities and all the runners she helped. —Sarah H.
My morning running group: Colleen, Karen, and Kris
When we moved to Eugene in 2002, my new next door neighbor asked if I ran and then invited me to run with her morning group. Twenty-three years later, the group has changed over time. But the four of us have persisted, regularly running together for more than two decades. Kris, one of the owners of Run Hub, didn’t move here until 2013, so she’s new to the group. Twelve years is new.
Colleen, Karen, and Kris provide companionship, mental health support, group problem solving, laughs, advice (but only when asked), and we always come back to our homes, an hour later, in a better headspace and cheerier mood. Mostly because in that hour we talk so much sh*t. We say terrible things out loud. But what’s said on the run stays on the run. This is the rule. Also, this is why husbands don’t run with us.
I credit this group, in part, for all of us having long-lasting marriages, staying in our jobs, and being happy in the mornings when our kids see us. We also irritate each other. I won’t list our peccadillos, but we have them. We are like a little weird family that sees each other only when it’s dark out. And it’s a wonderful little family. —Wendy Whitney Pierpont
Marne Sullivan
Marne started Hear & Out to support other deaf athletes, especially runners. There is zero space for us in running, as is the case for so many people with disabilities that aren’t “trending.” She highlights issues like not having accommodations for starting guns (a big deal for sprinters), runners getting DQed at championships because they can’t hear the instructions, and she educates on what it’s like to be a deaf athlete. She’s even started an in-person running group for deaf runners and hopes to expand to other cities.
Running is very lonely for deaf athletes. No one cares that race announcements are inaccessible to us, or that we can’t hear the awards ceremony so we don’t collect our prizes. I recently won a 5K but because I was up front, I had no one to follow and couldn’t hear the marshals yelling, so I went off course. I’ve missed my race starts many times because I didn’t know the race was going. We are pretty much invisible in this sport, but I appreciate Marne trying to change that. —@quiet_jewelrymaker
Ellen Evangelides
For many, Ellen’s name is synonymous with the Silver Lake Track Club in Los Angeles. That’s because you can find her captaining runs with a huge smile—giving a warm welcome and making friends with everyone—and organizing charity events.
On the night of the Eaton Fire, Ellen was the first to check in as we were evacuated and offer a place to stay. That text was the first glimmer of light and care amidst a very dark night as our entire beloved neighborhood burned.
In the wake of the fires, Ellen (along with SLTC’s founder Howie Goldklang and member Kevin van ‘t Klooster) began the real, unglamorous work leading a truly behemoth, incredibly impactful effort creating the Altadena to Palisades Run. The run took place in May once the literal dust had settled a bit. The attention of others had understandably moved on, yet the emotional and logistical recovery process for Altadena and Palisades residents had only barely begun.
ATP was a 50K from the edge of the burn scar in Altadena, winding through Los Angeles, and ending at the beach at the edge of Pacific Palisades. Folks could run the whole thing, team up as a relay, or just run part. The point was community, healing, and the power of running to do some serious fundraising. My spouse and I ran from the remains of our house to the start in Altadena, and when we arrived, Ellen and others wrapped us in the biggest, most love-filled cry circle.
It was an incredible, magical, healing day that exemplifies the spirit resilience of Altadena and LA and LA Running. We raised over $50,000 for carefully vetted fire relief efforts and community staples like the Altadena Library. (Note: The second edition of the run will take place in February.) —Heather B.
Spencer Casey
In January, I lost my house to the Eaton Fire. Coach Spencer was one of the first to contact me, and offered to coach me for the rest of the year for free. Every single workout, every long run, every race, Coach Spencer always prompts checks in and offers his guidance. We have been keeping my training very flexible due to my fire recovery and my family situation, and he’s gone above and beyond. —Jinghuan Liu Tervalon
Katie Douglas
Katie runs an incredible store, Running Wylder, here in San Francisco that serves as a community space and is design- and woman-focused. Her recent Substack post speaks to why she’s different from others in the running space. —Andrew Osborne
Running in San Francisco is so. much. better. now that Katie and Running Wylder are here. She’s put on the best, most creative community events in the past year (like the Hot Girl Relay or Race Before the Race), bringing runners from so many clubs together. I’m grateful for her example that we can show up as we are, that we don’t have to be perfect, and that making space for joy is in fact good enough. Also she has such an eye for delight and beauty and joy and it just feels good to be in her store. —KH
Andrea Haus
Dre is in charge of community at Mill City Running which puts her at the helm of their 1,000-person race team and group runs through the store. The Twin Cities running community wouldn’t be what it is without her. She is often one of the first faces people see when they join the Mill City community and a big reason people come back again and again. —Ellen S.
