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Olympic medalist, Global medalist and seven-time USA Track and Field National Champion, Alysia Montaño has used her platform to initiate a movement that has changed the dialogue around the capabilities and experience of professional athletes when they become mothers. As an athlete, author, analyst, and entrepreneur, Alysia has experience in building a brand while building partnerships and community. She continues to channel these gifts as well as her ability to inspire others to demand and make change. She talked to Running USA's Leah Etling about her non-profit, For All Mothers+, and it's efforts to lead the way for mothers in sport and everywhere.

(c) 2025 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved. Published with permission. (26-Feb) -- After Emma Grace Hurley finished 89th in her senior year at the 2019 NCAA Cross Country Championships for the ninth-place Furman Paladins, the possibility of a professional running career seemed remote.  Although Hurley had performed well at the conference level, she never made an NCAA national track championships in any discipline.  By the time she graduated she had achieved only a modest 5000m personal best of 15:57.23.  Not a single shoe company tried to sign her. Fast forward six years and Hurley, who represents ASICS, is coming off of a career year where she won the USATF Running Circuit overall title, finished on the podium at five USATF championships, represented Team USATF at the World Athletic Cross Country Championships, and made an excellent half-marathon debut of 1:08:26 which made her the 12th-fastest American of all time. "I'm so grateful to still be in this sport," the 27 year-old told Race Results Weekly in a telephone interview from Atlanta yesterday.  "No one, no one would have thought in 2019 at cross country that I would still have opportunities like this so I am really grateful." It's been a long road for Hurley, originally from Roswell, Ga., where she competed for the Fellowship Christian School before heading for Furman.  Now based in Indianapolis, she's back in Atlanta for Sunday's USATF Half Marathon Championships, part of the Publix Atlanta Marathon Weekend organized by the Atlanta Track Club. The event is the USA selection race for the 2025 World Athletics Road Running Championships. The top three men and women will qualify for the team, and Hurley is the sixth-ranked athlete in the women's field based on personal best.  She's approaching the race cautiously, but thinks she has a shot at the podium. "The thing I always think to myself is to never have my mouth move faster than my legs can run," Hurley said.  "That's a big fear of mine, to throw something out there then not live up to it and have it be this pressure.  But in my head, the way I, like, have to go into it is to see myself as a podium finisher or else it's not going to materialize." With the COVID-19 pandemic gripping the nation after Hurley finished college, her elite running career got off to a slow start.  She moved back home to Roswell and joined the Atlanta Track Club's Elite program under then coaches Amy and Andrew Begley.  She clicked with the Begleys and began to put in the work.  She won the local Thanksgiving Day 5K in 2021 and set a then club record with her 16:13 clocking.  She had found a home. "Andrew and Amy were so chill," said Hurley.  "I actually felt less pressure in races (than in college), not just because they believed in me, but... I felt like they didn't hold expectations and they weren't going to get too high or too low no matter how the race went or how the workout went.  And that for me was really nice, knowing that the race was just the race and they were going to be proud of the effort and still believe in me just as much." In 2022 results started to come, even though Hurley was still only running 60-mile weeks.  In the fall she finished fifth at the USATF 10K Championships at the Great Cow Harbor 10K in Northport, N.Y., putting up a personal best of 32:50 on a hilly course.  She also ran a fast 10-miler of 53:24. Hurley benefited from the diversity of athletes on the Atlanta Track Club team, and was able to work on both speed and endurance without having to train alone. "I was on a team with anyone from 800 to marathon, and so being the only in-between person at that point I was just always getting pushed in workouts by people who were stronger than me in long runs, or... always getting pushed on the track.  I had a really good balance." In 2023 Hurley became a bonafide national-class athlete.  Skipping the indoor season, she took second at the USATF 15K Championships at the Gate River Run in March in Jacksonville, Fla., and was beaten only by American marathon record holder Emily Sisson.  She had struggled with "impostor syndrome" in her earlier elite races, but now she felt like she belonged on those starting lines.  She earned $5000 in prize money, the biggest payday of her career. "That didn't suck," said Hurley with a laugh.  "I think that was kind of the first time I felt like I belonged."  She continued: "Like, the previous year at races, for example like the B.A.A. 5K, I was looking around me and just being like, what am I doing here?  I don't know why I'm here." She got on two more national championships podiums in 2023, third at the USATF 10-Mile Championships at the Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10-Miler in Washington, D.C., and third at the USATF 10-K Championships at the Great Cow Harbor 10K.  In the 10K she was beaten only by 2024 Olympian and USA half-marathon record holder Weini Kelati and 2023 USATF cross country champion Ednah Kurgat.  