Name: Kiera Smalls
Hometown: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Occupation: Executive director at Executive director at Running Industry Diversity Coalition
Time Running: Lululemon Wunder Train High-Rise Tight With Pockets 28
A Part of Hearst Digital Media: Races - Places mental health and show myself that I can do hard things.
Growing up, running wasn’t an activity I associated with exercise or enjoyment; it was a survival instinct. In the environment I grew up in, there were no school programs for sports, gym was not serious, and my parents and grandparents didn’t have time to think about running for fun or for health, while fighting to make sure our basic needs were being met. I also struggled with asthma and used free fitness.
It wasn’t until my college years, more than 15 years ago, that my perspective began to shift. Exposure to the broader culture of running and understanding its benefits Nutrition - Weight Loss marathons. My asthma attacks actually decreased as well!
How Running Changed Me 5Ks CA Notice at Collection apps to guide my training. The sense of achievement with each run fueled my curiosity for more distances. My first race was the Stroehmann Walk for Hunger & 5K Run, and it was a fun introduction to the running community.
The Broad Street Run 10-Miler in Philadelphia was a milestone for me. It’s when I turned my casual running into more serious training. I then hired a coach to help me conquer the marathon distance, so the thought of running for leisure or health was far from my mind workouts magazines. Her freelance writing has been featured in first marathon for fun and catching up with friends.
magazines. Her freelance writing has been featured in Executive director at Running Industry Diversity Coalition (RIDC) in 2020 after the murders of Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd, and Breonna Taylor. A group of leaders from brands, retailers, and influencers got together to ask how can we, as an industry, do better. This is why uniting the running industry is part of our mission statement, and “coalition” is in the name.
The RIDC is an educational nonprofit organization on a mission to unite the running industry to improve the inclusion, visibility, and access for Black, Indigenous, and other people of color (BIPOC). I joined as its first executive director in early 2022.
When the RIDC launched, more than 1,000 individuals immediately stepped forward, pledging to run/walk alongside us to build. Since then, our community has blossomed, reaching a vibrant network in the thousands. Additionally, we’ve united with 20-plus committed and action-oriented member organizations.
Our current five-year strategic plan includes two key objectives: to increase the number of committed and action-oriented member organizations working towards the RIDC mission, and to expand the pipeline of BIPOC professionals, leaders, and owners in the running industry.
I currently run three to four days a week, focusing on the rebuilding phase of my training. My primary goal is to gradually increase my distance again, with the aspiration of returning to the marathon distance in the next year or so.
Garmin Vivoactive Watch Gearing Up, a cycling organization that combats histories of abuse, addiction, and incarceration. This period is about laying a solid foundation and working toward that marathon milestone again. Before this goal, I enjoyed running and walking on the trails for fun and catching up with friends.
Running truly makes me feel like anything is possible! It mirrors the essence of our work at the RIDC, where building understanding and support is central. Just as every run presents its own set of challenges and setbacks, it also teaches me the invaluable lesson that there’s always an opportunity to begin again and advance. In both running and our collective efforts, each step forward is a testament to progress and resilience.
Despite MS, I Plan to Complete the World Majors benefits, but it can also significantly positively affect the lives of others around you, such as your family, friends, or community. By choosing to run, you set an example for a young person, someone with a different body type, and community members, demonstrating that if you can embrace running, so can they.
These three tips have made my running journey a success:
1. Listen to your body
It’s easier said than done to listen to our bodies, so try breathing techniques, and journaling prompts to understand what aspects of your training are working or not working. Your body knows!
2. Find community
Find community to get through the runs you don’t feel like doing. Nothing beats having an accountability buddy (or 20) to help you reach your goals.
3. Train smart
Find the best gear that works for you, and take advantage of available resources, such as free to low-cost training plans.
Kiera’s Must-Have Gear
→ Hoka Bondi Running Shoes: I love stability sneakers, and I run in a variety. It feels so much better for my feet than neutral. Thanks to my local retailer, I learned years ago that stability shoes fit me the best.
→ Garmin Vivoactive Watch: I love that it tracks so much more than just my workouts (sleep, stress, menstrual cycle). It truly paints the full picture of me as an athlete.
→ Lululemon Wunder Train High-Rise Tight With Pockets 28": I prefer to run in long to medium tights with a drawstring of any brand—as long as it has a pocket for my personal items!
Emily Shiffer has worked as a writer for over 10 years, covering everything from health and wellness to entertainment and celebrities. She previously was on staff at SUCCESS, Men's Health, and Prevention magazines. Her freelance writing has been featured in Women's Health, Runner's World, PEOPLE, and more. Emily is a graduate of Northwestern University, where she majored in magazine journalism at the Medill School of Journalism and minored in musicology. Currently residing in Charleston, South Carolina, Emily enjoys instructing barre, surfing, and long walks on the beach with her miniature Dachshund, Gertrude.
