Kayla moved to Pacifica, CA in March 2020, at the very beginning of the Covid-19 Pandemic. Being in a new location during a lockdown brought out the need for a sense of community, and Pacifica Runners was the answer. Between Covid-friendly video visits prior to going out on a Saturday morning run and Facebook exchanges with other runners to find new and exciting routes in the area, Kayla found her people. As the world opened back up she, too, opened up and expanded friendships with this welcoming running community. Kayla joined the Board of Directors in June of 2022.

Kayla had found joy in running in her mid 20s, truly starting to run for fun in 2017 when she started training for local 5ks that soon became 10ks and beyond. She used a Fleet Feet training program in Chico, CA to run her first full marathon (CIM) in 2018. More recently, using the access to trails in Pacifica as her training playground, she ran her first 50k (Skyline 50K Endurance Run) in 2021.

Kayla sees the importance of building community through fitness and strives to encourage others to always listen to their bodies and when ready, to push themselves just a little out of their comfort zone: because that’s where the real growth happens.

Scott and his family moved to the Bay Area from the Philadelphia suburbs in 2018, settling in Pacifica with his family in 2021.

He took up running at age 46, looking for a way to improve his fitness that didn't require expensive equipment or a gym membership. With the help of Runners World's "Couch to 5k" plan, he ran his first 5k race, the 2015 Bethlehem (PA) Turkey Trot, writing about the experience in The (Allentown) Morning Call newspaper.

He fell in love with running and ran a few more 5ks, but let his running habits (and his fitness) lapse when he moved to California. Upon moving to Pacifica in 2021, he spotted the Pacifica Runners banner on Highway 1 and was inspired to join, running in the 2021 Tiki Trot.

Since then, with the encouragement, friendship and advice of the club's supportive members, he ran his first-ever 10k at the Vibha Dream Mile in San Jose, first-ever 10k trail run in San Pedro Park, first-ever Bay to Breakers 12k and his first-ever half marathon at the 2022 San Francisco Marathon.  

He looks forward to encouraging other beginning runners to try new things, push their boundaries and see what they are capable of.

SECRETARY/MERCH MANAGER - Anni Kelley-Day

A native of Northern California, Anni Kelley-Day returned to the state in 2008 after earning her master’s degree at the University of Denver. Drawn by Pacifica’s natural beauty and relaxed vibe, she settled with her sister in Sharp Park.

In a sense, running is in Anni’s DNA. Her mother, an avid runner and marathoner, was president of the Six Rivers Running Club in Humboldt County, California. Anni’s father would often take Anni and her sister to cheer their mother on when she ran marathons. Soon, Anni was competing alongside her mom — and often winning the mother-daughter division — in the club’s annual Atalanta’s Victory Run, a Mother’s Day race supporting women’s health causes.

Growing up in Eureka, Anni ran track in middle school and both track and cross country in high school. She continued to run on a recreational basis through college at the University of Puget Sound and beyond, finishing one marathon and a handful of half marathons. After seeing the club’s banner on Highway 1, Anni joined Pacifica Runners in 2022 as the pandemic began to ease and she was looking to make new local connections.

“It’s such a nice way to meet people in the community,” Anni said. “I feel so lucky to be a part of it and to give back by serving on the board.”

Today, you can find her leading the club’s Saturday morning group runs, displaying her handmade ceramics at a local craft fair, or dominating the net on one of Pacifica’s pickleball courts.

Sara moved to Pacifica in late 2023 and found Pacifica Runners online while looking for opportunities to meet her new neighbors. She joined the first run club meet ups of the new year and never looked back.

She started running in college when friends convinced her to train for the Publix Atlanta Half-Marathon. It was an ambitious first race, but kick-started a love for running that went strong until the pandemic hit in 2020. After a few years off, Pacifica Runners got her back in the game and training for the Half Moon Bay Pumpkin Run (pictured here).

Today, Sara enjoys joining the weekly group runs and getting to hang out with friends while spending time outdoors in our beautiful town. You’ll sometimes see her joined by her puppy, Bash, an honorary Pacifica Runner. She joined the board in 2025 and looks forward to giving back to the club that has given so much to her!

PROMOTIONS DIRECTOR - Leslie Stanton

Leslie arrived in Pacifica in 2021 but has lived in the Bay Area for nearly two decades after moving to Oakland from Athens, Georgia (Go Dawgs!) in 2003 to attend grad school at the University of California – Berkeley. She grew up in Mobile, Alabama.

Like many of her fellow board members, Leslie first learned about Pacifica Runners by noticing the sign on Highway 1. She joined after attending one of the group runs.

Leslie started running in high school – short distances such as the 200- and 400-meter dash as well as field events such as the hurdles and discus, where she excelled. Some friends convinced her that she could run longer, and she joined the cross-country team and developed a lifelong love of the sport.

Leslie has run 5Ks, 10Ks and the Oakland Half Marathon, and even competed in Olympic-distance triathlons — 1.5K swim, 40K bike and 10K run — but her favorite distance to run at the moment is the 10K.

She looks forward to serving on the board, helping out with club events and getting to know even more of the club’s members.

EVENTS/CO-RACE DIRECTOR - Emma Zang-Schwartz

Emma moved to Pacifica in 2023 and immediately fell in love with being on the coast. She found Pacifica Runners when she and her partner, Justin, were looking for a way to make friends and find community in their new town. After trying a few other ways to meet new friends, they knew it felt right when they attended their first Pacifica Runners event and the Events Director at the time bonded with them over going to the same school as Justin.

Emma had run casually in college when she and a few other friends were trying to combat the freshman 15, but had not participated in any organized running until joining the club. Her first organized race was the Pacifica Runners St. Patrick’s day 5K in 2024. Since then, she has stayed focused on small local races and finding community in running.

She looks forward to organizing and hosting local 5K races and encouraging others that while running can be a solo activity, it’s way better if you run with friends.

Mandy (also known as Amanda) has lived in Pacifica since 2006.  Her hospitality industry career has included working for an airline, for a tour operator and on a cruise ship where she met her husband, Mor Hirsh. 

She is an avid traveler but there are still many places left to explore. Since moving to Pacifica she has volunteered at Spindrift Theater and Meals on Wheels and been a Board member of the Pacific Beach Coalition.

Though she is not too active as a runner she has completed one marathon (Alaska Midnight Sun) and multiple half marathons, her favorite being Kauai. She also takes part in most of the local 5Ks.