Raya Usher

Raya Usher is a dynamic leader and Regional Director of Predictive Fitness in Europe, driving innovation and growth for TriDot, RunDot, and other predictive analytics platforms across the region. Leveraging over a decade of experience in high-performance sports coaching and a decade in business development, Raya combines her expertise in operations, strategy, and athlete coaching to enhance the coaching and training experience for professionals and enthusiasts alike in the Predictive Fitness ecosystem.
Raya also serves as Head of Development for Precision Coaching, where she oversees coach education and development, and as a Subject Matter Expert and Course Instructor for IRONMANU, contributing to the global advancement of triathlon coaching. Her business acumen and athlete-first approach make her a sought-after voice in the endurance sports industry.
With a professional background that includes competitive alpine skiing and podium finishes in triathlon, Raya has a proven track record of balancing the demands of sport and business. Based in Surrey, England, she is married to her business partner, Will Usher, and enjoys life with their two children, dog Poppy, and cat Ember.

Katelyn Tocci

Katelyn Tocci is an ultramarathoner, running coach, and Managing Editor at Marathon Handbook. Originally from Boston, MA, and now based in Costa Rica, she combines her love of running and writing to inspire and educate runners worldwide.

Louis Serafini

Louis Serafini is a Boston based American distance runner and Runna US General Manager. He notably became the 514th American to break the 4-minute mile barrier, achieving a time of 3:59.33 in 2018—a milestone he considers one of his most memorable accomplishments. Louis has also qualified for three Olympic Marathon Trials with his best finish being 35th in Orlando in 2024, showing his consistency and dedication to the sport.
Beyond the mile, he holds a personal best of 2:14:59 in the marathon, set at the 2022 California International Marathon (10th at the US Marathon Championships, and he clocked a notable 1:03:13 in the half marathon at the 2019 Brooklyn Half Marathon. Alongside his running career, he works as Runna’s General Manager of North America.

Kim Levinsky

Kim Levinsky has been at the helm of Sassquad Trail Running since their first “Trail Party” in 2018. Sassquad hosts 10 Trail Parties throughout New Jersey and New York and their mission is to welcome all peoples, paces, and ages to their events. Since that inaugural race, Kim has directed 70 events ranging in distances from 5K up to 150 miles. Kim recently set the Fastest Known Time on the New York Long Path in nine and a half days, becoming the first woman to complete all 358 miles in a single-push.

Alex Cyr

Marathon Handbook’s Senior Gear Editor, Alex is a competitive runner, journalist, and running shoe guru. He’s currently targeting a sub 30-minute 10k.

Michael Doyle

Michael is an investigative journalist, editor, and expert Kipchogeologist based in Toronto, Canada.

With a long career in running journalism, Michael leads up the Marathon Handbook editorial team.

Dylan Bowman

Dylan is a longtime professional athlete and a co-founder of Freetrail, a media and events company in trail running. Dylan is also a member of the Board of the Western States 100, a co-founder of TrailCon, and a co-owner of two race events, The Big Alta & Gorge Waterfalls.

Jeff Booher

Jeff Booher is Founder and CEO of Predictive Fitness, LLC, a health and fitness data company that uses predictive analytics to deliver highly personalized training and coaching to endurance athletes. He developed the company’s first service, TriDot, to specifically meet training and coaching needs for triathletes.

Jeff started competing in triathlons in 2002. He has completed over 60 events, including four IRONMAN, with numerous age-group and overall masters wins. He is also a USA Triathlon (USAT) Level II Certified Coach and coaches a USAT High Performance Junior Triathlon Team which is the top team in USAT’s South Midwest Region. Jeff has also been selected by USAT to coach multiple Olympic hopefuls as part of the Collegiate Recruitment Program (top collegiate recruits in the US).

Jeff served in the Military Intelligence Branch of the U.S. Army where he was a Russian linguist and also trained soldiers to exceed physical fitness standards.

Following his active-duty service in the Army, he was a systems engineer designing supply-chain-management software and served the next 16 years as Chief Operating Officer of three different corporations where he determined key performance metrics, technology, infrastructure, standards, and process to optimize quality and profitability.

In 2004, Jeff began analyzing the science of triathlon training in search of better training efficiency and results. He found triathlon coaches and athletes were being guided by philosophies and “one size fits all” approaches based on tradition, as well as some level of myth and guesswork.