MCR has the only race team that I have experienced that is actually inclusive of all bodies and paces, and Dre is the reason for that. —Jayne Cole Southard
Steph Bruce
I’m part of the new Tracksmith Stamata team. Steph has been an absolutely incredible mentor, not only organizing things for us (camps, meetups, Zoom calls), but also really being available to take our questions. She keeps weekly office hours and is incredibly open and can talk to us about anything (fueling, periods, whatever, she is easy to chat with). Every time I talk to her I leave more encouraged. Her level of compassion for each of us and her relentless belief in us is amazing. I was a huge fan of hers before I joined the team but getting to know her has just proven she is an absolute gem. —Teal Burrell
Sasha Wolff
After suffering a mental health crisis, Sasha turned to running as one of her mental health tools. She found that it really helped and wanted to share that revelation with others. [She created] a nonprofit called Still I Run, which advocates for the inclusion of running in mental health care and provides scholarships to assist people in beginning to run. They provide a training plan, a coach, shoes, running apparel, a running watch, and entry into a race at the end of the program. —Allie Pendleton
Amy Rusiecki
Amy is the founder of Beast Coast Trail Running, a Western Massachusetts trail running nonprofit that hosts trail races for the benefit of local organizations. But she is so much more than that! She has dedicated herself to building up participation in trail races in a truly inclusive fashion. She hosts monthly trail runs that welcome all paces and abilities. She is adamant that every finish line stays completely set up and welcoming to every runner, from first to last, so that no participant is finishing in silence. —Kristin Loiko
Amy’s dedication to sharing time on the trails with people in ways that build their confidence and courage has built an amazing community here in Western Mass. —Jen Howard
Dena Evans
At the California International Marathon earlier this month, seven women in the Peninsula Distance Club, coached by Evans, broke 2:37. These achievements didn’t happen by chance. They came from a culture that Dena has built intentionally. Dena coaches her athletes to dream ambitiously, train smart, and lift one another up. I may be biased as the team photographer, but what I see is a group of women who are strong not only in performance, but in character. Dena is at the center of that. —Steven Anderson
Kari Campeau
Kari runs the popular Citius RC in Denver (unrelated to Citius Mag) and has been 100% dedicated to creating an inclusive, welcoming run club for everyone. [She has built] up a group of pace leaders for Saturday long runs so that any new person always has someone to run with. She teaches them how to welcome newbies, keep a pace, and foster community during the runs.
For Kari, run clubs aren’t about the Instagram likes and the Strava kudos, but it’s about the connections people make. When someone gets in an accident or gets injured, Kari is the first one to reach out or drop off food at their house. For the newly postpartum moms of the club, Kari will meet them for walks until they’re ready to run again so that they don’t feel left out.
Last month Kari got in a bike accident, broke her femur and elbow, and needed emergency surgery. The Citius community rallied around her, creating a meal train and sending DoorDash gift cards. Kari, of course, didn’t let it keep her down for long. She was at Saturday long runs to see everyone off, even if she couldn’t walk more than 100 feet. She still sent out announcements on Slack, organized pace leaders, and posted on IG.
Kari cares so deeply about everyone in Citius. If anyone has an issue with another runner or there’s a complaint, Kari is the first one to reach out to them, get coffee, hear them out, and help to fix the problem. Run clubs these days get a reputation for being dating clubs or ways to profit off brand deals. For Kari, the run club is a community, and she is the one who keeps our community inclusive, ever-evolving, and supportive. —Sara Anderson
Nikki Hiltz and Emma Gee
I’ve followed Nikki and Emma online for the past few years, and their story helped me embrace my sexuality during my final year of college running. Watching Nikki race so confidently and fearlessly during the 2024 Trials and Olympics made something click for me during the cross country season. Even though I wasn’t out to everyone at the time, channeling my inner Nikki on the starting line made me feel so strong, and it ended up being my best collegiate season. There are very few openly LGBTQ+ professional runners to look up to, so seeing Nikki and Emma be their authentic selves at races and on social media helped me realize that there was never something wrong with me. And now I’ve finally come out as a lesbian to my family and have the most beautiful girlfriend in the entire world.
I also appreciate their advocacy for trans athletes. Growing up, playing sports was how I made friends, so everyone should have that opportunity no matter their identity. Nikki and Emma’s work has encouraged me to speak up for trans athletes when they’re being disparaged, which I think is especially important for women athletes to do. —G
Jordan Whetstone
Jordan is a true force within the running industry and a visionary leader as an athlete advocate and the founder of Rising Hearts. What sets Jordan apart is her unwavering commitment to lifting every corner of run culture: Indigenous runners, immigrant runners, Black runners, LGBTQ+ runners, and adaptive runners alike. She consistently pours into runners and community leaders, creating opportunities, building bridges, and collaborating on meaningful projects that push the industry forward in a more just and inclusive way.
