NYRR Contributors Circle Has a Conversation About Joy and Connection in Running

NYRR Contributors Circle (l-r): Carolyn Su, Victoria Fortune, Dinée Dorame, Keila Merino.

On November 4, the day before the 2023 TCS New York City Marathon, the members of NYRR Contributors Circle—Dinée Dorame, Victoria Fortune, Keila Merino, and Carolyn Su—met in person for the first time.

The occasion was a panel at Harlem Run House to talk about their running journeys and the joys and connections they find in running. Each of the panelists shared their unique perspective on running and their journey as runner and advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion.

NYRR Contributors Circle exists to create meaningful connections with, and shine a spotlight on, diverse communities and important initiatives in running. This community elevates the voices and stories of historically underrepresented members and addresses issues impacting our community today. Learn more here.

Dinée spoke of finding joy in running as a child growing up in Albuquerque, where her parents would bring her along to neighborhood runs at a local golf course. For Dinée, her earliest memories of running are connected to family and community.

For Keila, who has lived in NYC for nearly 20 years, running connects her to the city’s boroughs, neighborhoods, and bridges. She loves running from Manhattan across the Queensboro Bridge into Queens, the Pulaski Bridge into Brooklyn, and the Williamsburg, Manhattan, or Brooklyn Bridge back into Manhattan.

Victoria finds joy in nearly every run she does in Prospect Park, Brooklyn. For her, running is a time to meditate, enjoy nature, and honor the memories of friends and family members who have passed.

Carolyn finds joy in running on crisp fall days—like the one runners enjoyed for this year’s TCS New York City Marathon. She loves to run with a friend and truly connect, whether through conversation or in companionable silence.

Each of the Contributors shared how their journeys have led them to give back to their running communities. Their stories and perspectives were deeply personal and full of feeling.

Keila, a member of the NYRR Pace Team, started pacing to find new purpose in running after years as a competitor. She loves helping others achieve their goals and being part of a community focused on healthy striving. Keila also teaches at P.S. 75 in Manhattan and coaches a Rising New York Road Runners youth team, where she helps her students build community through running.

Victoria dialed back the intensity of her running this year, instead choosing “to honor my body and be easy on her” with a focus on yoga and meditation, and she now feels refreshed and reinvigorated for 2024. She also nurtured friendships after losing several members of her community.

For Dinée, injuries and illness have impacted her running over the past year, but she’s continued to find joy and community by remembering her family’s and culture’s running traditions and bringing Native representation to running events and social spaces.

Carolyn uses the Diverse We Run platform to increase representation in running through telling the stories of BIPOC runners. While she continues to see the community grow, she also sees challenges in the ongoing work to build and nurture diversity, equity, inclusion, and representation in running.

Carolyn Su and Dinée Dorame with Harlem Run founder Alison Mariella Désir.

Dinée spoke of the joy of sharing stories of Native runners, and the need to build partnerships grounded in equity. Victoria finds strength through DeFine New York Run Club, whose mantra is “I run. You run. We run together.” Keila believes that as a teacher and coach, she can help build a community based on diversity, equity, and inclusion for the next generation of runners.

For NYRR's SVP of Marketing and Communications Rodnell Workman, who has led the development of the Contributors Circle, the conversation sets the stage for many more to come. "Today's panel discussion was an incredible experience," he said. "The stories, insight, and perspectives shared reinforced the purpose of Contributors Circle. We're so grateful for the Contributors' willingness to share these deeply personal stories. With their support and voice, we will continue to amplify this important POV and build on the Contributors Circle platform. We’re excited to take this journey together."

Read more blog posts from Keila, Victoria, Carolyn, and Dinée, and keep checking back for new content.