We had the good fortune of connecting with Maria Solis Belizaire and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Maria, what is the most important factor behind your success?
For me, the most important factor behind the success of my organizations is the leadership role I take on in service to my community. I am involved in a sport that I have loved all my life, but by being engaged I am able to see the struggles we face and also changes that need to be made in this sport. My hope has always been to encourage more people that look like me actively participating in it.
 
Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Latinos Run and Latinas Run are 2 national organizations that promote running as way to improve physical and mental health of the Latino community. As a minority based organization, our goal is to highlight a community that is largely ignored when it comes to their health while inspiring more individuals of color to change the way the fitness industry looks.

We started off in 2016 with just a handful of runners. It was a bit difficult in the beginning as I didn’t know how to run a club. It was definitely a learning experience over the last few years. So many people helped guide me and supported our organizations to allow it to grow to where it is today.

One of the biggest lessons I learned was the importance of engaging our community. Often times. Latinos are overlooked and have less access to information especially when it comes to health and wellness. Having a platform that is in many ways a safe space to have open dialogue and provide tips is really key to keeping our members engaged.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I have been fortunate enough to travel for a living and with that comes the love of the outdoors. If you have a weekend to get away, I would suggest one of my most favorite and scenic places Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend. You will be in for a small workout but the views are so gorgeous.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to give a shoutout to our national Arizona Ambassador ZoilaBella Calo who is a driving force for her local community and empowers other Latinos to lace up and get active.

Website: https://www.latinosrun.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/latinosrun

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/8554207/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/latinosrun_

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/latinosrun

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCiN0LPiASLqGviguNmXJZQ

Other: LATINAS RUN Website: https://www.latinasrunclub.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/latinasrunofficial Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/14056711/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/latinasrun_ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/latinasrunofficial

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutArizona is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.