I am a citizen of the Diné and Hopi Tribes, raised in Ganado, Arizona, within the Navajo Nation. I am Ta’neeszahnii (Tangle Clan), born for Tódich’ii’nii (Bitter Water Clan). My maternal grandfather is Dawa (Hopi Sun Clan), and my paternal grandfather is Kinyaa’áanii (Towering House Clan). These clans root me in who I am, where I come from, and how I am connected to others. This deep sense of relationality and responsibility guides my work in Public Health, Tribal Health Policy, and Indigenous Data Sovereignty, shaping my commitment to community, land, and all my relations.

Running has always been a part of my life. From a young age, I was taught the importance of rising early and running to give thanks for a new day. Running also played a central role in my coming-of-age ceremony, the Kinaaldá, where I was instructed to run at dawn during each of the four days. I was told that the further I ran, the further I would go in life. For me, running has always been more than exercise. It is prayer, meditation, and deep reflection. Each time I run, I give thanks for my health, for the land and all her life-giving elements. I run in gratitude for my family, my community, the generations before me, and those yet to come. Running continues to shape who I am and teaches me enduring lessons of resilience, balance, and connection.

I want to run the Every Woman’s Marathon because it represents more than a race. It is a celebration of the strength and resilience that women of all walks of life carry. This marathon creates space for women to come together, uplift one another, and redefine what is possible. At the national level, more men than women participate in marathons, and I am committed to helping shift that balance by increasing representation. I run to honor not only women, but also members of the LGBTQ+ community. Running this marathon is an opportunity to stand in solidarity, celebrate resilience, and affirm the message that we all belong.

What gets me out the door to run is gratitude for the ability to run. I never take for granted having a healthy and able body, and I see running as a gift I want to honor whenever possible. I also recognize the work and dedication I’ve put into becoming the runner I am today, and I don’t want to lose that progress simply because motivation wavers. I remind myself that discipline carries me when motivation does not.

My name is Karla and I and I have been running in some capacity since I was 10 years old when I joined the middle school cross country team and have never fully stopped. I currently live in Atlanta, GA and run on Muscogee and Cherokee lands. In 2024, I became part of the ReNew Earth Running team which uses running as a way to raise funds for Indigenous land stewardship. #LegsForLandBack.This organization helped me reconnect to why I love running: it provides me a space for purpose, reflection, and connection to community and the land that I run on. As a proud daughter of Mexican immigrants with Indigenous roots, I am very aware of the need for representation, safety, and equity in the running space.  I am grateful for the lands of my grandparents that keep me rooted to who I am and honor their history everywhere I go. 

When I'm not running, I work in Global Health, currently helping in qualitative research towards malaria elimination in the Dominican Republic. I love trying new vegan recipes, learning about native plants and animals, gardening, reading, hiking with my husband, and more. I'm passionate about reciprocal living and mindful consumption and I try to amplify these values whenever I can. 

I want to run the Every Woman's Marathon because I believe that running provides space for all of us. For myself, running has always been a constant whether I was stressed, joyful, grieving, etc. Running helps connect us to ourselves and each other and I'm so excited to connect with so many other people at this year's marathon. Also, although I've been running for about twenty years now I've actually never ran an official marathon! I'm excited for my first one to be dedicated to Rising Hearts!

Running is part of my spiritual practice so for me getting out the door means remembering that it's about more than putting one foot in front of the other. Running for me is about connecting to those around me, the birds and butterflies I see on my runs, the plants I get to enjoy, and thinking through the hardships and joys that God has put in front of me for the day. Remembering these opportunities for reflection and prayer keep me going when I don't want to get up!

Movement is a privilege and I try to remind myself of that every day. When I try to run fast I always remember my mom yelling at me in my meets "Corre Kaly! ¡Como si hubiera un león detrás de ti!" and it makes me laugh and go faster.

A mum to one kiddo, runner and coach/ yoga teacher. I love connecting with nature when I'm running and am very thankful to running for its grounding ability. As an advocate for Rising Hearts I plan to raise awareness of the Native Lands we live and run with as I prepare for the Every Woman's Marathon, and support the team as we reach towards our goals together. 

Initially, it was school cross-country and the opportunity to race and to have fun with my teammates that brought me into running. Now, running is such a part of my life that it is almost a ritual that connects me with the wider world, my immediate surroundings, and my inner world too.

It is great to see this event coming to Arizona and I was excited to see that Rising Hearts will be sending a team. I want to run to be a part of a unique event that caters to women, and to the running community.

A chance to move my body, breathe deeply and get outside.

Rocío Villalobos (she/her/ella) is a Xicana Indigenous trail runner and advocate who has been involved in social justice movement work in Austin for most of her life, covering education, immigration, and the outdoors / environment. Her transnational childhood shaped her understanding of community, family, migration, inequity, and borders, all of which led her to her current position as the Immigrant Affairs Manager with the City of Austin’s Office of Equity and Inclusion. Rocío is also the co-founder of Indigenous Movement Crew, a running and wellness group based in Austin, TX that centers Indigenous people and is founded on the belief that movement is medicine.

I started running during a very low point in my life. I was in recovery from severe depression and an eating disorder and was trying to find something that could bring me a sense of peace. I started going for walks around a local hike and bike trail and one day I decided to see how far I could run without stopping. I didn't enjoy running when I was growing up so I couldn't run for very long when I started, but over time I fell in love with it. Running quieted my negative self-talk and gradually helped me feel strong and powerful. I love that running continues to help me answer the question, "what else am I capable of?"

