Kristina Fey May 2026

In the vast, often solitary world of distance running, community is everything. For Kristina Fey, running was never just about personal bests or podium finishes. It was a lifeline, a form of therapy, and eventually, the foundation of a global movement known as Run It Fast (RIF).

What started as a personal blog to process heartbreak has grown into one of the most active and beloved online running clubs in the world. But to understand the club, you have to understand the woman behind the hashtag: a runner defined not by her speed, but by her extraordinary resilience. Kristina’s story is not one of a prodigy who won state championships in high school. She came to running later in life, driven by necessity. In a short period, she endured a devastating divorce and the sudden death of her father. Grief threatened to consume her.

"Run the mile you are in."

The club’s signature element became the —bright, distinctive singlets that act as a beacon. When members travel to marathons in different countries, they wear the shirt. It is an unspoken invitation. “If you see someone in a RIF shirt,” Fey says, “you have a friend for the race.” The 100-Mile Obsession While Fey celebrates runners of all distances, she has a personal fascination with the extreme end of the sport: the 100-mile ultramarathon. She has completed some of the most grueling races in America, from the Rocky Racoon to the Indiana Trail 100.

She laced up a pair of running shoes and hit the pavement. At first, it was awkward and painful. But mile by mile, the rhythm of her feet became a meditation. The road became a confessional. Running didn't erase her pain, but it taught her how to carry it. In 2009, she started a simple blog to document this journey. She called it Run It Fast —a mantra to keep moving forward when everything in her wanted to stop. As Kristina shared her raw, unfiltered journey—the slow miles, the crying jags, the tiny victories—other runners found her. They saw themselves in her vulnerability. The comment section of her blog became a support group. Strangers from across the country started mailing her handwritten letters of encouragement. kristina fey

Her most iconic feat, however, is a quirkier one. In 2018, Kristina attempted to run —specifically, a 400-meter loop. For nearly a full day, she ran circle after circle, fighting boredom, blisters, and the mental demons that come with such a repetitive task. She finished, crossing the line not with a sprint, but with a exhausted, triumphant walk. It was a testament to her philosophy: endurance isn't about talent; it’s about refusing to quit. More Than a Runner: The Chronicler Today, Kristina Fey lives in Tennessee. She still runs, still blogs, and still manages the sprawling Run It Fast community (which now boasts thousands of members across Facebook and Instagram). But her role has evolved. She is less of a coach and more of a chief storyteller .

She took a pair of running shoes, a broken heart, and a keyboard, and built a family out of it. And as long as there are lonely roads and people looking for a way back to themselves, the Run It Fast flag will be flying. In the vast, often solitary world of distance

“Winning a race is great,” she often says. “But finishing a race when you wanted to give up at mile three? That changes who you are as a human being.” In an era of running influencers obsessed with splits, sponsorships, and body aesthetics, Kristina Fey remains a throwback. Her social media feed is unfiltered. She posts about chafing, about DNFs (Did Not Finish), about bad races, and about days she doesn't want to run at all.