This episode of Earthmovers was recorded LIVE at the Women of Color Take the Lead Retreat in Los Angeles, September 2026: it features co-host Alison Mariella Désir in conversation with Nell Rojas.
This episode of Earthmovers was recorded LIVE at the Women of Color Take the Lead Retreat in Los Angeles, September 2026: it features co-host Alison Mariella Désir in conversation with Nell Rojas.
Nell Rojas is a professional distance runner sponsored by Altra, and she is the founder of the coaching business RISE Running.
Nell grew up in a running family: her father, Ric Rojas, was a competitive runner and is a career running coach. Nell’s own running career began in college, at Northern Arizona, where she studied exercise science. After college, Nell became a professional triathlete and then turned her focus to distance running and the marathon.
Nell’s coaching experience goes back to high school, when she started working with her father. Nell started coaching with her father when she graduated from high school and she’s been coaching ever since. Nell is coached by her father and they share a notable achievement: they have each won the prestigious BoulderBoulder race—albeit those victories are separated by a few years.
Nell has many accolades as a distance runner, including placing top American twice at the Boston Marathon, placing in the top 10 at the New York City Marathon, and winning the Grandma's Marathon. Nell was also the 2021 10-mile US national champion. Nell has also experienced significant challenges: she was diagnosed with and started treatment for Lyme Disease last year, after a long search for answers to increasingly severe health concerns.
Throughout, Nell has advocated for inclusivity, with a focus on empowering women of color. In this conversation, Rojas speaks about her work championing inclusivity and empowering women of color and shares her experiences navigating Lyme disease while continuing to train and explore elite level competitive goals.
Mentioned in this Episode
Nell Rojas on Instagram: @nell_rojas_running
RISE Running: rojasrunning.com
EARTHMOVERS on Instagram: @earthmoverspodcast
EARTHMOVERS on Substack: earthmoverspodcast.substack.com
Our Season 3 Presenting Sponsor
Thank you to our presenting sponsor ALTRA. Find them at altrarunning.com
EARTHMOVERS Hosts
Verna NezBegay Volker: Runner, mother, community builder, public speaker, and racial equity activist from the Navajo Nation, Volker is the founder of Native Women Run, an organization that began as a virtual community and is now a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. @hozhorunner4
Alison Mariella Désir: Runner, mountain climber, mother, community builder, and racial equity activist, Désir is the author of the groundbreaking book Running While Black and the host of the award winning PBS TV show Out and Back with Alison Mariella Désir. @alisonmdesir
Stefanie Flippin: Professional ultra trail runner, running coach, podcaster, writer, racial equity activist, and a foot and ankle surgeon, Flippin is the 2021 USATF 100-mile road champion and course record holder, and she’s the 6th fastest all-time American woman at the 100-mile distance. @stefanieannflippin