2026 Servus Calgary Marathon Ambassadors

We are incredibly excited to officially announce our 2026 Run Calgary Ambassador Team!

This group is fueled by enthusiasm, energy, and authenticity – each bringing their own background, story, and reason for showing up. They’re here to inspire, to share experiences that resonate, and to showcase that every journey to the start line looks different.

For this team, #MoreThanRun is about community, confidence, balance, mental health, growth, and finding joy in movement. It’s about progress over perfection and showing up exactly as you are.

We can’t wait to follow along as they take us beyond the miles, training toward their chosen distances at the Servus Calgary Marathon this May and lacing up again for another Run Calgary event this fall.

Without further ado, introducing our 2026 Ambassadors (in alphabetical order):

Brenna moved to Calgary from the Lower Mainland of British Columbia in 2019 and now proudly calls the city home. She was not a runner growing up, but decided with a friend to start running at the end of Grade 12, completing her first half marathon in 2014. Shortly after, she stepped away from running to focus on her health.

After several years away and at a different stage of life, Brenna returned to running around 2019,  initially for her job and for her dog. Following her dog’s passing, she realized how deeply she loved running and joined YYC Run Crew before starting her own run club, Fun Frugal Friday.

The running community has given Brenna friendships that feel like family, along with goals, dreams, and ambition. She credits the inspiring people she has met through running for motivating her as she trains for her fourth marathon, which will be her third time running the Servus Calgary Marathon. This year, her goals include qualifying for Chicago, Boston, and New York, while always prioritizing fun and the overall race experience over finish times.

Heather lives in Cochrane and has called the Calgary area home for the past 20 years. She owns a tattoo shop with her husband, rescues animals, and recently founded the first Canadian chapter of Body Art Run Club, where inclusive spaces and movement meet.

Heather has been running since the age of five, starting with runs alongside her mother before moving into sprinting and track. Later in life, she rediscovered running while logging miles with her dog, not realizing she was becoming an endurance runner until after losing him in 2022. After navigating serious health challenges, Heather had a defining realization: run because you can, to show up for your body and be an example for others.

This year, Heather is taking on her first full Servus Calgary Marathon, chasing a PR, and continuing to grow a strong, welcoming running community.

Marisol is a Deaf/Hard of Hearing runner, working professional, and mom. She began running over a decade ago after her daughter was born and has trained consistently since, balancing a full-time career and family life.

Running has given Marisol the confidence to show up openly as a Deaf athlete. In 2025, she represented Canada at the Tokyo Deaflympics, becoming the first Canadian woman to compete in the marathon at the Deaflympics and finishing in the top 10 globally.

This year, Marisol is focused on building a strong training base through the Calgary Marathon and longer-distance events as part of her pursuit of a sub-3-hour marathon. She is especially passionate about connecting with women chasing big goals while balancing work, family, and daily commitments, and about supporting more inclusive spaces for Deaf and Hard of Hearing runners.

Matthew is a Cochrane-based runner and father of three. He moves for his physical and mental health, for his family and community, and to become the best version of himself. He has been running for several years and views running as a practice of consistency, resilience, and connection showing up on both the good days and the hard ones.

This year, Matthew’s goals include running a sub-20-minute 5 km and a sub-40-minute 10 km, while continuing to encourage others to find joy and confidence through movement, not to be perfect, but to feel better, live fully, and show up for the people who matter most.

Melanie is a Calgary-based osteopath, yoga teacher, and lululemon ambassador. Movement has always been a central part of her life, she grew up as an athlete playing rugby, baseball, and synchronized swimming. In 2007, after three car accidents, specialists told her she would never run again, a belief she carried for many years.

About two years ago, Melanie shifted her approach to training, focusing on strength and supporting her body more intentionally and running found its way back. Since then, she has completed her first 10 km at the LA lululemon run, followed by the Servus Calgary Marathon 10 km and Melissa’s Road Race.

This year, Melanie hopes to run her first half marathon at SeaWheeze in Vancouver, along with the Servus Calgary Marathon 10 km and the Calgary Police Classic. She moves because it reminds her of what’s possible when consistency, patience, and trust in the body come together.

Nic began his running journey in Calgary in 2019 and has since completed over 30 races across Canada. He runs because every outing leaves him feeling refreshed, especially when he notices his own progress and connects with new friends on race day or during training.

Running has become Nic’s reset button and the best way he stays grounded outside of work. This year, he is training for his third marathon and is focused on inspiring more people in Calgary to love running as much as he does.

Peirce has been running for about a year, coming from a group-fitness background. They firmly believe that if you run, you’re a runner, no pace, distance, or look required. Peirce works as a pharmacy assistant, teaches spin, and studies, which keeps them constantly on the move.

They love movement because it helps them show up with more confidence, care, and gratitude. Running reminds Peirce that progress doesn’t have to be loud to be meaningful. They are passionate about inclusive, community-first fitness and are excited to be part of the Run Calgary community.

A proud Métis-Cree woman, Rhonda began her running journey in 2007 as a new mother with no experience and plenty of self-doubt. Today, she is an eight-time Calgary Marathon event finisher and has completed dozens of 10K, half, and full marathon races.

Since 2022, Rhonda has run while wearing her ribbon skirt and is proud to be part of Native Women Run, who inspire her to carry culture, community, and pride onto every race course. For her, running is more than movement,  it’s medicine, connection, and a way to honour the land.

Rhonda sees herself as a running “Auntie,” with a goal of making both Indigenous and non-Indigenous runners feel welcome, confident, and excited to begin their journeys. Turning 50 in 2026, she continues to chase her goals while spreading heart, grit, and Big Auntie Energy wherever she runs, believing that pace matters far less than showing up with courage and pride.

Roch began running during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in the summer of 2020. What started as a purely recreational activity evolved in 2024 when he ran his first-ever race and he hasn’t looked back since.

Originally drawn to running for its physical and mental health benefits, it has now become a consistent and meaningful part of Roch’s life. Looking ahead to 2026, his goal is to continue becoming the best runner he can be for himself through training and racing, while also giving back to the community by volunteering at events and inspiring others to start their own running journeys.

Zack is a recreational therapist who works primarily in the seniors industry. His running journey began in school through cross-country and track and field, though running fell away as he got older. In 2023, his brother-in-law encouraged him to sign up for the Grizzly Ultra Marathon, a challenge that reignited his passion for running.

Since then, running has supported Zack’s fitness goals and helped him lose over 70 pounds. He has been training consistently since May 2023 and now approaches running with dedication and purpose.

Zack moves for both his physical and mental health, using running to start his days strong and challenge himself regularly. His current goal is to break the elusive sub-3-hour marathon mark, with planned races in Tokyo and Calgary this year. A self-described stats enthusiast, he is also focused on increasing his annual mileage, with hopes of surpassing 5,000 km this year.