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Native Women Run

@native_women_run

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501(c)(3) nonprofit amplifying & empowering Native women through running-nationally & globally.
📍 Minnesota
#NativeWomenRun

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‼️The 2026 NWR schedule is here.

This is a tentative schedule, and some races are still yet to be confirmed. Updates will be shared on our social media—check frequently so you don’t miss these opportunities.📲

Participation requires an application and selection by NWR leadership. Please review our expectations and process, pinned on our Instagram and Facebook.✍🏼

We do not ask for fundraising or charity bibs. We work behind the scenes to remove barriers for our community, with support from donations and partnerships.🫶🏽

Interested in leading a team in your area? Reach out.✋🏽

Creating space is our job. Happy 2026 racing!

Skoden!! NWR by @native_women_run

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9 months ago

How NWR Team Selection Works ✨
Every race we support is an opportunity to uplift Native women and create space for our stories in the running community.

Here’s our process:
1️⃣ We partner with race directors and announce the race on social media. Sometimes the team is limited to certain regions, so please read the details carefully.

2️⃣ You apply through our application. We want to learn more about you and your story
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3️⃣ Our leadership reviews all submissions. This is always hard because we wish we could select everyone.

4️⃣ We contact those selected, send waivers, and connect runners through social media.
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5️⃣ We stay in communication so our runners can support one another and meet up on race day.

Some may say it’s “not about race entries,” but for us, covering those costs truly breaks a barrier. It opens the door for more Native women to stand on those start lines with confidence and support.

Whether you’re selected or not, you will receive an email from us, and we always encourage you to keep applying and cheering on your Native sisters.

Thank you for showing up, sharing your stories, and wanting to run with us. We see you, and we are rooting for you always.

-NWR❤️ by @native_women_run

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10 months ago

NWR Team Application Expectations — 2026 ✨

Before applying for one of our teams, we ask that applicants understand what it means to represent Native Women Run. Our teams are built on community, accountability, and heart. 🫶🏽

Swipe through to learn what we look for in our runners from communication and conduct to participation and community values.

And remember…
If you’re not selected for a team, we still encourage you to keep applying, keep showing up, and keep uplifting the Native sisters around you. Your presence matters. Your running matters. We see you. ✨

-NWR ❤️ by @native_women_run

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10 months ago

Second half marathon done! Coming off an injury I wasn’t even sure I’d be able to do it but I’m happy we got it done.
Thank you again to @native_women_run and @runcrs for sponsoring my race! Doing this on my dad’s birthday was the cherry on top, happy heavenly birthday dad I love you so much and I miss you ❤️ taken in Downtown Toronto by @native_women_run

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8 hours ago

Sorry for the late sharing on the cheer station. We were trying to figure out the exact location.

But you can join us tomorrow, 10/18,to cheer on our runners. We will be cheering near the half marathon turn around point so this spot will allow us to cheer on half and marathon runners (we want to get something near the finish line to enable us to cheer on everyone, but with the road closures it was hard).

The main road near the half marathon turn around point is Candelaria. If you park in the residential area, please be quiet and respectful of the residents and do not block any driveways.

Wear your NWR shirts if you can! See you there.

#nativewomenrun #runabq #runnm taken in Albuquerque, New Mexico by @native_women_run

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Congratulations to our NWR ABQ runners who will be running different distances at the Duke City Marathon races tomorrow, Sun, Oct 18!

We have….
✅Wynema Chavez (Santo Domingo Pueblo), Half Marathon
✅Valerie Tafoya (Santa Clara Pueblo), Half Marathon
✅Melverna Aguilar (Kewa Pueblo), Half Marathon
✅Shannon Clark-Holiday, (Diné & Laguna Pueblo)
✅Shaina Roanhorse (Diné), 5k
✅Brittanya Yazzie (Diné), 5k

❤️Big thanks to @big5 for sponsoring our runners with the race entries.

⭐️Runners - when the race gets tough tomorrow remember you are #nativestrong 💪🏽.

🏃🏽‍♀️There are a lot of other Natives running this race tomorrow, so if you are sound off below so we can cheer for you!

📸We will also be around the start line a little before 7 am for a photo with the NWR banner, so check our story in the AM for the exact location. Best of luck to all running!

#nativewomen #runabq #dukecitymarathon taken in Albuquerque, New Mexico by @native_women_run

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This month I had the honor of being part of the @native_women_run team for the Milwaukee Lakefront 5k & half marathon! The best part about it is that I accidentally signed up for the half marathon, it was only my intention to run the 5k. I didn’t realize I had signed up for the “Own the Hoan Challenge” 😅 I was going to stick to only doing the 5k, but because of the incredible encouragement, support, and enthusiasm from @siv_21 and @feliciajo8331 I felt empowered enough to go for the half marathon too! I’m happy to say finished a 5k and half marathon in the same weekend and owned the Hoan!🙌🏽 I’m so grateful for this experience and continuing to build community with strong, supportive Native women! Thank you @native_women_run for uplifting our communities and creating opportunities for representation!❤️🪶 by @native_women_run

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2 days ago

We are about to kick off another weekend of racing, but before we do let’s take it back to last Saturday, 10/10, when several @native_women_run runners went out for the 12 miler Big Tesuque Trail Race in Santa Fe.

