Lives In: Carbondale, Colorado

Elinor Fish has worked in the travel, tourism and running industries since 1999. The Canadian ex-pat, who now calls Colorado home, has long been an avid trail runner, writer and traveler, having lived most her adult life abroad. She spent four years as the managing editor of Trail Runner magazine and founded Run Wild Retreats + Wellness in 2010. Drawing from her career in tourism marketing for such destinations as Banff and Lake Louise (Canada), the Province of Alberta and Catalina Island, California, she has grown Run Wild Retreats Inc into an international travel company offering running and wellness-focused tours in six countries.

As a writer, Elinor has written numerous magazine articles and recorded dozens of podcasts about mindful running that have helped thousands of runners make their running a mindfulness practice to reduce their stress, overcome obstacles to consistent running and improve their overall well being.

She lives in the mountain town of Carbondale, Colorado, with her mountain-bike loving son and husband, and their senior black Lab.

Lives In: Missoula, Montana

Bekah grew up in central Pennsylvania, mostly outside. She attended Duquesne University in Pittsburgh where she earned a dual bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing and Journalism. After graduating, she convinced her sister to bike for six days straight from Washington, DC to Pittsburgh on the C&O Canal/GAP trail. Since that first trip, Bekah has traveled by bike through the San Juan Islands, in Acadia National Park, down the East Coast Greenway, across the Olympic Peninsula, around the Finger Lakes, down the Pacific Coast Highway, through the barrier islands of Georgia, and made many more trips on the C&O Canal/GAP. 

After leading short day trips for the Pittsburgh-based non-profit Venture Outdoors, she moved to Ohiopyle, PA where she managed bike tours for Wilderness Voyageurs. She split her time working in the office with going out and leading tours on the GAP, the Erie Canal trail, and the Georgia coast. 

Most recently, Bekah spent four years with the Adventure Cycling Association, a national non-profit organization based in Missoula, Montana. As operations manager, she had the opportunity to oversee over 100 annual tour departures, develop new tours in new destinations, as well as go out and lead every once in a while. Her most recent leadership role was taking a group of 13 riders down the entire Pacific Coast, from Vancouver, BC to San Diego over six weeks. 

She currently is based in Missoula, Montana, where she tries to be outside as much as possible with her two year old pup and whitewater guiding partner.

Lives In: Denver, Colorado

Liz Arnold is an avid traveler and certified yoga instructor who has been a runner for over 30 years and completed 20+ marathons.  Originally from Charlotte, North Carolina, Liz now lives in Denver, Colorado where she enjoys skiing with her family,  hiking 14ers with her two daughters, and trail running with her friends and walking her English Setter dog Wendell.  Her running group has participated in several 24-hour overnight relays, gone on back-country hut trips, and frequents the Manitou Incline in Colorado Springs. She is passionate about sharing her love for running with women of all ages and coached Girls on the Run for 3rd-5th grade girls for 5 years.

Liz is active in the Denver community with school boards, MetroCaring Food bank, and Central City Opera. She is also involved with her college alma mater, UNC-Chapel Hill, recruiting Honors Students and serving on the Parents' Council.  She plays tennis, rock climbs, and enjoys gardening and cooking.  Liz also enjoys reading non-fiction books, appreciating every opportunity to continue learning.

Lives In: Washington, DC

Margaret Rietano, a lifelong runner, savors her time on the trail  to process her thoughts, connect to her body, and appreciate the beauty of the journey.   Running not only serves as her personal sanctuary but also acts as a conduit for meaningful conversations and exploration of the literal and figurative unknown. She loves any active endeavors that allow her to tap into her curiosity, find awe and see what wonders lie around the next bend.  

Residing in Washington, DC  Margaret benefits from easy access to incredible trails, National Parks, and a vibrant cultural and culinary scene. She takes advantage of both the beauty and the grit and also uses DC as her launch pad for travel.  Some of her recent favorite trips have been hiking in New Zealand with her son, exploring the Amalfi Coast with friends and visiting with family near and far.

As a mother who raised four now-young-adults in the heart of the city, Margaret recognized the need to connect fellow urban dwellers with the outdoors. Witnessing the stress and pressure prevalent in the bustling, type-A community, she founded The Elements DC in 2007. This organization offers transformative, active, outdoor experiences for both youth and adults. In tandem, Margaret passionately supports under-resourced youth through the Woodland Access Initiative, an Elements  program she created  to support non-profit partnerships so that  everyone has the opportunity to safely experience the benefits of time in nature.

To balance her active interests, Margaret knows the value of ‘retreating’, taking time alone to muse,  journal, hang with her pups and relax.  It is in the quiet space that the creativity is revealed.

Lives In: Berkeley, California

Janet is a lifelong believer in the benefits of exercise and travel, for the body and mind. With a foundation of discipline and commitment as a collegiate rower at Boston University, Janet created her own outdoor fitness company, FitFirst in 2003 in Berkeley, California. She has led and inspired its members, who range in age from 35 to 70, to meet, often before the sun rises, and work through a full body conditioning program at beautiful outdoor locations throughout the year.

Along with her family and their senior dog, Janet’s favorite things are running and traveling. She considers herself a self-propelled outdoor enthusiast with a love of running trails, mountain biking and swimming in wide open spaces. Her travel adventures have included scuba diving the Great Barrier Reef as well as taking a ten-day silent Buddhist meditation retreat in Thailand. Janet lives her story and delights in supporting others to do so as well.