Rising Hearts January Blog Updates
Happy New Year! We are so excited for all that’s in store for 2026. We have a lot planned, conversations being head, exciting proposals, potentially 2 new film projects, and more grants to apply for! We had such a fun year. 2025 is one to remember for all the community that we were able to be with. It was a year of taking up space. And it was a year that was the toughest to be in this space, in this industry, where sometimes it felt like we don’t matter, the heart work, isn’t interesting or expectations of doing it for free, or the disrespect we encountered with brands. There were moments where we felt belittled. Where we were gaslit. Where DEI was done away with as this new administration came in and many fellow groups, runners, and organizations, felt that lack of support and commitment or funds disappearing. IT was a hard year. However, we got through it because of YOU! Because of community. Because of the events and opportunities we held in person and virtually, that kept us going. To the many miles ran by our 37 charity runners who raised $36,000 for Rising Hearts.
2026 is year to take up space, hold the door open for each other, and move into these spaces together. A time for us to not be loud, but proud and confident in the heart work we do, and build relations with those who see us, hear us, and invest in community, meaningfully. If you’re someone that wants to be part of that or someone that works with a brand and wants to collaborate, please reach out! Let’s stoodis. Be sure to check out the rest of our blog for updates, inspiring running reflections and highlights!
Please see below for updates and community. If there is anything you would like to promote please reach out.
NEXT AWARENESS + ACTION EVENTS:
+ DC Premiere of Run In Beauty - stay tuned
+ March 1-8th: 6th Annual Running On Native Lands 5k, 10k, Half Marathon
+ April 20th: 4 Boston Marathon Runners - anyone running the Boston Marathon already, wants to run for Rising Hearts? Reach out. We can reimburse you your registration fee and offer a stipend and help us raise funds for the race!
+ April 22-26, 2026: 4th Annual Earth Day 5k and Plogging!
+ May 1-6th: 8th Annual Running For Justice 5k, 10k, Half Marathon | Marathon for Justice
+ June 20-30th: #LetThemRun Pride 5k
+ July 1-12: Disability Pride 5k
We are up to so much! Wopila tanka, many thanks, to all of you for your support, and we look forward to our hearts moving forward together.
- Rising Hearts
WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU, CAL!
We are so excited that our very own friend and ally, Cal Calamia was named Non-binary Athlete of the Year through Outsports!!!!
From Cal: “The year kicked off with two international marathon gold medals in Tokyo and London, followed by a fourth-straight Bay to Breakers win, a historic non-binary+ run club turnout at Broken Arrow Skyrace, a win at TransRockies Run, a strong workout in Chicago before a standout performance at Javelina 100k, and a win at the CIM relay to close out the year.
From the full interview linked in bio: “I just thought something was wrong with me that I couldn’t figure out. Once I saw that there were trans people in the world living happily and doing their thing, I realized that that was me. I want other people to have that opportunity, to see themselves and to see what’s possible for themselves.”
This year also marked significant growth in non-binary divisions around the world despite misinformed political discourse, collaboration toward more inclusive policies in races like Broken Arrow, and a new spark around increasing representation and equity in the trail space.
“Maybe there’s a world where I could just show up and run, but that world doesn’t exist right now.”
Thank you for helping me create that world. And thank you for seeing me, @outsports 🙏🏼”
SAVE THE DATE
+ When: March 01 - 08, 2026
+ Last Day to Register: March 08, 2026 by 11:59pm EST
+ Where: Virtual + In Person locations to be added
+ Land Acknowledgement: Add the Indigenous lands to your bib!
+ Create or Join a virtual team
+ INCENTIVES: Join virtual team RISING HEARTS for 4 of you to have a chance at winning a pair of On running shoes, and 4 of you to win Rising Hearts merch.
+ Options to JUST donate
+ Move, meditate, walk, swim, bike, run, roll with Rising Hearts!
+ First 25 registrants in the 5k, 10k, and Half Marathon will receive a RUNNING ON NATIVE LANDS medal
+ 25 medals will be made available for an additional $15 donation after the first 75 are claimed
Beneficiaries:
+ Earth Daughters
+ Rising Hearts
+ More TBD
GIVING BACK
From Rising Hearts Founder, Jordan Whetstone:
Giving Back is always the best thing to do when you can!
Since I founded Rising Hearts, and when we pivoted in 2020 to not be only Indigenous led and focused, to be more intersectional through movement, storytelling and advocacy, it has been incredibly important to share the resources and access we have. It’s never just ours. Since then, we’ve been able to donate over 3,000 shoes to multiple groups, runners, our athletes, through our virtual runs, and communities from 7 different brands.
