Great Runs Team

Email: [email protected]

The main reason Mark started Great Runs is so he could create the job title, ‘Chief Running Officer’. Seriously, Mark is a lifelong recreational runner and outdoors enthusiast, whose ambition is to create the ultimate guide for travelers who run and runners who travel. Mark’s ‘Great Runs’ career started in 2008, when he authored three running guide books, including Great Runs in Boston. By day, Mark leads consulting firm Mobile Ecosystem, and lives with his wife and two children in Brookline, MA — flush by the 23 mile mark of the Boston Marathon.

Kelsey is a Massachusetts-based freelance writer, editor, and web-producer specializing in travel and fitness. Although a lifelong ice hockey player and outdoor adventure enthusiast, she began running seriously during college at UMASS Amherst as a way to see as many trails of the Pioneer Valley as quickly as possible. She and her running buddies compete annually in the Chilmark Road Race and the Gay Head 10K on the beautiful island of Martha’s Vineyard where she has lived and worked for many years. When she isn’t writing, Kelsey can be found at the gym, reading, playing guitar, or planning her next escape to South America.

Julia joins Great Runs as an intern for the Summer of 2021. Julia is a two time All-American in lacrosse and currently a student-athlete at Boston College. The BC Lax team won the NCAA Division 1 Championship this June!  Julia is a health coach who is always interested in learning new things nutrition-based and helping people meet their goals. In her free time, you can find her training for lacrosse, spending time with her dog, Brewski, reading, or running!

Karin is a 2014 graduate from the University of Vermont. During college, she picked up running and completed the Green Mountain Half Marathon as her first race. In addition to running, Karin enjoys hiking, biking and relaxing in the great outdoors. Traveling has always been a passion of Karin’s. She has visited Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Germany, Ireland, Laos, Mexico, Netherlands, Northern Ireland, Panama, Scotland, Spain, Thailand, and Viet Nam, but feels her adventures have only begun. Frequently, she combines desire to sightsee with her impulse to run — which is why Karin loves to write for Great Runs.

Hannu is a sports and traveling enthusiast. He has visited in 30+ different countries and thinks that running is one of the best ways to explore new places. He loves to run in urban settings in his current hometown Boston, MA but as a Finland native, he also enjoys peaceful trail running in the woods combined with a refreshing sauna afterwards. Hannu has a strong understanding of the global running audience after working in marketing at Polar and within the wearable sports technology industry for 8+ years.

Ariana Bahret has been running as long as she can remember. From cross country, to track, to running to the Charles River while on the crew team at Boston College, you’d find her running somewhere! Running has been a way to explore the hidden treasures in the many places she has lived, including Sedona, Boulder, Seattle, Kona, Chicago,  and now northern MA. Ariana is currently coaching cross country at a New England private school, co-hosting a health radio show and helping clients heal through her energy healing work. She is thrilled to get to share her love and knowledge of running by contributing to Great Runs!

By day, Darren is Associate Project Manager for Pearson Education and has also held numerous copywriting and technical writing positions. He has also held Visiting Lecturer positions in creative writing. Darren also plays an active role in Somerville Road Runners. Masters of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from the University of Southern New Hampshire and a B.A. from the University of Hartford.

Julie graduated from the University of Vermont with a Bachelor of Science in Public Communication and a minor in Nutrition and Food Systems.  She has always been passionate about health and wellness and loves trying new fitness initiatives. She ran her first half marathon during her junior year in college and was hooked. Since then she has participated in the 100 on 100 race and is currently training for her third half marathon. Julie loves traveling and researching new runs in those new places, so writing for Great Runs is a dream!

Laura Brothers is a marketing professional who has worked with Business Insider, JPMorgan Chase, and Starbucks. When she’s not checking her Instagram, you can find her running her favorite routes in Northern Virginia or planning her next adventure.

Emma currently attends Emerson College in Boston, and will be graduating in May 2017 with a degree in Marketing Communications. She shares a strong understanding for the world of running, and ran competitively all through high school. When she’s not studying, writing, or running, Emma can be found watching Scandal on Netflix, browsing the stationary aisle, snacking on Goldfish, snapping colorful pictures, cooking vegetarian meals, or designing her website (check it out at ellcreative.co!).

Chris is a 7 time Massachusetts state champion in cross country, indoor and outdoor track and still holds the New England High School outdoor record for 2 Miles at 8:50. At the University of New Mexico, Chris was a two time All-American and captained the team to 8th place at the NCAA’s, the highest place in school history. Chris has run for New Balance and Asics for a bit. Training in Kenya, Mammoth Lakes, Colorado and New Mexico, Chris qualified for the Olympic Marathon trials in 2012 and 2016.

Amanda graduated from Endicott College with a Bachelor of Science in Marketing Communications with a minor in Spanish. Now a marketing professional working in Boston, she spends her time exploring new running spots on the North Shore of Massachusetts. She has an equal love for both running and traveling and is always planning her next adventure both near and far.

Josephine is an ex-drilling engineer. After working on oil rigs for a few years she decided to go back to school to study Sports Management. Josephine has always loved running, swimming and cycling – basically anything that involves being outside and going long distances. One of her big goals in life is to cross the world’s 50 largest islands by human power. She believes that we are all capable of so much more than we think and she wants to use this long-term project to inspire people to step out of their comfort zone, set big goals and spend more time in the outdoors.

Lana is a freelance writer and marketing professional who has lived and worked in Canada, Croatia, France, and New Zealand. She caught the running bug in 2004 when she completed her first half marathon in Paris and since then she has run a combination of over 15 half marathons and 10km races. Having travelled to over 40+ countries she’s gained an appreciation for discovering a new city through running and likes to connect to local running communities whenever she travels to a new place. In addition to being a contributor for Great Runs, she is a marketing consultant as well as long-time wine lover who has published wine + food articles in Canadian and international magazines.

After years as an avid cyclist, Jeremy started to run while traveling as a means to stay fit but became addicted once he discovered the joy of exploring not only the locations he traveled to but his own backyard. Jeremy became involved in Great Runs to develop the selection of Australian routes and pass on his knowledge from his years of traveling. During the day Jeremy is a Financial Adviser in Melbourne and lives with his wife and ever inquisitive dog!