Gansett Run Club Leaders
We each bring a different perspective, but we are aligned on one thing - this club is built with intention, powered by community, and rooted in real connection.
Steven Blais
Steven Blais is the founder of Gansett Run Club and the energy behind the mic, the miles, and the mayhem.
A Six Star Finisher of the World Marathon Majors, Steven believes running should be competitive if you want it to be, social if you need it to be, and always rooted in community. Since launching Gansett in 2021, he has grown it into one of Rhode Island’s most welcoming and recognizable run crews.
You’ll find him leading from the front, cheering from the back, or making sure everyone feels like they belong somewhere in the middle.
Co-Founder and Leader of Gansett Run Club
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Julia Fagundes
Julia is a Senior Captain of Gansett Run Club and a driving force behind our community and competitive team.
She has been part of Gansett for two years and leads by example - whether that means pushing the pace or settling into long miles with friends. Julia won the 2025 Rhode Island Grand Prix and will be running the Boston Marathon this year.
She is also the co-leader of Gansett Track Club, our USATF competition team, helping shape a space where athletes can chase big goals while staying rooted in team culture.
Julia brings talent, humility, and steady leadership to Gansett - and we are better because of it.
Senior Captain, Gansett Track Club Co-Leader
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Mia Rogers
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Mia has been part of Gansett Run Club since 2022 and serves as a Senior Captain and Head of Social Media, helping shape both the energy on the run and the voice you see online.
She loves the full spectrum of running - from tough workouts to relaxed miles with friends - and brings a competitive edge to race day. Mia leads with consistency and intention, setting the tone for what it means to show up and do the work.
Behind the scenes, she plays a huge role in telling the story of Gansett and capturing the moments that make this community what it is. Gansett is stronger because of her leadership.
Senior Captain and Social Media Lead
Lauren is one of our OG Day Ones. She has been with Gansett from the very beginning and has helped shape the community into what it is today.
Her ideal run is a relaxed long one with friends, followed by snacks and conversation. More than any single race, Lauren treasures the shared miles - training together, chasing goals, and cheering everyone on along the way.
She believes running is better when everyone feels included and supported, and she lives that out every week. Lauren also leads our Garden City run club in Cranston and wears more hats at Gansett than we can count.
Senior Captain
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Lauren Anderson
Heather McCabe
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Heather has been part of Gansett since 2021 and has helped shape the heart of this community.
She loves every kind of run, but give her a hot, humid track workout with friends and she is in her element. Community is everything to Heather. She treasures the miles, the PRs she has witnessed, and the shared joy that keeps people coming back.
She came to running later in life and brings gratitude to every step - as a wife, mom, and proud grammy who knows how special it is to keep showing up
Senior Captain
Chris has been part of Gansett Run Club since the beginning and embodies what steady commitment looks like. He also serves as co-leader of Gansett Track Club, helping guide our competitive team. He loves challenging himself across distances from the mile to the marathon. A highlight of his journey was finishing his first Boston Marathon with his family cheering him down Boylston Street. Since 2010, Chris has completed 15 marathons, including all of the Abbott World Marathon Majors except Sydney, which he will run in 2026. He believes persistence and patience make big goals possible, and he leads with that example every time he shows up
Captain, Gansett Track Club Co-Leader
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Chris Federico
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Nic Fisk
Nic has been part of Gansett for a little over a year and has become a steady presence at our 5:30 PM run.
She embraces every kind of mile - long and easy, quick with friends, winding trails, and race days alike. Running is both a mental reset and a way for her to feel connected, whether the miles are chatty or quiet.
Outside of the run, Nic is a professor and a published poet in both English and Spanish, bringing the same thoughtfulness and depth to our community that she brings to her work.
Nic represents what Gansett is all about - that running is for everyone, exactly as they are.
Captain
Luis Gonzalez
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Luis joined Gansett Run Club in November 2024 and has quickly become a steady, welcoming presence in the group.
He is drawn to sunset miles, new cities, and the simple joy of exploring on foot. Whether it is an easy run or a longer effort, he shows up consistent and ready to connect.
Outside of running, Luis is a creative force. Through his art as Totemicua, he blends totemic-inspired design with his Boricua heritage, creating work rooted in culture, pride, and rhythm.
Captain
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Adam Testagrossa
Adam may be newer to Gansett, but he has quickly become someone we rely on.
He loves long runs with friends and has already stepped up to organize Saturday miles for anyone looking to go the distance. Running is as much mental as physical for him, a way to clear his head and reset.
You have likely seen his work even if you did not realize it. Adam has been behind the camera at our 6 PM runs, capturing the moments that define this community. Outside of running, he is a photographer whose art often centers on activism and the projects he cares deeply about.
Captain
Jessica Ruprecht
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Jess has been part of the Gansett Run Club community for two years, and it is hard to picture it without her.
Her favorite runs are the ones shared with friends, and she is always the first to remind you that no one has to do this alone. Jess has a natural way of pulling people in and making the miles feel lighter.
She cherishes completing her first marathon in Philadelphia, a moment that showed her just how capable she is.
Jess leads with kindness and compassion, and she shows up every week ready to run alongside anyone who wants to be there.
Captain