And this holiday season, @rising_hearts is able to donate 155 shoes in total to the Harrisonburg High School | @harrisonburg_hs and On The Road Collaborative | @ontheroadcollab ! And we hope to do more! Running isn’t cheap. The entry into running, can already be a heavy price point. So, any way we can help, we will. Thanks to GU Energy Labs, we were able to donate a box full of special GU socks and 2 boxes of chocolate recovery mix for the runners!
📢 And this is a call to brands, we have a full list of shoe sizes needed. And 4 community groups and 2 Tribes we are ready to get things donated to. If you want to chip in, we welcome it. 📢
Happy Miles! Happy Running! Happy connecting with the lands, to our friends at the Harrisonburg High School team and On The Road Collaborative!
THE RUNNING EVENT RECAP
Rising Hearts showed up at @therunningevent ! And what an incredible time we had with friends and community.
Check out our blog post featuring the beautiful humans above!
Follow them here:
Cal Calamia / @calcalamia of @2hot4hoodies and @nbrcsf
Carolina Rubio-MacWright / @carustol of @touchinglandorg
Jordan Whetstone / @nativein_la of @rising_hearts
Daryl Murphy / @stretchmurphy of @milesforjustice
Zach Friedley / @trailblader of @borntoadapt
Moderated by Lex Saenz, @lexxsaenz of @movementwellness_
RH YETI MUG!
We hope you are well and in good spirits. We have a few yeti mugs left available for a $55 donation to put towards compensation for our Programs Coordinator position, travel / lodging stipends, and gear for our athletes and community. For Team Rising Hearts x Every Woman’s Marathon, we have all the runner’s a special Rising Hearts Yeti Mug - now, we want to make it available to you!
2026 Wishlist List:
+ Submit 10 applications and hope we get 5!
+ Looking for sponsorships of our events / runners - please reach out for partnerships / sponsorships!
+ Fund the founder’s position for at least part-time work since the amount of work has increased
+ Create 1 more film - fully funded
+ Create commercial / storytelling opportunities with brands featuring community!
+ Increase representation of Indigenous runners, Charity Runners, and our Running With Purpose Athlete Advocates at more races and events to be part of
+ Send 4 Athletes to the Boston Marathon
+ Send 2 Athletes to the NYC Marathon
+ Send 20 Athletes to the Every Woman’s Marathon
+ 2026 The Running Event in San Antonio, TX - we are seeking sponsorships to send 10 of our athlete advocates to join, RH booth, and host our Kinship Building workshop/panel
+ Host a local running retreat for our Running With Purpose Athlete Advocates in the Fall ‘26
+ Host local running retreat with 2025 Every Woman’s Marathon runner’s in Spring ’26
+ Organize our virtual/in person run/walk/movement events!
+ 10 Charity Bib runners for Rising Hearts with our partner, The Wander Project (see below for more information on how to become one!)
+ 35 charity runners for Rising Hearts for any race of their choosing / dedicating their race to Rising Hearts as a fundraiser with our RH Charity runner GiveLively link that any runner / athlete can use to raise funds for by creating own account - Each runner will receive a Rising Hearts singlet, GUdies, and if needed, free pair of shoes!
RISING HEARTS:
We are an Indigenous led organization, elevating community voices through meaningful kinship, movement, advocacy and storytelling.
We empower communities by fostering intersectional collaboration, promoting cultural resilience, joy and creating meaningful change for the next generations. Through our programs, we inspire collective action, elevate Indigenous and community centered narratives, creating safe and supportive spaces, continuously learn and show up how we can, and mobilize support for those in need.
Much of the heart work we prioritize is cultivating kinship with brands, companies and groups, while creating meaningful collaborations with the Rising Hearts athletes, community partners and broader movement community.
Our Programs:
Running On Native Lands Initiative
Running With Purpose Athlete Advocates
Rising Hearts Stories | Filmmaking
Virtual Movement Events | Race Organizing
Charity Runners for Rising Hearts
Workshops / Panels and DEI Consultations
Learn more about our programs we have and what we consult on and collaborate on. We’ve received a few small grants to support our work for which allows us to compensate our teachers and voices we amplify through our programming and supporting our Athlete Advocates.
Wopila tanka, many thanks!
2025 RISING HEARTS FUNDRAISING THROUGH MOVEMENT!
WHAT A YEAR!!!!!
In 2025, we had 37 runners dedicating their run / race to Rising Hearts! We met our goal of $36,000! And in 2024, we had 5 California International Marathon runners as well, with $2,500 raised!
