Category: Sports & Community

Nnenna Lynch is not one to dwell on “firsts.” While she holds the historic distinction of being the first Black person and the first woman to chair the New York Road Runners (NYRR) Board of Directors in its nearly six-decade history, her focus is firmly on the future and the work ahead. “It’s great to celebrate and acknowledge these firsts, but mostly I concentrate on trying to lead with clarity of purpose and in a collaborative spirit,” she shares.

Expanding Reach and Championing Community Programs

Lynch, who has served on the NYRR board since 2014, has been a driving force behind expanding the organization’s community programs. These initiatives are designed to make running accessible and welcoming to everyone, regardless of age or fitness level. Programs like Open Run, now active at 16 sites across NYC and New Jersey, engaged nearly 17,000 people last year. The NYRR Striders program supports over 1,100 seniors with free fitness programs, while the Rising New York Road Runners youth program reaches an impressive 200,000 children nationwide.

“From the moment I joined the board, a priority of mine has been to expand the reach of our community programs because we know that running has the power to transform lives and communities,” Lynch explains. “Core to our philosophy and approach is the belief that running should be inclusive and accessible, regardless of your age or fitness level.”

A Runner’s Mindset for Professional Success

Lynch’s deep connection to running is more than just a hobby; it’s a philosophy that shapes her entire life. Starting as a runner at age 10, she became a professional middle-distance runner, winning five NCAA titles from Villanova and earning the prestigious NCAA Woman of the Year award in 1993. Her academic achievements include a Rhodes Scholar degree from Oxford, and her professional career spans roles at Goldman Sachs and as a senior advisor in Mayor Bloomberg’s administration, before founding her own mission-driven real estate firm, Xylem Projects.

This background has equipped her with a unique perspective on perseverance. “Running taught me how to persevere through discomfort—not just physical pain, but uncertainty, doubt, and the long stretches when progress feels invisible,” she says. This mindset translates into her professional life, fostering qualities like self-awareness, humility, consistency, and viewing setbacks as valuable feedback rather than final judgments.

Building Community Through Sport

Lynch emphasizes that running, often seen as an individual sport, is deeply communal. “Every runner’s journey is supported by a network of coaches, therapists, teammates, mentors, family, and friends,” she notes. This belief in collective success guides her leadership style at NYRR, fostering a symbiotic environment.

While track and field has a strong history of celebrating Black sprinters, Lynch acknowledges that road running has had a different narrative. “Our hope is that every child sees themselves as a runner from an early age—not because they’re fast, but because they feel running is accessible, welcoming, and part of their everyday life.” NYRR actively works towards this goal through partnerships with inclusive run clubs like Harlem Run and initiatives like East 89th St Productions, which produced “Final Finishers,” a series following runners overcoming incredible odds.

A Vision for the Future of Running

Lynch envisions New York City becoming the global leader in running, health, and fitness, not just for hosting the world’s largest marathon. She aims to see every child in the city have the opportunity to run and for every school to host a run club, recognizing the significant gaps in sports access within public schools. This ambitious vision requires bold thinking and substantial philanthropic support.

For Black women navigating spaces not initially designed for them, Lynch offers straightforward advice: “Impact and influence come down to two things: mission and connection.” She stresses the importance of having a clear purpose and actively listening, understanding, and responding to colleagues. Lynch firmly believes in running’s transformative power, stating, “In a time of immense sociopolitical unrest, not to mention public health crises, running is the singular activity that has the potential to tend to our hearts, minds and, yes, even our souls at scale.”