¿Quién inspira a las mujeres del Círculo de Colaboradores de NYRR?

NYRR Contributors Circle (clockwise from top left): Victoria Fortune, Keila Merino, Dinée Dorame, Carolyn Su

For Women’s History Month this March, we asked the members of our NYRR Contributors Circle to answer three questions about women who have inspired them and the importance of running in their lives.

As a woman, why is running important to you?

Dinée: As a Navajo woman, running is what connects me to the land and my family, so it’s crucial to my overall well-being and identity. I run as much as my body allows, which at times, means I’m injured or disconnected from running due to physical limitations. I’ve learned that staying connected to the running community through social media and continuing to move/walk outdoors have been powerful ways to stay engaged.

Victoria: As a woman, running is important to me because it helps me navigate life more efficiently. Running benefits me by helping me release stress, getting my creative juices flowing, helping me feel strong and powerful, helping me cope with loss and grief, and reminding me to show my body gratitude for being able to take one step after the other.

I believe it's critical to continue my running journey as a woman so that I can be an example for the next generation of young women looking for an outlet to help heal from big emotions and adapt healthy wellness habits.

Keila: Running is important to me because it allows me to be a model for my students and my little nieces, who are learning to love running. I love sharing stories with them of my running days and they really look up to me. My nieces have seen me run marathons and ultramarathons and I hope that I inspire them to want to run. I think being a good model for the sport is important.

Carolyn: Running has been the conduit to helping me find my voice, take courageous chances, dream bigger than I would’ve otherwise imagined, and connect and find strength within a global community.

What women have inspired you to run?

Dinée: Shimá (my mom) is the woman who most inspired my own running. As Diné women, we come from a long line of matriarchs who have used movement as a form of prayer, fitness, health, and self-expression. Even though my dad was my coach (in multiple sports) in high school, my mom was the person I looked to for understanding and guidance around my Navajo identity and traditions. I’m grateful I've spent my life watching her run countless road races and model running as a holistic process.

I’m still very much inspired by my mother because she can no longer run the same distances. She can still go for walks, and she does so enthusiastically, but in the last 10 years she has battled cancer as well as at least one serious injury/surgery. I know that when I’m going out for a run or entering a road race, I am doing something we both love on her behalf now. I love that my sister is running more these days too, so it’s something we can do together as a family with my mom cheering us on.

Other women I’m inspired by include Des Linden, Carolyn Su, and Verna Volker. These are all women of color who hold various positions and roles in the running industry, but I’m grateful for their leadership because it keeps me hopeful!

Victoria: My mom inspired me to run. Growing up, she would share stories of her being a sprinter on her high school track team. I would be both intrigued and shocked because she abhors running now. I told her back then that I wanted to continue her legacy of being the "runner in the family." So, I've been keeping my promise. From high school to now, I've been the family runner. I think it's important to keep traditions going. I hope to have kids one day that also enjoy running.

Keila: Sheila Monaghan, my training partner in my early 30s. When I moved to NYC and joined a local running club, Sheila was the fastest woman in the group. I always looked up to her. She is a phenomenal runner and I always felt intimidated by her. I would see her run with the guys and make them work. I could only aspire to be like her.

When I finally could stay close behind her during practices, I became a much better runner. She was always kind, encouraging and willing to share nutrition if I needed it. She inspired me to become a more competitive runner.

Des Linden [inspires me]. I’ve always admired her strength, consistency, and bravery. She is also a fellow Sun Devil. She attended ASU shortly after I graduated. I’ve always admired her desire to still go out and do her best every single time. Her famous words are, “Keep showing up.” She is such a smart runner. I’m looking forward to watching her race in the United Airlines NYC Half this month.

Carolyn: Recreational sports wasn’t something that was prioritized in my family or in the cultural community I grew up in, and when I did start exercising regularly, I was constantly questioned and criticized for wanting to do something that didn’t have a place-value amongst those closest to me.

That’s why, when I encountered an older, Chinese American woman out for a run in my neighborhood one summer, my mind was blown! This woman (whom I knew as Auntie Estella) was training to run her 10th marathon, and she was the representation I needed in running. She broke barriers for me – as a young, Asian American woman who had constantly been told that sports was “tomboyish” and a waste-of-time, “Western-American” hobby!

I signed up and trained for my first marathon that fall. Representation and community in running forever changed my trajectory in the sport.

Auntie Estella continues to inspire me to this day. She is currently training to run her 30th marathon as a charity runner, and she is well into her 60s. She’s a mother of three grown children, she’s been a nurse for the last 3+ decades, and she’s been an active member of both her local and church communities. For her to have remained consistent in running while also establishing a robust life for her family shows me what is possible. She also demonstrates to me how running can remain a significant part of my life without needing to be my central identity, and I think that’s an important key to longevity in the sport!

What is one word that describes the future of women's running?

Dinée: Strong.

Victoria: Determined.

Keila: Promising.

Carolyn: Limitless.

The views expressed by those featured on our blog are their own and their inclusion on our website does not imply an endorsement by NYRR of them or their views.