Meet Your Crew Directors
ANNIE LI
Sprinter converted distance runner; Annie aka “@annierunz” on Instagram, joined NER in late 2021. Her favourite distances are the 10k and half marathon, and is currently dabbling in some trail running. She can be spotted with a latte in hand, scoping out the best French fries in the city and avoiding running every hill in Halifax. While not running, she enjoys her job as a Pharmacist, hanging out with her kitty Penny, and doing all the outdoor activities (paddle boarding, hiking, snowshoeing, etc.). A regular at both Wednesday and Sunday church, Annie looks forward to hyping everyone up about running and how special this running community is (and also making a couple of Instagram reels here and there!).
DEVIN MANNING
Devin joined the crew in 2022 and quickly embraced the social side of running within a tight-knit community. After diving into endurance sports with a half Ironman in 2017, he shifted his focus to running and hit a major milestone by completing his first marathon in 2023. Since then, he’s raced multiple half and full marathons, but his favourite event remains the Cabot Trail Relay Race! When he’s not running, you can find Devin sharing stories at post-run meetups or plotting his next big race with the crew. For Devin, it’s all about the miles and the smiles!
EVAN MERCER
Evan started his running career in 2020 when he joined the NER crew. When he’s not fixing teeth, you can find him at Wednesday crew runs, Sunday “Church” runs, or just generally pounding the pavement around the peninsula. From 5k to 42.2k, Evan has raced it. He’s got some big plans in 2025 but is most excited about helping introduce new runners to the crew. Find Evan to share some miles, smiles, and good vibes — no matter the pace!
GREG YOUNG
Greg found NER in the fall of the inaugural year after spotting them hanging out in front of North Brewing. He spends a lot of time pursuing human-powered wilderness adventures, mostly trail running, snowshoeing, and sea kayaking. He has had feet on trails from California to Crete and Northern Finland to Albania, including an extended southwest desert tour living in his VDub Wagon. Unexpectedly, he has also finished a number of hella scenic Ultras from the wild coast of Newfoundland to the Rockies. Greg believes the Japanese saying, ‘the trail will leave lifelong memories of nature’s kindness and harshness.’
JOY STANISTREET
Joy followed her career in marine biology from the USA to Halifax, but first heard about NER before even moving to Canada. She has been a dedicated member of the crew since 2019, and loves all things running, from destination marathons to team relays to local parkruns to trail adventures. She prefers cold weather over hot, morning runs over evening, and running uphill over running down (to each their own!). Her favorite run of the week is always NER ‘Church’ on Sundays, followed by coffee, chats, and laughs with the crew, and she’s grateful for this supportive and inspiring community which has helped make Halifax (and Canada) home.
JUSTIN SPERDAKES
Justin is a regular at Wednesday & Sunday runs, post-run sociables and enjoys running plenty of trails, climbing and Paddle Boarding. In 2024, Justin completed a longtime goal and first trail ultra in Cape Chignecto. Met the NER crew during a famous sociable in 2017 in which the crew launched their own beer called ‘Little Beast’ after an OG bridge run. Justin ran his first 5km at the Blue Nose in 2017, and with plenty of #crewlove, ran his first full marathon at Blue Nose in 2018. Otherwise, Justin loves hanging with the Crew and is always looking forward to the local Cabot and Rum Runners Relays.
KENNY SHARP
Scientist, dad, destroyer of hills and ligaments, and certified goofball — has run with NER since 2016. He runs it all: 5Ks, half-marathons, and trails…even though he hates getting his pretty shoes all muddy. Kenny’s “favourite things” include the Glebe Street Gutbuster Strava segment, dressing up as a kitty, and blowing his entire paycheck on shoes. His least favourite thing is missing an NER Social Night on the first Wednesday of the month, because #CREWLOVE! Kenny adamantly refuses to follow his physiotherapist’s demands to chill out; when not running with the crew, he’s running solo, running on an ultimate frisbee field, running after a bus, or just kickin’ it on the ol’ physio table.
LYNDSAY FERGUSON
While her first road race was here in Halifax, Lyndsay joined her first running crew in Seoul and crossed off a few 10ks and half marathons while living in Asia. She finally made her way back home & joined the NER crew in May 2022. Once she’s done refuelling with pizza, she’s either at the beach or hiking a local trail. A lover of long runs, you can find her on Sunday mornings leading the Sunday school pack.
MARIANNE (‘MAR’) POIRER
From her first 5K in 2018, when she yakked at the four-kilometre mark to her first marathon in 2024 (where she proudly did not yak), Mar wouldn’t be the runner she is today without the support and community she found in NER when she moved to Halifax in 2021. She finds so much joy in all of the different events in the Nova Scotia running calendar — from Cabot to Rum Runners to volunteering at the Bluenose. When not on the move with the crew or enjoying post-Sunday School coffee, you might find her stretching out those running muscles at a yoga class or working on her latest knitting project.
SARAH ‘RILEY’
Riley, AKA ‘yearbook’, hype woman and mom to trail doggo, Vlad, founded the NER crew out of North Brewing’s original location at Agricola and North Street in May, 2013. It’s a funny story, ask her about it. After 2 decades of running (one of those with NER), countless races including 10 marathons, half the Cabot Trail, and memorable kilometres all over the planet, her favourite thing about running is forever the community of awesome people who do it. NER still runs the north, and you can still find Riley shouting out routes, behind the social feeds, leading a cheer squad or power-walking up whatever hill Greg and the trail crew are making her run this week.
