The Power of Women's Run Clubs
Why run with a women’s team? We asked members of New York–area women-centered clubs why running with their club is important to them.
Come out and cheer for local women and pros from around the world at the sold-out Mastercard New York Mini 10K in Central Park on June 10! Girls and young women will run in the Girls Run at the Mastercard New York Mini 10K and the NYRR Run for the Future 5K.
Interested in joining a women-centered club? Search NYRR's database of clubs here.
Dana Anello White
Jersey Women Strong
Why is running with a women’s club important to you?
There’s a sisterhood among women. We understand each other’s circumstances more intimately than men can, and because of that, there’s another level of connection, trust, and support.
[The team] has such a positive impact on our mental health. I’ve had so many people tell me that being a part of this community of women has literally saved them. I think of it as therapy.
What 5 words best describe your club?
Most importantly, approachable. [We] take away that intimidation factor. Also: encouraging, supportive, understanding, and community-minded.
What women runners do you most admire and why?
You can’t talk about impactful women without mentioning Kathrine Switzer. She broke the initial barrier for women in running and women in sports in general.
Mirna Valerio, “The Mirnavator,” is focusing on inclusion on every level in the running community. Erin Azar keeps it real and brings the humor. Erin shows you This is real life. This is what running feels like. Sometimes it’s funny: We’re going to make fun of ourselves, and that’s OK.
Anything else you’d like to share about your club?
For people who are looking to get into running, it’s so hard to take that first step, but [clubs] like us will welcome you with open arms.
Susan Siderman
The Mercury Masters
Why is running with a women’s club important to you?
In 1972, Title IX banned sex discrimination in academics and athletics in schools that received federal funds. Being of a “certain age,” I did not experience the locker-room team camaraderie and high-fiving Being a Mercury Master has provided me with those women-only “locker room” experiences. The Mercury Masters team has been my Title IX.
What five words best describe your club?
Female, fifty+, friendship, fitness, fun.
What women runners do you most admire and why?
The pioneers of women’s running: Kathrine Switzer, first woman to run the Boston Marathon in 1967, and Nina Kuscsik, the first woman to officially win the Boston Marathon in 1972. Kathrine and Nina had the vision, with Fred Lebow, to start a women-only road race, the Mastercard New York Mini 10K, in 1972.
Anything else you’d like to share about your club?
The Mercury Masters is a group of women where the common thread is running, but where each individual is valued for herself. You can run or walk with any Merm teammate, and the conversation is warm, friendly, and yes, sometimes about running!
Colleen McGurk
Distance Project NYC
Why is running with a women’s club important to you?
As women who belong to the expansive, diverse, supportive [NYC running] community, it is incredibly important to us to give back. Part of the way we have chosen to do so is by forming this team: a collective of women pursuing athletic accomplishments while raising families, managing careers, pursuing higher education, and building small businesses.
We want to model what it looks like to be fully formed modern women who have a passion for running and for engaging in the broader community. We are honored to use our platform to center the experiences of our team members and others in our community and to be vulnerable and honest about the highs and lows, with the aim of inspiring and empowering our audience to dream up their own goals and to chase them with abandon.
What 5 words best describe your club?
Supportive, joyful, inclusive, determined, grateful.
What women runners do you most admire and why?
We most admire the women we know and see in our own community. As a collective, we admire and are inspired by different aspects of our own DPNYC teammates: working mothers, doctoral students, physicians with busy schedules, recent college graduates, Olympic trials qualifiers. We are in awe of the triumphs our members have achieved and the struggles they have overcome.
Outside our club, there are many community members we admire. Two women in particular are building community and bringing joy to the running space. Samantha Dong is building a joyous community through her club Asian Trail Mix to increase inclusion and participation of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in trail running.
Rolanda Bell is a steeplechase runner from Panama. Along with a stellar running resume that includes national Panamanian records in the 3K, 5K, steeplechase, and marathon, Rolanda announces local track meets, models for local running brands, and supports numerous community-building groups, including Running Sistahs Social Club, NYC Sprint Collective, and her longtime team Central Park Track Club.
Anything else you’d like to share about your club?
It’s important to us that every team member has the opportunity to know and interact with everyone else on the team; that’s part of building a strong community. We also have a beautiful partnership with New Balance, who supports our commitment to women’s health and competition.
Kaleena Clarkson
Bronx Femme Run
Why is running with a women’s club important to you?
Running with an all-women’s crew is meaningful because there is a level of comfort I have with all the ladies. We are able to have conversations about a wide range of topics outside of running that we would not necessarily be able to have in mixed company.
