March 8 is International Women’s Day, an annual celebration of each and every female. It was enacted in the 1910s to help stop discrimination against women, as well as to help women gain equal participation in global development, a purpose it still serves today.

For the past few years, PPTC’s social committee has orchestrated a run for everyone (I repeat, everyone: All genders/gender expressions are welcome!) to commemorate the club’s women runners. This year is no different: In fact, it’s expanding in some big ways. Meet up with the crew at GAP this Sunday, March 8, at 9 a.m. to take part in the run. Not only is it dedicated to honoring PPTC’s women, there will be a post-run brunch at Palo Santo in Park Slope. Bakline Running is holding a raffle to give away “The Future is Female Runners” shirts & PPTC jackets.

Want to learn some women’s running history facts? Take Bakline’s quiz! You’ll discover how far women’s running has come over the years, and can impress everyone with your knowledge. (For instance, did you know the women’s 3000m steeplechase didn’t become an Olympic event until 2008?!)

The cherry on top of all of this is that there is an opportunity to donate to Girls on the Run. This youth development group instills confidence and an appreciation for health and fitness in girls grades 3–8 through physical activity. History continues to be made today due to the efforts of women runners everywhere, including those in PPTC.

This winter, I had the immense pleasure of talking to several women from PPTC and hearing what they love about running and what inspires them. These women have the most exuberant, kind, and spirited souls. The lioness within each of them spurs them to lead our team as captains, race directors and planners, volunteer coordinators and volunteers, grant writers, social event organizers, advocates for other women, friends, runners, and more.

They spark life and action into those around them, and there’s no doubt our world would have a lot less color without these ladies. Without further ado, I present to you a few of the superwomen of PPTC.

KATIE DADARRIA

Katie is a designer and cheeseburger enthusiast who enjoys petting dogs and photography. Katie is not just on PPTC’s clothing committee, she designs clothes too!

What motivates you to keep running? Constant self-improvement, community, friendships, and to be totally frank, a bit of the ol’ masochism.

What’s your favorite part of running? Friends + CROP TOPS!!

ASHLEY BOULDIN

Ashley works on branding and marketing strategy with food startups and is currently at a plant-based seafood startup. She is incredibly passionate about making our food system more sustainable. Ashley enjoys baking and cooking food for herself and friends, making most of her food from scratch as she believes that eliminating convenience foods would be beneficial to both the Earth and our health. Ashley is also an advocate for maternal health and family issues, as the maternal mortality rate in the US is high and continues to climb. She is on PPTC’s social committee, and is leading her first run on Pi(e) Day, which falls on next Saturday (March 14th). She hopes you all will join her to feast on pie.

What’s your favorite part about running?
The community. I’ve met so many amazing people through running. And the ability to advocate for a cause I believe in — maternal health — by running for Every Mother Counts. This nonprofit is dedicated to safe pregnancy and childbirth. I advocate, fundraise and run races for them, because distance is often the biggest barrier between a woman and the prenatal care she needs.

What motivates/inspires you to run?
When I run to raise awareness of maternal health issues, it’s the ability to have a positive impact on a woman’s life by simply doing something I love to do. That being said, there are plenty of days when it’s hard to get motivated. I’ve sent many pre-run or even mid-run texts to my running friends for that extra push.

LINDA CHAN

Linda is an intellectual property attorney and enjoys baking and knitting in her free time. Linda is a member of PPTC’s social committee, blog team, and grant committee. She can often be found cracking a joke or musing about organic cherries, and spreads positive energy everywhere she goes.

What is your favorite thing about running?
My favorite thing about running are actually two opposite things: 1) Time alone thinking and enjoying the outdoors, and 2) running with friends, or seeing friends while on a run.

What motivates/inspires you to run?
I am motivated to run by how strong it makes me feel. I’m inspired to run by the great runners in our club: They’re so fast!

EVY BARNETT

Evy is a recent graphic design grad who works at Manhattan Saddlery and Metropolitan Equestrian Team, which provides kids with horseback riding opportunities regardless of socioeconomic status. As a lifetime equestrian who loves design and helping people, this is the perfect fit! Evy enjoys volunteering for races and spreading good vibes. She wakes up early for MTG or CPTG and hopes to get back to Saturday runs soon.

What motivates/inspires you to run?
I love clearing my mind; it helps with my anxiety. When my mind is clear, I can focus on other goals.

What’s your favorite part of running?
I love that feeling of losing myself when I run. I know I’m very present when I run, and listen to my breathing so much that I can feel my whole body working.

CHRISTINE FRIETCHEN

Christine is a two-time Ironman (or Ironwoman?!) who works on staff at triathlon and running events when not competing in the race herself. She’s been known to use her charm to convince runners to compete in triathlons.

What motivates you to run?
Quiet is what motivates me to run.

What is your favorite part of running?
I enjoy the camaraderie of group runs sometimes, but for me, running helps me feel centered. It’s meditation for me (unless I have to do hill repeats!)