📸And we have two photos because we had some runners starting at 8 am and some at 9 am.

⛰️It was a beautiful weekend in the mountains with the Aspens changing colors. But don’t let that lovely view fool you into thinking this was a run in the park. This race starts out at 10,000 ft and you run six miles up to 12,000 ft and 6 miles back downhill. The air is thin, the lungs burn, and your quads take a beating on the run down.

✅And our runners did us proud. Everyone finished! And we enjoyed the festive atmosphere after the race.

🤗Thank you to @wings_of_america for the complimentary entries for our Native runners. We really appreciate the support you continue to share with our Native community. Shout out to the race organizers and sponsors…we enjoyed the dancing, burritos, and good fun on the course.

🏃🏽‍♀️And now, on to another weekend of racing. This time we have runners doing the Duke Marathon races. You’ll get to meet them in another post so stay tuned for lots of fun updates this weekend.

#nativewomenrun #runsantafe #runnm taken in Santa Fe, New Mexico by @native_women_run

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Chicago 26.2026! Marathons are supposed to be hard. No way around it. The challenge is what made it worthwhile. I am forever thankful to be able to challenge myself by testing my mental and physical strengths. Checking another marathon within months of one another was not on my to-do list. Much less at a World Major. I can’t tell you how anxious I was as the months turned into weeks then into days and hours until the start! I truly and always want to give my best efforts and finish stronger than I started. My first World Major experience may have not been a PR, but it started something that I may be chasing for years to come *hint* ⭐️🤩

Thank you Native Women Run and Verna for being a North Star for giving dreamers, such as myself, opportunities to represent our tribal nations and families at big stages like the World Majors. The NWR community is an incredibly special one as every runner from all stages of running journeys, every dream, and story is embraced. NWR meets us where we are, exactly how we are, and validates how capable we can be when we believe in ourselves and the power of community ❤️

Lastly, shout out to those supporting along the route with Navajo Nation flags. It was comforting and uplifting to see among all other nations and countries.

Ahéhee’ by @native_women_run

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3 days ago

Updated:

📣October 31 + November 1st: Join us for an NYC Marathon shake out run/walk and community gathering!
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🏃🏾‍♀️Saturday October 31, 2026
⏰9:00AM-12:00PM
📍234 West 39th street 6th Fl. New York, NY 10018
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Shake out run will begin at the AICH office at 9AM and will consist of a 2 mile run and 1 mile walk, followed by light refreshments and poster making at AICH office.
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📣Marathon cheer section
🏃🏾‍♀️Sunday November 1, 2026
⏰10:00AM-6:00PM
📍Mile 22 (120th Street and 5th Avenue)
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Join us as we cheer on our fellow Indigenous runners during the New York City Marathon! by @native_women_run

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3 days ago

Pumpkin Spice Run was my final race of the season!

Wrapped up my race season with @native_women_run crew, the day after my 51st birthday! And a little fullcircle moment: it was the same day as the Chicago Marathon, which I ran last year, and following everyone this year gave me strength.

Always fun getting to run with my #NWR sisters, especially my go to run buddy, Hannah. Renae had her first #Nwr run with us and it's great talk about family and healthy living, something that was taken from us and we are reclaiming. Always good to see Jen out there running the 10K. It's been a while, so I stayed around to see her finish. She did amazing!

One of the reasons NWR was founded was to bring more representation for Native women into the running space. At the end of the race, a woman came up to us and asked to take a picture with us. I wish I remembered her name, but I do remember she's Puyallup and had just started following NWR. It's a good reminder of why showing up matters and how much it means to see yourself represented in spaces where you might not always see that.

I also ran into some fellow 49ers fans at the start line and, of course, had to get a picture for George. ❤️💛 When I sent it to him, his response was, "Look, you found my family!" They were the kindest people, and it was fun sharing a little 49ers love before the race.

My running wasn't always the best this year, but I'm happy to say I ended strong. From the relay to Spokane to Dallas, it's been good fall running. Even with the rain in Dallas, my run felt solid, and today I finished out the season with a 3rd-place finish in my age group!

Nothing big or crazy on the race calendar this year, just lots of fun, good people, and finding my groove again. I'm happy with how the season ended and ready for a little break before figuring out what's next.

A big thank-you to my coach @stefanieannflippin all the encouragement and guidance along the way. taken in Seward Park, Seattle by @native_women_run

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