Game Changers: Empowering Women of Color to Become Leaders in the Running Industry

Joining the show this week is Vanessa Peralta-Mitchell, the founder of Game Changers, a program that aims to encourage and support more women of color to become certified run coaches. Launched in 2020, the program was born out of Vanessa’s realization that very few running coaches and experts in the industry looked like her—and her desire to change that. 

Since then, Vanessa has guided dozens of women from Florida to Washington to become leaders in their own communities, bringing back what they’ve learned through the program to empower others. A wife, mother of three, and daughter of Ecuadorian immigrants, she credits her mother for being her ultimate inspiration to reach for her dreams and build her own business. 

Interested in joining? Applications are now open for this year’s Game Changers cohort. This marks the second year that Game Changers is partnering with New York Road Runners, which includes a coaching apprenticeship with NYRR Group Training in NYC. 

Apply to Game Changers NY Cohort here:  bit.ly/VCPMGameChangersNYC2026 
Sign up for the Game Changers QQ&A here: bit.ly/GCNYC26QArsvp

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