But one consistency was evident. Personal data matters in triathlon training and no one was including an extensive view of an athlete’s physiology, background and current performance levels. Given this, Jeff decided to launch TriDot.

Today, TriDot is an easy-to-use, analytics-based system that takes the guesswork out of training. It leverages individual factors with comprehensive data of similar triathletes to create a uniquely personalized approach to triathlon training. TriDot’s personalization includes a performance index which scores a triathlete’s actual and potential performance ability on a scale of 1 to 100 in, swim, bike and run, as well as overall.

In the end, TriDot is a predictable, measurable and repeatable training and performance methodology, versus a belief or philosophy.

Jeff holds a BBA in Management of Information Systems from Texas A&M University. He and his wife Jennifer are longtime residents of Southlake, TX where they live with their daughter and two sons.

Alex Hermanson

As a runner, content creator, and donut connoisseur, Alex Hermanson is the internet’s resident “big dude who runs a lot.” An active extrovert at heart, Alex’s love of running and connecting with others has helped him create an online and offline community for a new wave of runners who enjoy long, slow runs, often fueled by donuts. Motivated by inspiring others, Alex encourages his audience to not only be proud of the miles they log, but how far they’ve come on their own running journeys.

Paige Emerson

Paige Emerson is the founder of Chubby Hiker Reviews, a social media account where she reviews hikes in Maine as someone who is plus sized. She encourages people of all body types to get outdoors and she does advocacy work for folks in fat bodies. Her main goal is to work for inclusion and accessibility in outdoor spaces. In addition to being a trail reviewer, Paige is also a Clinical Social Worker and a Registered Maine Guide

Scot DeDeo

Scot lives in Belmont, MA with his wife Amy, their sons Neil and Nat, and their dog Ray, where he partakes in a range of endurance activities.

He currently coaches friends, family, and charity athletes through endurance events of all kinds. 

You can follow his exploits via his blog: http://multisportmaniac.blogspot.com

or on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/multisportmaniac/

See what current goals are in progress and get a glimpse of what might be next.  He is always looking for a new challenge.

Alia Qatarneh

Alia is a first-generation, East Boston-raised, Arab-Italian-American. She is an educator, rhymer, runner, learner, leader, and scientist. Her mission is to disrupt from within; whether that’s disrupting the dominant cultures of running or of science and education. She joined the leadership team of TrailblazHERs Run Co. in June of 2022. As a LeadHER, she supports the scale and impact of the TrailblazHERs’ mission. Foundational to this is her passion and knack for building community. She has inspired many by offering guidance, support, and encouraging excellence not only for the run crew but for the work in which members of TrailblazHERs are engaged in as agents for social change. She completed her first marathon, the Boston Marathon, in 2023, yet her most transformative race experience was running the 26.TRUE Marathon in 2024. Alia is a second-year doctoral student at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
Alia Qatarneh

Lindsey Thorne-Bingham

Lindsey Thorne-Bingham is a LeadHer with TrailblazHers Run Co. and a certified run coach. Her running and wellness journey is motivated by the power of the “get to” – We “get” to do this, we do not have to; do it now because one day we might not be able to. Lindsey strives to empower others to find the magic in movement and running. In March 2024, she became a six-star finisher upon finishing the Tokyo Marathon! Lindsey loves family, friends, good food, and adventure. Outside of running, she is a talent acquisition and recruiting professional. She is passionate about building strong teams and communities professionally and personally and is currently Chair of the Board at the Cambridge Community Center.

Tina Muir

Tina Muir is the co-author of Becoming a Sustainable Runner, a practical guide for approaching running in a way that merges runners’ passion for their sport with their concern for their health, their community, and the environment. An ardent environmentalist, she works with major road races on their sustainability initiatives, and is the Sustainability Director for the World Athletics Road Running Championships to be held in San Diego in 2025.

Through her award-winning podcast, Running for Real, Tina starts conversations and shares resources on sustainability, climate change, and how individuals can make a positive difference in their own lives.

Meb Keflezighi

Mebrahtom “Meb” Keflezighi is widely acclaimed as one of the greatest runners of our time and is the only man in history to win the New York City Marathon, the Boston Marathon, and an Olympic medal. He is the author of two New York Times bestselling books, founder of the MEB Foundation, is committed to helping runners become the best versions of themselves, and to nurturing the sport of running for the next generation. Meb now offers coaching services and utilizes RunDot as his training platform of choice.