All of this was possible because we made a new option available since we had a handful of runners reach out to us, asking how can they support us or fundraise for the heart work we do. So, we created the Rising Hearts Charity Runner’s Program, aside from our partnership with The Wander Project (where you select a race from them, with set fundraising limits, then we receive the funds at the end of the year), and through some of our bib entries we receive at the Boston Marathon, New York City Marathon, California International Marathon and Every Woman’s Marathon. So don’t miss your chance to run with Rising Hearts! We help reimburse your registration fees if needed, get you fuel, a singlet, and shoes. And, we have no penalties for not reaching your goal. we’re just grateful you chose us and are supporting us in this way. Thank you!
1.) We had TEAM RISING HEARTS at the Every Woman’s Marathon in Scottsdale, AZ - all 13 women crossed the finish line and raised $7,436 for Rising Hearts!
2.) Rising Hearts had 2 runners at the ‘25 New York City Marathon and raised $4,136.
3.) Rising Heart had 3 runners at The Marathon Project, December 21st in Chandler, AZ, where Hosava Kretzmann (Hopi/Diné) also qualified for the 2028 Marathon Olympic Trials! The 3 runners raised $3,840.
4.) Rising Hearts had 2 runners at the California International Marathon, where Blanca and Carlos raised $1,904, and we donated $700 to NorCal Resist on behalf of Blanca as well!
5.) And 24 runners who collectively raised $18,806 for Rising Hearts!
‘26 Charity Runner | Mel
One of the best decisions I made in 2025 was joining the Rising Hearts team and embarking on my ultramarathon career. Now, with 3 unsanctioned ultras under my belt, I'm SO nervous and stoked for my first official ultra January 10: the Avalon 50k across Catalina Island. I feel unbelievably lucky to continue running for a greater purpose with Rising Hearts in 2026. Every donation - even a symbolic $1 donation - empowers me to do that. Mil gracias amigos <3
Goal: $500
ALSO:
Mel is bringing together 12 women from Good Days Run Club / Mohawk Wellness Collective for the SoCal Ragnar on April 10th with a $2,000 goal as well (more to come in February)!
Mel is also coming back for the Boston Marathon with Rising Hearts in April with Ashleigh Thompson, Hosava Kretzmann, and Jordan Whetstone ($7,000 goal for that race)!
‘25 cim reflections
Shayla Manitowabi-Huebner
CIM weekend recap!!!
“It’s better to take a risk and come up short than to not take a risk at all.”
I went in knowing a sub-3 marathon was a lofty goal…and I went for it anyway. I felt smooth, stayed on pace through 30k (!!), then met the infamous wall and didn’t have it in me to hold the pace.
I got sick for two weeks before the race, missed some key long runs/workouts, and at that point couldn’t afford to ruminate on the “what ifs” heading into the start line.
The last miles were roughhhhh. So many people passed me and it felt demoralizing. I even threw up (while still moving 😅). I was desperate for any encouragement during that last 10k.
Then someone ran by me, saw my Rising Hearts jersey, and yelled: “Rising Hearts! Finish strong for the ancestors!”
Thank you to whoever said that. I refused to stop or walk, because sometimes it’s deeper than running, and I carry more than just myself out there.
And despite missing the A goal, there is SO MUCH I’m proud of and grateful for:
• making new friends + meeting new people
• running and traveling with my NM fam
• 9-minute PR!!!
• first marathon in 3 years, navigating a heart arrhythmia and grief/loss
• a full year of consistency. over 2,000 miles !!
• my first real attempt at a marathon race with no heart issues
• finishing workouts I never imagined I could do
• a beautiful day and energetic course + sharing it with 100+ Olympic Trials qualifiers
• qualifying for 6/7 World Marathon Majors
• finishing top 22% overall and top 12% of women!
Chi Miigwech @rising_hearts for this opportunity and @runwithapro for your belief and guidance!
Carlos Courtade
Friday night, boarded the “Midnight train to Georgia,” actually Sacramento. Shoutout to the Amtrak Capital Corridor, I’m a train guy now! It was a mariachi-band-filled weekend. Thai food carbo-loaded with my besties. Surprisingly, Sacramento has a grip of vegan restaurants to choose from. Perhaps I have judged you too harshly.
People kept asking me if I had a goal time. I answered with the same quote straight off an inspirational poster, “the goal is to put myself in a position for success.” It sounds like I’m being coy but actually this was low-key the recipe. Mind you, everyone around me was throwing out “sub 4” like it was given. Nah that’s a trap.