Jordan gives endlessly to others, often behind the scenes, without seeking recognition. As an Indigenous runner, she courageously leads conversations around issues impacting Indigenous women, topics that are frequently ignored or deemed “unpopular.” At the same time, she uplifts and amplifies the work of countless other run leaders representing marginalized communities across the industry. —Stretch Murphy
Sam Hendel
Sam founded Good Grief, a Monday morning run club in Austin, a little over a year ago. What began as a small gathering has quickly grown into a cornerstone of the Austin (and now DC) running community. I admire the inclusive space Sam has created, and the heart behind it. She uses running and community as a way to process the grief of losing her mother. (More about Good Grief, in Sam’s words, here.) —Chase Fleming
New Shoe Day
New Shoe Day has the goal to end shoe insecurity for Indiana’s youth. They raise money to buy shoes for kids across the state so they can run around, play at recess, play sports, and just be kids. They provide shoes to women’s shelters for kids, do ‘shoe drops’ at local schools, and recently, they even helped provide sports-specific shoes for every high school athlete at a school in Indianapolis. They’ve given away over 10,000 shoes in the last several years. They want every kid to experience the enjoyment of having a New Shoe Day. I love what they’re doing and think other states could replicate this program. —Allison Martin
Neyra Rosa
In her work with Black Girls Run, Neyra empowers women through her persistence, patience, and ability to guide. BGR ladies have embraced her spirit during early morning runs in Vallejo, California, and thanked her for providing a path to help them focus on their personal health and wellbeing. —Mary
Heather Henderlong
She is the owner of Extra Mile Fitness Company, the run specialty store in Valparaiso, Indiana. (I work there too; she is my boss.) She sets a great example for female runners who come through our store, educating about bone health, getting the right vitamins, strength training, and how women can continue to be strong as they age. She goes above and beyond to give advice to those who come in, whether they’re buying shoes or are part of our run club. She is the most caring and generous boss I’ve ever had and is such a role model to me. —Kathleen Neal
Ally Gregory
Ally is a leader in the Chicago running community and trail/ultra community nationwide. They have led the way on creating policies that make their races and events inclusive. They’ve worked with multiple race directors nationwide to help them craft similar policies. They take the time to make every runner at their events feel special. They are fearless in standing up for the marginalized, but also bring a real sense of whimsy to everything they touch. —Pam
Jerry Alexander
Jerry coaches Georgetown Running Club in Washington, DC. He also works full-time as a lawyer and still finds time to reply in detail to every weekly training recap I send. At practice, he can be found holding at least six stopwatches and never missing a split. —Page Lester
He answers hundreds of emails, dozens of phone calls, and he never is too busy to support an athlete. When I was coming out as nonbinary, he was so supportive and made sure that running was a safe and inclusive space for me. —Aaryn Edge
Instead of disappearing after hours of civil service, Jerry materializes on the National Mall’s dirt loop between 4th and 7th, on the Greenbelt Lake 2K tempo circuit, or at BCC and/or Washington Liberty tracks with a stopwatch poised like an instrument of faith. His athletes span a wide range of backgrounds: DI, DII, DIII, international, walk-ons, All-Americans, masters athletes, those who never wore a collegiate singlet, those who did and are recovering from burnout. Regardless of background, Jerry meets each of them with the same level of care and attention.
For me, Jerry was the coach who believed, who was patient with me and rehabilitated me from burnout/injury cycles and helped me fall back in love with running again. It took five years to convince me to step on an outdoor track for an 800m again, but since then, I’ve lowered my PR from 2:07.7 to 2:02.8. I went from running a handful of 1500s in college (with a PB of 4:31) to running 4:12. I’ve returned to racing at a high level and can always count on Jerry to be there with supporting words or a stopwatch for one last tune up before a big competition. What makes Jerry rare isn’t just that he makes time; it’s that when he does, he gives all of it. —Gina McNamara
Dr. Sarah Lesko
Sarah has always made her work about service to others. She’s the executive director of Bras for Girls, [and] the organization just surpassed donating 200,000 sports bras to keep girls exercising. I’ve been at many of their events, and have personally seen the impact that this small intervention has had on thousands of girls. She has really turned Bras for Girls into the amazing organization it now is, thanks to her years of hard work, energy, and expertise in the space. —Rebecca Mehra
Miya Hirabayashi
Miya is an incredible photographer, but more than that, she is someone who notices people. In a sport that often rewards volume, speed, and visibility, Miya works quietly, and yet her presence is felt everywhere she shows up. Her photos don’t just document running; they confer dignity. Through her lens, runners are not aspiring to be something else. They already are rockstars.