Dena Lewis

Dena Lewis is the passionate force behind Running Mate, an innovative app
revolutionizing runner safety. After enduring two assaults while running, she embarked
on a mission to create a safer environment for all runners. Through Running Mate, Dena
offers a reliable platform where runners and mates undergo thorough background
checks, ensuring peace of mind for all involved. Think of Running Mate as the Uber for
runners, providing a ground breaking solution to enjoy runs without fear.
Dena’s journey is fuelled by her profound passion for running and unwavering dedication
to her family. As a mother and a long-time advocate for female runner safety, her goal
with Running Mate is to raise awareness of this crucial issue and to keep runners safe.
With over two decades of experience as a runner, including participation in numerous
ultras, marathons, triathlons, and shorter races, Dena brings a wealth of first hand
knowledge to Running Mate. Her extensive background in corporate America and
entrepreneurial spirit as a three-time founder uniquely position her to lead this
endeavour.

Before founding Running Mate, Dena used her degree in Business Administration from
Florida State University to forge a successful career in Medical Device Sales and
Management, holding various leadership roles over15 years. Despite her demanding
professional pursuits, Dena remains deeply connected to her roots in retail, having
owned three businesses throughout her career.
Based in Florida, Dena and the Running Mate team thrive in an environment conducive
to year-round running adventures. Their dedication to empowering runners and
promoting safety resonates with athletes worldwide, making Running Mate a
transformative force in the running community.

Dr Kaz Williams

Dr Kaz Williams, Performance Psychologist, Certified Running Coach, Speaker, Ultra runner.

Kaz is the Founder and CEO of Mettle, she coaches trail and ultra runners, works with athletes on their mental game and delivers expert, interactive and energizing talks making her a favorite speaker with athletes and business leaders.

Kaz also shares lessons from racing ultramarathons and her podium finishes at Tahoe 200, Moab 240 and Tot Dret, Italy. She has also won Ouray 100-mile endurance race in Colorado.

Des Linden

In April of 2018, Des Linden braved headwinds and torrential rain to become the first US women’s champion at the Boston Marathon since 1985. Her win was one for the record books as she bested the field and the worst conditions in race history. In the spring of 2021, Des set the World Record for the 50k, running 2:59:54. In the fall of 2023 Des set the US Master’s Marathon Record, running 2:27:35.

Des, a two-time U.S. Olympic Marathoner, finished 7th at the Rio Olympic Games. She got her start at Hilltop High in the San Diego suburb of Chula Vista, California where she earned All-State honors. Linden attended Arizona State University where she was an All-American in both cross country and track. After graduation, she moved to Rochester, Michigan to join the Hansons Brooks Distance Project. She currently trains in Northern Michigan and continues representing Brooks.

In 2011, Linden wowed the marathon world with her near-win at the Boston Marathon. Her runner-up finish, an incredible 2:22:38, set an all-time U.S. record on the Boston course and made her the third-fastest American ever at the time. Linden was named USA Track & Field’s Athlete of the Week for her performance.

In 2015, Des participated in the Boston Marathon which featured a strong international field and the top three US marathoners. She finished as top American and held on for a 4th place finish, less than 45 seconds from the win. In doing so, she bested two former Boston champions, a Berlin and Rotterdam Marathon champion, and the World Junior Record Holder.

In the summer of 2015, Des earned a Silver Medal at the Pan-Am Games in the 10,000. In early 2016 she finished 2nd at the US Olympic Marathon Trials, she followed that up with a runner-up performance at the US Half Marathon Championships before heading to the Rio Games. Other career highlights include earning her spot on the US Olympic Team at the 2012 LondonSummerGames with a runner-up performance at the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials (2:25:55), a runner-up performance at the 2013 US Half Marathon Champs, 11th at the 2009 Marathon World Championships (2:27:53) and multiple top-five performances at four of the six World Marathon Majors: her Boston runner-up in 2011, a 2nd at the 2010 Chicago Marathon (2:26:20), a 4th at the 2017 Boston Marathon, and 5th place showings at the 2008 Chicago Marathon (2:31:33), 2013 Berlin Marathon (2:29:15) and 2014 NYC Marathon (2:28:11) where she was the top American. Earlier in 2014, she clocked an impressive 2:23:54 in Boston. Most recently, in the fall of 2018, Des won the Rock ’n’ Roll Philly Half in 1:11:49 and finished 6th at the New York City Marathon with a swift 1:12:00 back half. Des returned to the BostonMarathon in 2019 and finished 5th, that fall she led the NYC Marathon field through the half marathon in 1:11:40 and finished as top American in 6th place in the 4th fastest American time in history on the historic five-borough course.