My mantra for this race was “disciple.” I knew I wanted to start the first three miles 15-20 seconds slower than marathon pace. There was a game-plan for every inch. They say the course has “sneaky” rolling hills but I wasn’t bothered. Weekly runs in the Oakland Hills payoff. Still, I told myself, “don’t get greedy.” After settling in to marathon pace I was cruising until mile 13. This is when my old friends: sore ankle, sore hip, and sore IT band decided to all make guest appearances at the same time. I should have known all of the year’s unresolved plot points were going to come back during the season-finale. I gave myself miles 13-16 to work back up to marathon pace. I tried pushing it and my body would pull back. Patience, focus, and thankfully by mile 16 I was back on track. Miles 24 -26 were a dream. As soon as I saw my Renegade siblings cheering for me I began to float. The dopamine receptors in my brain were firing on every cylinder. I saw sign that said. “CIM: Carlos in motion” and I realized this was the first time anyone had made a sign for me. I guess I run faster when I’m emotional, the final two miles were my fastest splits. The disciple paid off, I put myself in a position to succeed. A full 21 minute PR but I didn’t do it alone. Everybody that donated to @rising_hearts, I’m deeply, deeply moved by your generosity. I’m making signs for all your next races.
Photo credits:
slide 7 @hey_miya,
slide 8 @_slime_,
slide 9 @quentinwolfefilms
Blanca Biscoe
“CIM 2025 is my slowest marathon time, but it’s the one I’m most proud of. My training was solid. Truly the best coaching and program I’ve ever had, thanks to @corremossacramento and coach @abelito_tercero, but my body struggled with the cold. The plan was simple: stay with the 5:05 group through 20, then empty the tank in the final 10K. The first half felt great until just after halfway, when my quads cramped. I tried to push through the pain. Then it was my quads and my left calf. Random shivers. Intense sweat. By mile 18 my feet were numb. I was on the verge of quitting at the next aid station.
At some point, in tears, I called my husband and told him I felt defeated and ready to DNF. He said, “Focus on why you are out there. You can do this. You won’t regret finishing. This race is from the heart. Time doesn’t matter.” I took a deep breath. Through the tears I said “okay,” and I kept going. Thank you @aubrey.916 for your unconditional love, support and encouragement. FaceTime with mom and dad lifted me. Voice message from my cousins gave another push to keep going.
This was my first marathon running with a charity, the race had purpose beyond running and beyond me. It means more than I have words to express. I ran with my whole heart, dedicating each mile to our Indigenous brothers and sisters, immigrant communities, and those who have experienced the cruelty of this administration. My village showed up and helped me surpass my fundraising goal. Family and friends: your donations, calls, messages, hugs, it all carried me to finish. I am blessed. WE DID IT!
@RisingHearts thank you for inspiring me and welcoming me into your team. @corremossacramento Y’all totally came through when I needed it most. I’m forever grateful for this community and the friendships it has given me. Thank you @on @r0siecruz for empowering us, making us feel seen, and giving us space on this platform. Thank you @murillc for your time, your talent, and for capturing some pretty sweet shots.
See you in 2026 ”
And since Blanca reached out to us wanting to support Rising Hearts and NorCal Resist, the $1400 she raised, we are donating $700 to NorCal Resist. THANK YOU, Blanca!!!
THE MARATHON PROJECT REFLECTIONS
CONGRATULATIONS to Kylie, Nate and Hosava on getting to the start line of The Marathon Project!!! The perfect, fast course, with perfect conditions. A few hundred runners toed the line to chase their goals and the 2028 Marathon Olympic Trials standards. While it might not have been the best day for some, as it was for Kylie - Kylie was able to show up for runners and Rising Hearts teammates by cheering them on to the finish line!!! It was a big PR day for Nate Crail who also won the Nonbinary Division and Hosava Kretzmann. BIG CONGRATS to Hosava on qualifying for the ‘28 Olympic Trials, representing his Hopi and Diné communities, and Indian Country proudly! And all 3 runners, collectively raised $3,840 for Rising Hearts!
Kylie Bemis
”Plans fall apart, but we continue. When I first applied for The Marathon Project, I had ambitions of breaking 3 hours in the marathon for the first time. Through a recovery from a gender-affirming orchiectomy last summer and the trials and tribulations of the 2025 political landscape, my goals were forced to change.
I arrived on Akimel O’otham land hoping to start strong and run my best race, no matter my finish time. My body had other plans. I woke up on Friday with a migraine and nausea that left me struggling to eat the day before the race. I managed to recover enough to start The Marathon Project on Saturday, but after the first loop, my body was asking me to stop, and I decided to respect that.
