Mission: We exist to educate, empower, and connect female and nonbinary distance runners. From high school and collegiate athletes to professional, recreational, and Master’s runners, we’re accepting of all body types, backgrounds, shapes and sizes, proving that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to be a distance runner. We do this by cultivating community through our blog, podcast, social media channels, retreats/events, educational resources, and more.
Vision: We strive to foster a community including a resource hub; podcast and media platform; events, workshops and retreats, along with a scholarship fund and mentorship program that supports athletes, in and outside of sport. Our vision is for all girls, women, and athletes to recognize and believe in their potential; embrace who they are, both in and outside of running; as well as empower and support one another. We hope to give back to the younger generation of girls through mentorship programs, educational resources, and ongoing conversations, as well as help connect, empower, and educate women throughout their running journey and beyond with our programs, events, and community.
Values:
- Inclusivity: Create spaces where all women feel welcome and represented.
- Connection: Bring together sisters in sport.
- Transparency & Honesty: Share stories that help others and lead to change in the running world.
- Empowerment & Bravery: Provide tools, stories, and knowledge to share in brave spaces to uplift other women.
- Service & Commitment to Community: Give back to the communities that we live in.
Diversity/Inclusion Statement: At Strong Runner Chicks, we believe in creating spaces where all women feel welcome, heard, seen, and supported. We are committed to broadening representation of Black, Latinx, Asian, Indigenous, Muslim, LGBTQIA+ , women with disabilities and other minority communities through our podcast, blog series, retreats, and other events. We understand this is an ongoing process and will do our part to ensure all feel welcome in the SRC community.
Our Story
Megan started Strong Runner Chicks (SRC) in 2015 while a collegiate athlete, after witnessing eating disorders and mental health struggles in the sport that weren’t being talked about openly enough, or frankly at all. She began with the support of her teammates, sharing their stories on the blog and bringing on on more contributors over time, which eventually led into a budding online community, podcast, and in-person retreats and events. At the core, our mission is to educate, empower and connect female-identifying and nonbinary athletes by showing them that there is no one-size fits all approach to running.
Team Members
Megan Flanagan (she/her)
Megan is the Founder of Strong Runner Chicks. As a former Division I collegiate runner, she noticed the gaps in fueling, mental health, and body image amongst female and nonbinary athletes and wanted to bring together a community to start the conversation and change things for the better. Since starting SRC, she has expanded her journey into trail and ultra running, alongside advocacy work in employee wellbeing and women’s reproductive care. She is also a running, strength, and purpose coach, which you can find more about on her website.
Elena Lancioni (she/her)
Elena is a public health professional, researcher, coach and advocate for feeling good in your body. Elena believes in creating spaces where we all can thrive by having the ability to access necessary health and wellness resources. She competed as a cross country and track athlete from middle school through college and now continues to find joy running with friends and on the trails.
She enjoys connecting with people and learns so much from those with different perspectives and experiences. To fill her cup, she can be found coaching middle schoolers, reading or exploring a new trail.
Kelsey Varzeas (she/her)
Kelsey has had the privilege of being a part of the SRC family since 2017. She dedicates her work to better understanding the unique social, cultural, psychological, and relational stressors that women athletes face. Kelsey specializes in the treatment and qualitative research of eating disorders / disordered eating, body image dissatisfaction and disturbances, the psychological risk factors and repercussions of Low Energy Availability (LEA) and Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs), maternal mental health, and weight stigma with those who identify as athletes. You can learn more about her work in research here and her outpatient clinical practice here.
Interested in joining the team?
We welcome opportunities to get involved. Reach out to us and let’s connect!
Strong Runner Chicks 