Linden studied psychology at Arizona State University. A self-proclaimed bacon aficionado, her hobbies include reading and writing, collecting assorted whiskeys, drinking Linden X Two Coffee, throwing first pitches at Major League ballgames, relaxing with her dogs Atlas and Boston, listening to good music and outrunning her husband, fellow marathoner, and Kona veteran, Ryan Linden.

Photo Credit: Carrie Cox

Laz Lake

Lazarus Lake (aka Gary Cantrell) is the man behind the revered and feared Barkley Marathons. Known to many as one of the toughest races on earth, the route involves 5 x 20 miles laps and 66,000 ft of unmarked ascent in and around Frozen Head Park in Tennessee. It has been completed only 18 times by 15 runners since 1989.

Laz is as much of an enigma as his races, which also include the Last Annual Vol State and last-man-standing sufferfest Big’s Backyard Ultra. A serious ultra runner himself, Laz recently finished a 3,365-mile walk across the US and joins us exclusively to chat about what it takes to finish one of his races.

Nicole Armbrust

Nicole is a performance physical therapist and running specialist who left the “traditional” model of clinical physical therapy ten years ago.  Instead of waiting to have injured runners come to her,  she started her own company, Jumpstartrunning, to help runners optimize their bodies and teach them to mitigate injury.  She is 49 years old and recently experienced the “joy” of perimenopause/menopause and wants to help other female athletes prepare and thrive during this transition. She and the majority of her clients are masters athletes who recognize that running strategies from our twenties no longer serve us and a “jumpstart” is in order to enhance our running for performance and longevity.

Nicole has been a runner and a physical therapist for the past twenty four years. She completed the Boston Marathon sixteen times, along with forty-something marathons and an Ironman. She has not had an injury in almost twenty years and wants the same for ALL runners. She knows that runners love to run – not rehab. Her mission is to keep runners healthy, happy and strong so they can enjoy a lifetime of running.

Nicole currently resides in Massachusetts, but has virtual clients across the country using a hybrid model of coaching, consulting and courses. She is currently training for her seventeenth Boston Marathon – fifth in a row – and has been chosen to run with the 2024 Boston Athletic Association Gives Back Marathon Team.

Tom Hooper

Tom decided to combine his love for racing and his skill for bringing people together in order to create SIX03 Endurance.

Tom’s knowledge of endurance racing, road races, and obstacle course racing granted him access to a plethora of like minded athletes. He put out the call and gathered a handful of athletes with various backgrounds to create what is now SIX03 Endurance.

He has hosted Multiple USATF National Trail and Mountain Championships and is currently a USATF -MUT Staff member.

Dave McGillivray

Founder & President of DMSE Sports, Race Director, Philanthropist, Motivational Speaker and Accomplished Athlete.

From his extraordinary 1978 run across the U.S. to benefit the Jimmy Fund and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute to serving as technical director then race director of the BAA Boston Marathon since the 1980s, McGillivray has helped organize more than 1,400 mass participatory events since founding DMSE Sports in 1981, while raising millions for worthy causes close to his heart.

Kelly Roberts

Kelly Roberts is the unlikely force behind the popular blog and women’s running community,  the Badass Lady Gang (now in nearly 20 cities around the world). The self-proclaimed former President of the “I f*cking hate running club” has helped hundreds of thousands of people run everything from 5Ks to marathons and is a coach to thousands of runners every year.

A force in the body-positive movement, Kelly’s body-positive movement #SportsBraSquad is redefining what strength looks like by helping thousands of women around the world ditch their shirts along with their insecurities.

Kelly has graced the cover of Women’s Running Magazine’s body issue, was named by Women’s Running Magazine as one of 20 Women Who Are Changing the Sport of Running (And the World), was named by Competitor Magazine as one of 12 Influential and inspiring runners under 30 is the host and creator of the Run, Selfie, Repeat podcast which has been downloaded over 2.5-million times worldwide.