She credited consistent work for her success. "I think that maybe the previous year and a half-ish of work was really good and really consistent," Hurley explained.  "One of the things I do really well isn't necessarily nailing one day and having a crazy workout or anything like that.  But I did a really good job of, up until that point, of not having missed anything." But a big change was coming.  The Begleys and Atlanta Track Club had parted ways, and Hurley had to make a decision about what to do. "There was definitely a level of anxiety," said Hurley, who ran her last race in ATC kit at the USATF 5K Championships at the Abbott Dash in November, 2023 in New York City.  She added: "Knowing that there was going to be a transition at the end of the year was a little stressful." Amy Begley took a job at USATF as director of long distance running programs and moved to Indianapolis with Andrew.  Hurley wanted to stay with the Begleys' coaching and decided to move, despite the fact that meant she would lose the financial support she got from the Atlanta Track Club.  Atlanta was also her home. "The only reservations I had were that my family and my boyfriend was in Atlanta, and my friends were in Atlanta," Hurley said.  "Obviously that's a lot of reservations, but I don't think anyone really questioned that they were the right coaches for me, and this is such a finite time where I can do this.  Of course, I was going to do everything I could to take advantage of the next few years my body can do this." Early in 2024 Hurley's management agency, Flynn Sports Management, got her a sponsorship deal with Asics. She was already a fan of their shoes, and Asics was making a renewed push into road running.  It seemed like a good fit. "I first got some ASICS shoes to try in early February, and then my first race in their uniform was Gate River Run in 2024," Hurley recounted. Hurley's 2024 competitive year was a whirlwind.  She did more than a dozen races from the mile to the half-marathon.  A very consistent performer, she finished fifth or better in every national championship she entered, except for the USATF Road Mile Championships (she still ran a credible 4:37.55).  In her last two national championships of the year, she finished third in both the 10K and the 5K.  In November she clinched the USATF Running Circuit title which included a $30,000 paycheck. But Hurley saved the best for last.  Just a week after the USATF 5K Championships at the Abbott Dash, Hurley secured a late entry for the CNO Financial Group Indianapolis Monumental Half-Marathon.  She felt fit and wanted to put it all out there in a half marathon for her last race of the year. "I was excited about that," Hurley said.  "I really, like, decided to do it the week of.  I really started thinking about it maybe the day before the Dash, and I had told myself if I get second or third at the Dash I was for sure going to do the half next week."  She added: "I was really grateful that they gave me the opportunity the week of." Because it was a last-minute thing, Hurley didn't have all of her usual race preparations in order, like where and what to have for dinner the night before.  Unable to get a restaurant reservation in downtown Indianapolis, she and a friend ended up eating pub food the night before, and as good as her legs felt during the race her stomach was pushing back. "I had seen Amy and Andrew (on the course) and they told me that I was going to win," Hurley recounted.  "I got to, like, enjoy that last mile (and) that was awesome.  The homestretch, to be completely honest, I had a little whoops on dinner the night before.  She continued: "We didn't get dinner reservations.  I called around too late, and we had, like, burgers and nachos and I was really freaking in the homestretch.  I was not underfueling or losing energy, but I had literally eaten the wrong things.  I was getting sick." She ended up throwing up a few minutes after the race. "It didn't feel good," she said good-naturedly.  "It was my own fault."  She added: "I wouldn't have eaten this before a workout.  Why did I think this was a good idea?" For this Sunday, besides making sure she eats a good meal on Saturday night, Hurley is feeling completely ready.  She hasn't run a race since last November, and she just completed her first-ever altitude camp.  She spent five weeks in Albuquerque and ran three 90-mile weeks, something she's never done before. "I really wanted, like, a good couple of months (to only train)," Hurley said.  "Even if you aren't taking a full down-week for a race you're still missing 10 to 15 miles in there.  I wanted to see what happened if I was just really consistent in training and not interrupting things to race." But running at altitude is so much harder than at sea level, so Hurley isn't sure exactly where she is fitness-wise. "I think preparation went well, but at the same time I don't know what things mean there," she said of her paces.  "So, we'll see how it translates.  But I've been in Atlanta for about a week and a half now, and everything feels really good."  She added: "I'm optimistic." While Hurley didn't discuss the rest of her racing plans for the year, it's a safe bet that you'll see her in longer events. "I think I always knew that I was going to end up in longer things," Hurley said.  "I think we're still kind of exploring and discovering that, but I think that's where I'm most at home right now." PHOTO: Emma Grace Hurley finishing 3rd at the 2024 USA 5K Championships at the Abbot Dash in New York City (photo by Jane Monti for Race Results Weekly)

