Discovering her love of distance running within the sport of boxing, Nadia Ruiz ran her first marathon at the age of 14 with her father without training and not knowing what she was getting herself into. It was her first marathon that opened her mind and heart to the passion and empowerment the mind has when we believe we can achieve. She has continued to run competitively for 19 years sharing her passion, love, and encouragement with her family, friends, and community.

Nadia has now completed 130 marathons, 68 half marathons, 11 ultras, and 5 Ironmans with recent personal records of 1:26 (half), 3:16 (marathon), and 12:34:08 (Ironman). With features in Runner’s World, Competitor Magazine, Boston Marathon Program, LA Sports & Fitness and Women’s Running Magazines in addition to KTLA, ABC, KRCA, and Telemundo, Nadia was named the “Youngest Latina to Run 100 marathons in the World” by the age of 28.

With a Bachelor’s of Science in Biology, Master’s of Education, and Teacher’s Credential from UCLA, Nadia works as a Biology Teacher, Coach, and Marketing Consultant for the past 12 years. Through her endurance adventures, she enjoys finding adventure exploring new countries or climbing mountains near home with her two dog companions: Max, an 8 year-old labrador and Bruno, a 6 year-old boxer.