Sports
Marcella Cassemiro: Community, Running, and Closing Cycles
The Elas Que Voam co-founder reflects on her journey from sprinting to marathons and the power of building safe running spaces.
Marcella Cassemiro shares the story behind founding Elas Que Voam and her transition from collegiate sprinting to 26.2 miles. She reflects on female empowerment in running and having the courage to close chapters and embrace new challenges.
Marcella Cassemiro's running journey began well before the recent boom of urban running clubs. With a multi-sport background in her youth, Marcella joined collegiate track and field in 2016, focusing on sprinting events like the 100-meter dash and long jump. Her shift from the raw intensity of collegiate track to road racing unfolded gradually, moving from 5Ks all the way to finishing her first marathon in Buenos Aires.
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The Creation and Power of Elas Que Voam
In late 2017, Marcella helped found Elas Que Voam, an initiative that started under the global Adidas Runners umbrella before developing its own distinct identity. The group was built around a clear mission: to be 100% women-led while remaining open to everyone of all paces and fitness levels, hosting free weekly meetups in São Paulo's Ibirapuera Park.
For Marcella, offering free sessions and accommodating diverse paces—with pace groups ranging from walking to tempo runs—lowers barriers to entry in the sport. Far beyond training plans or performance metrics, the project established itself as a welcoming space where women hesitant to run alone could find safety, encouragement, and consistency.
Active Leadership and Safety for Women
Fostering a safe space requires proactive leadership. Marcella emphasizes that coordinating a group of over a hundred runners every week demanded active listening, clear community boundaries, and collective celebration of each member's milestones. The group also evolved into a platform for broader conversations beyond running, including women's health and social awareness campaigns.
The Courage to Close Cycles and Look Ahead
After nearly nine years leading Elas Que Voam, Marcella decided to step down and pass the baton to new leaders. She compares closing this athletic chapter to her corporate career transition—from accounting audit to sales—highlighting the self-awareness needed to recognize when a project has fulfilled its mission and make room for new pursuits, such as training for the Porto Alegre Marathon.
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