STEPHANIE MEI

Stephanie is a plant mom who finds time to reconnect with nature either by snowboarding or tending to her plants. Otherwise, she is most likely running around Sheepshead Bay serving coffee with a smile. Stephanie is a member of PPTC’s race committee, and is one of the club’s newest race directors. At races, she can be found cheering loudly and/or volunteering.

What is your favorite part of running?
My favorite part about running is that moment I somehow realize all I can focus on is the sound of my breathing and my footsteps. It’s that moment I’ve successfully tuned out the rest of the world, and for a moment, life just seems a little bit smaller — a little bit simpler.

What inspires/motivates you to run?
I’m inspired to run because I know that it’s an option for me whenever the going gets tough, or whenever I’m feeling trapped.

JANA TRENK

Jana’s a first grade special education teacher who loves to eat pasta (carbo-loading, you know?) She’s a member of the PPTC Board of Directors and social committee.

What is your favorite part of running?
The camaraderie in the running community! There is no friendship like the bond between running partners.

What inspires you to run?
Every time I finish a race, I wonder if I could have given a little more, gone a little faster, trained a little bit harder, or paced a little bit smarter. So I decide to race again, seeing if I can do it better next time.

LEANNE GLASSER

Leanne is an instructional designer who loves spending her free time outside with her husband and their two dogs, Ruby and Winston. Leanne is a PPTC team captain and a member of the social committee and blog team.

What is your favorite part of running?
I love being able to escape everything, lace up my shoes, and run. It doesn’t matter what kind of day I’m having; I always feel better after a run.

What motivates/inspires you to run?
Knowing that the possibilities are endless. You get out what you put in.

CRYSTAL CUN

Crystal is a product manager at Fulton Fish Market. She loves “moderately dangerous yet well-reviewed adventures” in developing nations and is known within the club as a legendary bread-maker. Given that, she loves to feed her sourdough starter. Crystal is part of PPTC’s social and race committees.

What motivates/inspires you to run?
Originally, I started running because I love to eat. I looked up which sports burn the most calories per hour, and I couldn’t go cross-country skiing that often, so running was the #2 option. Now, I run because I’ve discovered that runners are kindred spirits afflicted with my flavor of crazy. People who believe in the power of small habits leading to BIG transformations, who dream audaciously, and aren’t afraid of hard work. Neither of these answers really involves fitness per se, and even today, it feels weird when people refer to me as an athlete. (Side note: I was so unmotivated in high school gym class, my teacher would sing “Eye of the Tiger” to encourage me to go after the ball!) Mrs. Caverly, if you’re reading this, I’m sorry I was an apathetic wet blanket at 15. But look at me now: I can run for the ball and then some!

What is your favorite part of running?
My favorite part of running is how it always treats you to something new, whether that’s a physical space, a mental realization, or an amazing donut. I always thought running would get boring at some point, but years later it hasn’t happened yet!

CRISTINA MILLEUR

Cristina is an architect who bikes everywhere and does trapeze and trampoline at TSNY (talk about fearless!). She likes to run with PPTC’s early morning runners’ group.

What motivates/inspires you to run?
I find it hard to run sometimes, so I try to think of how I’ll feel 20 minutes in, after I’ve warmed up and have my second wind going.

What do you love about running?
What I love about running is when I’m properly trained, I feel really strong and powerful and can conquer my goals. It’s the best feeling!

RACHEL GUINN

Rachel is a project manager for sustainable infrastructure at the NYC Department of Design and Construction. When she’s not logging miles or working, Rachel volunteers and fosters rescue dogs with Muddy Paws Rescue. Rachel manages PPTC’s ultramarathon records and organizes trail runs.

What motivates/inspires you to run?
I’m motivated to train for and run ultras because I see people doing these amazing feats of strength and endurance and honestly, I’m just curious about how much it would suck to be like 70 miles into a race and still have 30 miles to go. And I think all women are strong enough and would amaze themselves by running ultras, and the only way that’s going to happen is if they see more and more women going out there and doing it.

MICHELLE HARRIS

Michelle is a clinical social worker who works at The Bridge, where she helps people living with diagnoses of mental illnesses, substance abuse, and/or experiences of homelessness. Michelle is also a core member and site coordinator of the Flatbush Farm Share. Though she is new to the club (she joined last fall), she is already volunteering and doing Charlene and Tony’s weeknight speed training at the Park Slope Armory.

What motivates you to run?
Proving to myself that I can do things that are really challenging and sometimes downright unpleasant. I’ve only been running for about 6 months, and it’s been transformative to see how much farther and faster I can go — much more than I thought I was physically capable of.

What’s your favorite part of running?
At the end of a race, feeling like I have given my absolute all to something, both physically and mentally. Of course, the community is wonderful too.

Text by Rachael DePalma
Photos by Noah Devereaux
Edited by Carla Benton, Donna Newton and Alison Kotch
Produced by Alison Kotch

International Women’s Day: Celebrating the Women of PPTC