Gael Henville discovered a pure love of running early in life, growing up in the Caribbean. After immigrating to the US, she experienced racism and bullying, and subsequent isolation. This is the story of how Gael's love of running eventually led her to discovering her own power and a driving desire to empower others through the sport, especially women of color. Gael is recognized as a leader in the running community, sharing the wisdom of many life lessons learned and many races run. She tells her story in her own voice. 

Gael has run over 100 races, and counting, from 5ks to marathons, including four times at the Boston Marathon. She is a private coach as well as the long-time head coach for the Road to Wellness 5k. Recognized for her community leadership and coaching skills, as well as her own experiences as a running, Gael was chosen by the Boston Athletic Association to lead its first pre-marathon shakeout run in 2021, and then again in 2022. Gael is a driving force in building bridges among the diverse running communities of the Boston area. 

Keep Up with Gael Henville

Instagram: @witnessthefitness617

Mentioned in this episode

Learn more about the Road to Wellness 5k here

Thank you to the How Was Your Run Today podcast for allowing us to use audio from their August 26, 2021, episode: Episode 235: Road to Wellness 5k

The episode features great interviews with Thaddeus Miles and Gael. We encourage you to listen. 

Thank you also to Suzanne Walmsley, Director of Youth and Community Engagement for the Boston Athletic Association, for being part of this episode.

Ways to Connect and Engage with Women's Running Stories

Instagram: @womensrunningstories

Twitter: @WomenRunStories

Website: womensrunningstories.com

Email host Cherie: [email protected]

Women's Running Stories is a member of the Evergreen network: https://evergreenpodcasts.com/