Her work has changed how I see myself. I am a new runner, and when I joined Renegade, our run club in Oakland, I never felt proud of how I looked nor did I feel particularly fit or athletic. Miya’s photos were the first time I saw my body and thought: I am powerful. I felt strong, real, and worthy of being seen. That feeling stays with you, and it’s deeper than running. —Liv
Aisha Qamar
I long admired Aisha from afar for her running talent. As her friend, I understand more deeply that running isn’t just something she does because she’s good at it; she uses it as a tool for activism, community, and conversation. She knows pretty much everyone who runs in NYC, and challenges them to add more meaning to why and how they run. —Maggie Carr
She stands up for community, educates others, and hasn’t stayed silent on difficult issues. Whether it’s showing up for a friend, organizing for Palestine Solidarity Runners or just being visible as a Muslim runner in a time when there’s more hate than ever, she keeps on being an inspiration. Everyone I meet who knows Aisha is in awe of her. —Pilvi Saarikoski
Mariah Fields
Mariah is a race director with Coyote Ugly Racing in North Georgia. She is a huge advocate for women in running; she actively encourages them to pursue trail racing and longer distances. She has women-specific giveaways for race entries and hosts group runs. Along with other North Georgia race directors, she has also hosted very affordable weekend-long running retreats for women.
When I first started running, Mariah saw my Instagram account and messaged me about joining a group run she was leading. I could not run that distance yet but she consistently encouraged me. Eventually I did one of her 30K races and later the same year a 50K race. I do not think I would have even thought about ultra running if it wasn’t for Mariah. I’ve also volunteered at her races and they are always top notch in terms of food, route planning, and just overall vibes. —CH
Rhonda Foulds
She was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in 1999, and began running several years after. This is at a time when nobody really understood the value of exercise for fighting Parkinson’s. She’s run over 100 marathons, and has been a trailblazer for the small but feisty community of runners with Parkinson’s. She is now battling cancer, and still continues to run and support other runners. She is a generous soul, and a gift to both the smaller community of runners with Parkinson’s and the larger running community. —Cristina Burbach
Annie Rasmussen
Annie created Chicago’s Hot Girl Run Club and she is one of the most cheerful and welcoming people I have ever met. The first time I met her, she made me feel like I had been coming to the run club for years and we were besties. She wastes no time in trying to get to know someone, introducing them to others, and just genuinely being an amazing person. She always lifts up other run club members, and people in general. She has really made a home for women runners in Chicago, and is open to new ideas on how to both grow the run club and give back to the community. —Anonymous
Ali Feller
Ali has been in my life since her running blog and now with her newsletter and podcast. She brings humanity to everything she does and has made it impossible not to care deeply about her even when we’ve never met her. When I need a pick-me-up, I know I can listen to her podcast and feel like I’m part of a community. —Muna Mitchell
Karen Bertasso-Hughes
Karen has done so much for our running community in upstate New York, but particularly for female athletes coming out of college who still want to run competitively. She founded Capital Region Elite Women several years ago and has provided so much mentorship, training, and financial support to the team to help people reach their goals. I had a challenging time with collegiate running, and I felt certain I had left competitive running behind. She encouraged me to join the team and it brought back so much joy and love for the sport. —Courtney Breiner
Anna Alsept
Anna is the Director of Event Management at Spokane Sports, a nonprofit that uses sport to provide a positive economic impact to the city. She serves as the meet director for all the high school/middle school/open meets at The Podium during Spokane’s indoor T&F season. These meets made indoor track accessible to nearly 4,000 kids and adults in the Northwest region just last winter alone. The growth in popularity of indoor T&F in the Northwest can largely be attributed to the work Anna does.
Anna was also a huge proponent in the planning, and building of The Course Spokane Valley, a dedicated cross country course set to host NXR Northwest and NCAA West Regional Championships in 2026. —JL
Stephanie Shiau
Steph is a cofounder and coach of the SOMA Fox Run Club in Maplewood, New Jersey. The club is founded on ideals of inclusiveness, equity, and making running accessible to all. Steph attends three runs a week (all no-drop) and coaches our track workouts, in addition to her full-time job. She is emblematic of what it means to be a community-builder: warm, funny, organized, and unfailingly dedicated to the principals of her organization. —Sarah
Liza Howard
Liza has been my running partner for many years. She is the director and creator of Band of Runners, which puts on a trail running camp in the Texas Hill Country each year to introduce veterans and Gold Star families to the therapeutic nature of trail running. The camp is free for veterans and surviving family members. Liza is just an all around phenomenal woman and constant inspiration. —Lisa Krantz
If you’re still here, thanks to all of you who have stuck around in this rollercoaster of a year. Happy New Year!
Alison
What a beautiful way to end your 2025 newsletter! Happy (almost) New Year!
Hats off to you for an amazing year of writing, Alison - and what a way to cap it off. Thanks for this inspiring essay, and for highlighting so many amazing women who are building incredible communities.