I love that this race is a celebration of women and a celebration of running as a form of joyful movement. A lot of running spaces can make you feel like you have to fit a certain mold in order to call yourself a runner. Every Woman's Marathon is fighting to change that narrative and helping people celebrate their bodies as they are right now, and that's a vision I can get behind.

 Connecting with the land grounds me. Spending time in nature quiets my mind. Whether I'm running alone or meeting up with friends or my running group, I am grateful for every chance I get to lace up my shoes and head out the door for a run. When I run first thing in the morning, that time is for me and it's something I treasure dearly.

I'm a long-time runner, freelance journalist in the coffee industry, and avid concert-goer living in Los Angeles. 

Running has always been my way of maintaining the deep connection with nature that I've felt since I was a kid. 

I have an M.S. in International Agricultural Development, which I utilize in my writing to amplify the voices of farmers and underrepresented communities. 

I started running in high school to escape into the woods, clear my mind, and connect with the land under my feet. Running still serves the same purpose today.

Being surrounded by so many women in their power is a unique and invigorating experience. I can't wait! I especially admire that this race empowers women of all paces to pursue new milestones.

Running is my daily window of escape from society and reconnection with nature. Therefore, it's also my favorite way to spend time with friends.

Ashleigh Thompson (she/her) is a member of Red Lake Nation and outdoor adventurer based in Montana. As an athlete ambassador for different outdoor brands over the last several years, she’s worked to make outdoor spaces more inclusive and welcoming for everyone. Ashleigh is happiest outdoors, whether she’s running, biking, or scaling rocks.

Joy! Running has made me happy since I was a young girl–I continue to run because it’s good medicine.

I love that Every Women’s Marathon centers on women. I look forward to being part of the Rising Hearts team because running with a community that shares the same values as me is so important. I appreciate how Rising Hearts raises awareness and funding for important causes while building community, and I’m excited to contribute as a team member for this race.

Mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing.

I am a mom of two busy teenagers. I love to do self work fitness & health and wellness. I love running, hiking, yoga & spending as much time outside in nature as possible. 

I started running 15 years ago after I had my son because I wanted to shed a few pounds, but what I found from running is so much greater than I lost. Running proves we can do tough things.  Running is healing and it is a time when I can sort out my thoughts and connect to the land and my ancestors, like my Dad. Running helps me stay grounded and connected to my path.

The fact that it is for US! FOR WOMEN! Its so exciting and truly an HONOR!!!!

Others truly motive me. I love to see other runners posts on social media - it inspires me to grow up and be like them. Its also very easy to lace up my shoes and get out the door because I know how amazing I will feel physically and mentally once the run is over.

Dr. Charlinda Haudley is a member of the Navajo Nation, from Chinle, Arizona. She is the Stakeholder Outreach Coordinator with the Central Arizona Project as the tribal liaison. Prior, she was the Deputy Scheduling Director for U.S. Senator Mark Kelly, and the Assistant to the State Director at the United States Senate. She recently participated in the Advance Native Political Leadership Arizona-based training and Arizona State University's American Indian Policy Institute's Indigenous Leadership Academy. She serves on the Native American Advisory Council for the University of Arizona. She is a member of the Emerging Leaders Council with the Chamber of Southern Arizona. She is also a 2022 Flinn-Brown Fellow and this year she was the recipient of the “Arizona Champion Southern Arizona.” She previously served as a board member with the American Indian Alumni Association and Greater Tucson Leadership. Her recognitions include Tucson’s 40 under 40 award in 2020, the 2021 Special Contributions to Indian Education Award and the 2019 Maria Teresa Velez Diversity Leadership Award.

Life can become quite hectic, so running motivates me to take a step back and dedicate time to myself and my reflections. The last few years have been challenging for me on a personal level, and running has served as a means for me to focus on my breathing, discover spots for brief meditation, and connect with my inner self. Running challenges me mentally and has offered a significant chance to learn how to speak positively to my body for all that it does for me.

I am eager to participate in the Every Woman's Marathon as it presents a chance to push my mental limits. Having never run an a marathon before, I am confident in my body's ability to reach this goal. While running and organized events can be costly, the support from Rising Hearts enables me to pursue this new objective. I aspire to represent both the organization and Native American women during the race. Additionally, I hope to inspire fellow new runners like myself, demonstrating that with self-belief, anything is achievable.

The chirping of birds and the sight of the sunrise motivate me to step outside for a run. One of my family members is in prison and sadly cannot experience the beauty of a sunrise or sunset. Each day, I am reminded of how blessed I am and seize every chance to be outdoors, cherishing everything that surrounds me.

I am a Hopi woman from Sipaulovi village. My clan is Patkiwungwa (water). Im a 51 year old mom to 4 daughters. I have been an early childhood educator for 23 years. I have completed over 20 marathons, a few ultra runs, and 4 Ironman triathlons. 

I’ve been running since I was a kid. Running is part of our culture and it is something most kids do growing up. We walked around a lot as a youngster so running was a way to get to the destination faster! I’ve run competitively since junior high school, and over the years running has been a calming part of my life. It’s been a source of strength, prayer, and inspiration.

It’s a first time event for Arizona, and I’m sure many first time marathoners will be working towards their goal. It will be amazing to be a part of this as a runner and an encourager!

As I get older, I appreciate the hard things my body is able to do daily. I appreciate running with others and sharing the work of miles together.