It is also important because when we run the streets of the Bronx, I feel we are inspiring other women and young girls that see us to get moving. We always hear cheers. It is important that women of all body types know that running is an inclusive sport.
What 5 words best describe your club?
Inclusive, diverse, supportive, accessible, motivating.
What women runners do you most admire and why?
I admire Allyson Felix, not only because of her athletic accomplishments and because she’s the most decorated track and field Olympian, but for her maternal health advocacy and for standing up against a large corporation due to unequal conditions in contract negotiations. Women can be at the top of their fields but still have to deal with so much inequity.
Anything else you’d like to share about your club?
Bronx Femme Run is a safe and inclusive space for women of all fitness levels to come together to walk and run in their community. We are supportive of all who come, regardless of where they are on their fitness journeys. The Bronx is home to an amazing running community. I am happy that BXFR is able to be a part of it and provide an accessible space for women runners.
Maria Solis Belizaire
Latinas Run
Why is running with a women’s club important to you?
Running with a women’s club like Latinas Run is not just about running; it’s about being part of a flourishing community that seeks to create spaces where we can embrace our culture while reimagining running for diverse communities. Within this sisterhood, we uplift and support each other, breaking barriers and challenging norms. Together, we strive to amplify our voices and increase visibility, showcasing the strength and resilience of Latinas in the running world.
I founded Latinas Run out of a genuine need for our members to have a safe space where they can connect and celebrate our shared experiences. It has become a haven where we can be our authentic selves while pursuing our running goals. The bonds we’ve formed within Latinas Run are deep and lasting, creating lifelong friendships that uplift us all.
What 5 words best describe your club?
Vibrant, resilient, united, empowering, and supportive.
What women runners do you most admire and why?
I am deeply inspired by María Lorena Ramírez, an indigenous long-distance runner from the Tarahumara community in Mexico. What sets her apart is not only her remarkable athletic achievements but also her unwavering commitment to staying true to her culture.
María Lorena’s inspiring journey as a runner is amplified by her choice to compete in traditional Tarahumara attire and huarache sandals which breaks norms in the running space. She proudly showcases her cultural heritage and challenges societal expectations. She has become a symbol of empowerment for indigenous women.
Another woman who truly inspires me is Desiree Linden, the Latina Boston Marathon winner [in 2018]. Her remarkable achievement becoming the first American woman to win the Boston Marathon since 1985, is nothing short of extraordinary.
As a Latina, Desiree’s victory holds immense significance. It represents a powerful milestone for Latinas everywhere. Her accomplishment is a testament to the strength, tenacity, and unwavering spirit that Latinas bring to the world of sports. Her historic win sends a powerful message of representation and empowerment. She has shattered barriers, showing that Latinas can excel in any field they choose.
Yvette Brownridge
Black Girls Run NYC
Why is running with a women’s club important to you?
Running in a women’s club is important because I get the support. A lot of times, being a Black woman, we’re not exactly represented. You see the African runners, but regular Black American women, we don’t really see that with distance running. I joined Black Girls Run because I needed that support.
When we’re talking about sizing and clothes, a lot of us have bigger legs. We’re heavier. How can I get something that’s not going to chafe me? Also, hair care. For a lot of us, it’s not as simple as, “I can just wash my hair every day.” That’s not possible for a lot of us Black women.
I learn so much with the group. We talk about everything from nutrition to safety running through our neighborhoods. I’m really grateful to have my sole sisters.
What 5 words best describe your club?
Supportive, resilience, fun, memorable, and informative.
What women runners do you most admire and why?
Flo-Jo was the first one on the scene that looked like us, with the long nails and the fly hair and the outfits. She looked like the fly girls we wanted to be. It was flyness and beauty with functioning. She was an excellent runner still maintaining how she looked.
If you notice a lot of young Black runners, like Sha’Carri Richardson, that’s a Flo-Jo influence, that long hair with the nails and the makeup. Sometimes when we think of runners, it’s like, “Just wear two braids down the back of your head and no adornments. You can’t wear nails. You can’t do this, and you can’t do that.” But that’s not true. You can be yourself.
Anything else you’d like to share about your club?
When I decided to get into this 10-plus years ago, I was already in my 30s. I really needed the support of a community. A lot of the BGR runners are my family now. We’re at each other’s baby showers and weddings.
I had a traumatic birth. [My] daughter was born a preemie. The other ladies were like, “If you need someone to walk with you, we’ll walk with you.” The group is like, “If you’re going to come with the baby carriage, just come.” It doesn’t feel like I’m out of the community. They’re adjusting and accommodating and welcoming. That really means a lot to me.