Led by leading adaptive running nonprofit Achilles International, this session will guide participants on expanding their races to reach more adaptive athletes and best practices for an accessible and inclusive experience. Adaptive athletes Francesco Magisano, Director Achilles NYC, Kayleigh Williamson, one of the first women with Down syndrome to complete the TCS New York City Marathon along with her mother Sandy Williamson, and Adam Popp, a military veteran, Achilles Freedom Team, will join Alex Hetherington, Director, the Marine Corps Marathon, to discuss the athlete journey from start to finish, challenges and lessons learned. The session panelists are: Francesco Magisano, Director Achilles NYC Alex Hetherington, Director Marine Corps Marathon Adam Popp, local amputee runner with Achilles Sandy and Kayleigh Williamson Moderator: Emily Glasser, Achilles International

In our most recent Running USA webinar, we hosted a fascinating conversation about the role of influencers in promoting, branding and growing race participation. Panelists Lauri Abrahamsen (Race Director, SF Half Marathon and Berkeley Half Marathon), Alexi Pappas (elite athlete, author, podcaster and influencer), and Liam Fayle (sports agent, Founder of Full Circle Management) joined Jay Holder, Executive Director of Running USA, for an in-depth look at the two California races and Pappas’ role. You can view the full event recording here. The San Francisco and Berkeley Half Marathons are elevating the race experience by partnering with Olympian Alexi Pappas, who serves as the race's global ambassador. Alexi's approach goes beyond traditional ambassador roles; rather than a one-off appearance, she works closely with the marathon team to infuse creativity and inclusivity into race events. At both races, Pappas has a 10K event named for her, with the Alexi Pappas SFM10K in San Francisco and the Bravey 10K in Berkeley. Alexi brings a unique, personal energy to race weekend by collaborating on aspects like race-day shirt design, creating a "glitter bar" for a festive atmosphere, and making each race special for everyone, from local newcomers to seasoned runners. This partnership was established to showcase San Francisco’s marathon as more than just a competitive race, with Alexi bringing her global presence and local roots to attract a diverse group of participants. Her relatability and warm presence encourage runners to balance the thrill of competition with the joy of the experience. Race director Lauri Abrahamsen noted that the marathon has seen growth due to Alexi’s involvement, with last year’s event reaching over 30,000 runners. Her authenticity and connection to the Bay Area help bring in local participants, while her social reach draws in runners from far and wide, making the race a dynamic, global event. This evolving ambassador role for Alexi shifts away from the typical influencer model, bringing an interactive, community-centered experience that resonates with all runners, whether they're pursuing a personal best or simply enjoying a day within a well-rounded life. In the world of race promotion, finding the right influencer fit is critical. Abrahamsen emphasized that influencer partnerships work best when they're authentic, featuring runners who are genuinely invested in the sport and have a local following. Large-scale influencer campaigns, while flashy, often fail to generate meaningful engagement if the influencers lack true connections to the race or its community.  She noted that micro-influencers, especially those who are passionate about the event and have been part of the local running scene, often generate better engagement, even with smaller follower counts. Alexi adds that a successful partnership goes beyond metrics like follower count. True influence involves building community, shifting culture, and creating a sense of belonging. Pappas, who has seen this impact in her partnerships, finds that authentic involvement with a race—especially one that resonates personally, like a "big city marathon" with an intimate feel—makes for a more rewarding collaboration. This approach allows for hands-on engagement, from designing race merchandise to participating in various race events. For her, meaningful partnerships prioritize authenticity, community impact, and a shared vision, rather than simply driving reach through numbers. The partnership between Abrahamsen's team and Pappas is a blend of structure and spontaneity, which contributes to its success. While the race marketing team incorporates Alexi’s deliverables into a structured marketing calendar, they also maintain a flexible, casual approach, often requesting posts or shout-outs as opportunities arise. This approach fosters a collaborative environment, allowing Alexi creative freedom within the broader goal of driving race registration. The partnership's authenticity is further strengthened through organic camaraderie with other race ambassadors. Pappas notes that events like the San Francisco Marathon's shakeout run, where she joins fellow athletes and ambassadors—such as her friend and half-marathon runner Molly Seidel—create genuine connections that resonate with the race community. This spontaneous, interconnected approach, where athletes organically interact rather than feeling like isolated influencers, enriches the event experience and lends credibility to the promotion. Pappas advises race organizers to embrace flexibility with trusted partners, allowing for unique ideas and cross-promotional interactions that genuinely reflect the spirit of the sport. View the full recording for more insights.