THE BOSTON RUNNING COLLABORATIVE

Boston's Marathoners

Learn about nine Bostonians running their city's marathon as part of the inaugural Boston's Marathoners Program

Developed by the B.A.A. in 2021, the Boston Running Collaborative is composed of organizations and individuals committed to building a diverse Boston running community, improving health and wellness, and expanding access to running and walking in Boston with a focus on communities of color.

By centering the conversation in the Boston running community, engaging supporters, and collectively leveraging assets, the BRC aims to develop, support, and promote innovative and accessible events and programs to improve the health outcomes for Boston's most vulnerable. Through their actions, the BRC is diversifying the sport, elevating diverse leaders, and bringing communities together around running and fitness.

In its first year, the BRC's Boston's Marathoners Program provides an opportunity for people of color from Boston to participate in the marathon named for their city. Representation and visibility are key factors in engaging more diverse runners and creating a Boston Marathon that is inclusive and representative of the city itself. The nine athletes selected were nominated by BRC members for their strong ties to the Boston running community, and are ready to take on 26.2 miles.

Boston Running Collaborative Members represent the following organizations:
ANTONIA FINLEY • Black Girls Run! • Dorchester

"As a longtime resident, Boston is a city full of historical richness that I love. I call Boston home despite its past. I love that I have friends from all over the world, but there are also scars from that painful period of busing.

"As a teenager, I would head over to the Copley area to cheer on runners participating in the Boston Marathon. I felt that the city came out to cheer those who took on the challenge of completing a marathon despite their race.

"Despite my cheering, I never envisioned in a million years that completing a marathon was within my reach. I felt that the sea of runners at the Boston Marathon did not represent the diversity of the city and the elite runners felt really out of reach.

"In 2015, my friend and I decided to sign up for a 5K and I have been running ever since! I also began participating actively in Black Girls Run! and my life forever changed."

ALIA QATARNEH • TrailblazHers Run Co. • East Boston

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. She 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. Alia will complete her first marathon in 2023.