Melody Fairchild's domination as a high school running "phenom" expanded the horizon for an entire generation of girls who followed in her footsteps. Her career highlights include: two-time national Footlocker cross-country champion and current course record holder, bronze medalist at the Junior World cross-country championships, 8-time Colorado state champion and state record holder in the 1,600 meters and 3,200 meters, NCAA All-American in track and cross-country, NCAA 3,000-meter indoors champion, two-time Olympic Trials qualifier in the 10K and marathon, and U.S. World Track and Field Championships team member. Today, Melody directs the Boulder Mountain Warriors Youth Running Club and is founder of the Melody Fairchild's Girls Running Camp, which gives 'tween and teen runners the skills to thrive in running in high school, college, and beyond. She has coached youth running programs for nearly 20 years. She lives in Boulder, Colorado.

Elizabeth Carey is a writer and running coach. Her work has been published in the New York Times, Runner's World, Trail Runner, DyeStat, and PodiumRunner. Her running journey started in 1999 on the Cleveland High School track team in Oregon. She ran Division I cross-country and track for Columbia University and has coached at all levels of the sport. She explores trail and ultrarunning in Seattle, Washington, where she lives with her husband.