Aliese Lash, MSW, LICSW (she/her) is a Boston-based leader, entrepreneur, community organizer, psychotherapist, and runner. She is the owner of Liberated Light Counseling, Field Advisor at the Boston College School of Social Work, and Captain of PIONEERS Run Crew. She is a USATF Level 1 Certified Coach and is also a Steering Committee Member for the Boston Athletics Association's Boston Running Collaborative. Over the past 10+ years Aliese has dedicated her personal and professional life advocating for health equity, education access, and holistic wellness for community members who have been historically marginalized. In her free time, Aliese loves spending time in nature, traveling the world with her partner, and hosting community gatherings.

An iconic athlete, author, Emmy-award winning broadcaster and advocate for sports and social causes, Kathrine Switzer was the first woman to officially register and run the Boston Marathon in 1967. She was attacked in the race by an angry official who tried to rip off her bib number (#261) and throw her out of the race because she was a woman. She finished the 26.2 mile distance anyway and went on win the 1974 New York City Marathon and to champion women in the sport globally, most notably leading the drive to make the women's marathon an official Olympic event in 1984. Now, 58% of all runners in the USA are women. To celebrate this social revolution, and to support another on active aging, Switzer ran the Boston Marathon again, at age 70, on the 50th anniversary of her iconic run, finishing only 24 minutes slower than she did when she was 20. This run launched her non-profit '261 Fearless' --named after that famous bib number--which empowers women globally though running. She has been honored widely for her achievements including being inducted into the USA National Women’s Hall of Fame which recognized her for creating positive social change throughout her storied career.

Alia is a first-generation, East Boston-raised, Arab-Italian-American. She is an educator, rhymer, runner, learner, leader, and scientist. Her mission is to disrupt from within; whether that’s disrupting the dominant cultures of running or of science and education. Alia joined the leadership team of TrailblazHERs Run Co. in June of 2022. As a LeadHER, she supports the scale and impact of the TrailblazHERs’ mission. Foundational to this is her passion and knack for building community. Alia has made an impact on many by offering guidance, support, positive energy, and encouraging excellence not only for the run crew but for the work in which members of TrailblazHERs are engaged in as agents for social change. She completed the 2023 Boston Marathon as her first marathon earlier this year. Alia is a first-year doctoral student at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

One of the top distance runners in the U.S., Erika Kemp has made her mark across the road-racing circuit since her 2018 graduation from North Carolina State, where she was a six time All-American. Kemp runs professionally for Brooks, and was the 2022 champion of the Boston 10K for Women, when she won the race in a time of 32:15. She was the 2021 National Champion for 20K on the roads, the 2019 National Champion for 15K on the roads, and has her sights set on the Olympic Trials for the Marathon in 2024. She's one of the few Black Americans in professional distance running, and through her participation and success in world-class races, is a role model for many. A native of Mount Holly, New Jersey, Kemp now lives and trains in Providence, Rhode Island, and returns to defend her Boston 10K for Women title in 2023.

Rica Reyes is a member and coach of 261 Fearless Club New England. She started her running journey two years ago with the Dimock Center’s Road to Wellness 5k. To maintain her fitness, she joined 261 Fearless’ Monday Meet Run in Dorchester. She was inspired by the amazing community that was forming and challenged herself by becoming a leader by being trained as a 261 Coach. Rica aspires to expand 261’s Activate You to neighboring communities. Activate You is a 12-week guided program that helps women grow mentally and physically stronger in a safe, supportive and fun environment.

Rica is originally from the Philippines and moved to Boston to obtain her master’s degree. She resides in Roxbury with her husband and two children and is employed as a software engineer. A lover of good food and conversation, Rica loves to travel near and far with her friends and family.