But the beauty of running is the connections we make. To the land and to each other. My DNF meant I was able to cheer on my Rising Hearts teammate Nate to an incredible personal best and a win in the nonbinary division. And today I had the great privilege of cheering on my Rising Hearts teammate Hosava as he ran 2:15:50 in the pro race to achieve an Olympic Trials Qualifying time.
My race wasn’t what I wanted it to be, but I’m leaving inspired and more hopeful than before, and I hope I was able to share some of that feeling. I’m grateful to have been here. Ela’kwa.”
Hosava Kretzmann
”I wanted to take time to recognize Rising Hearts and their efforts that helped support me for the Marathon Project. There are many well deserving runners that could have run in my place, but they chose me and I am truly grateful for that. I also wanted to thank all the people that believed in me or followed my story. I came into this race with hopes of qualifying for the Olympic Trials. I am beyond excited to announce that I will be running in the Olympic Trials 2028 for the Marathon! I am not sure how many Native American runners have qualified in the Olympic Trials. As we know, Native American representation in professional running is little to none. Now, more than ever, I want to change that - I want to inspire the next generation of Native youth to dream big and know they are capable of anything. Across many Native communities, we are seeing high rates of chronic diseases and I know we can reverse the trends with running. Running is medicine, not only for physical health, but for our minds and our spirit. As I continue to train, I will remember why I run: to honor my tribes (Hopi/Navajo), to inspire the next generation of Native youth, and to see a healthier future for all Native communities.”
Photo Credit: @ai.shoots
Nate Crail
”Be smooth. That was my race mantra. Keeping it in mind from start to finish, I perfectly executed the race plan my coach and I developed. I fueled consistently, built into the race methodically, and—most importantly—had fun.
I spent the first 30 km running with the 2:40 pace group, repeatedly reminding myself to relax and fuel every 20 minutes. With about 10 km to go, I gradually broke away and began dipping under 6:00-mile pace, culminating in a sprint over the final 400 meters. Throughout that last lap, I listened to my tired legs and avoided abrupt surges, focusing instead on staying smooth and moving as efficiently as possible.
As I crossed the finish line, my two-year goal of breaking 2:40 became reality. I ran 2:38:31. A 2minute and 21 second personal best. Relief and elation washed over me. Every 20+ mile long run, solo night run, interval workout, and the unwavering support of family and friends led me to this moment.
The Marathon Project was a sweet finale to a 2025 running season filled with both ups and downs. It was made even sweeter by building community with my fellow TMP Rising Hearts runners, Hosava and Kylie. Thank you to Rising Hearts and to everyone who supported and donated along the way.”
CALL FOR CHARITY RUNNERS FOR 2026
Reach out to us via email, info@rising-hearts.org. Share with us your plans, then we’ll set you up with the link!
Want to run for Rising Hearts?
This is more new for us! We have a givelively link specifically for runners/individuals, who want to raise funds for the heart work we do! If it’s not through our partnership with The Wander Project, or our other partners at CIM or Boston, you can run for Rising Hearts at any race you choose and bring more fun and purpose to your why and the run.
Perks: RH Singlet, merch, stickers, fuel, and if shoes are needed, we can help you! We are excited to learn from you and support you. We are here to amplify your efforts through our platforms and help you reach your goal! Email us at info@rising-hearts.org if you’re interested in dedicating a run and raising funds for Rising Hearts.
GOALS FOR 2026:
We hope to get 25 more Rising Hearts runners for 2026 and raise $30,000, collectively ! And we have 10 runners now, confirmed :)
Suggested fundraising limits:
RH Athletes / Community = $600
Open to Community = minimum $800
Perks: RH Singlet, merch, stickers, fuel, and if shoes are needed, we can help you!
SPOTLIGHT RECOGNITION FROM FAST WOMEN:
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
Rising Hearts very own founder and Executive Director, included among 32 inspiring people who are helping to make a difference in the running and outdoor spaces! Congratulations to everyone that is acknowledged and spotlighted for their advocacy, community building, running and collective work!
PODCASTS TO LISTEN TO:
Mangodada
A podcast on how joy, sport, and culture keep us grounded and free. And available on Spotify and wherever you get your podcasts. Be sure to listen, share, and review!
IG: @mangonadapod
Hosted by Vanesa Chavarriaga and Carolina Rubio-MacWright
The Origin Story:
Vanesa and Carolina have teamed up to create a culturally responsive podcast on all things Latinidad, immigrant joy, and resistance, and outdoor sports.
This is more than a podcast. It’s a declaration to activate community. We belong in every space, from snowy peaks to mountain trails, from the city to the fruit stand. Mangonada is community, movement, resistance, and culture, en una sola mordida.