For the past few months, you’ve probably seen on your For You Page or watched some of your friends’ IG stories and all you see is everyone is at running clubs. By the looks of it, they are at these running clubs enjoying themselves, mingling, finding their new besties and even their new potential partners just in time for cuffing season. Watching from afar, two questions lingered when seeing these clubs form: Are they actually running, and why choose an activity like running as your way of meeting people?
To answer that, Yes, they are indeed running, and these clubs bring joy and connection while giving back to the community in a major way. ZFT Running Club was founded in Houston, Texas by Kelvon Yancey. He created the club after searching for running clubs for Black people at that time and couldn’t find anything. A friend told him maybe he should be the one to start what he was looking for and the club’s first run was on Juneteenth weekend in 2017. ZFT Running Club expanded to a Dallas chapter in 2020 and, ultimately, has established itself as one of the first POC clubs in the South.
“I think our first thought was to include social elements in the run because focusing only on the run may not attract many participants,” Yancey tells GU. “We run a lot. However, I think people appreciate ZFT because of its social component.”
There are former athletes (high school, collegiate, and professional) who are a part of these run clubs and can attest to how long-distance running was once perceived as “punishment” but now is a key part of their wellness journey. Teahna Daniels, a 4×100 Silver Medalist and 100-meter finalist at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo has been enjoying this new wave of running clubs. “Long-distance running is not fun for me, but being part of the community makes the two miles a little easier,” Daniels says. “I don’t feel like it is a punishment anymore, [but] more like a reward for pushing myself to be better.”
She would like to compete on the international stage again, but her priority at the moment is community involvement. Being part of a running club is one of the things in life that’s been rewarding for her. The community aspect is what makes running clubs special.
People are craving for free ways to meet new friends and have hobbies that they are not trying to get monetization off of but simply can enjoy. Community and wellness are being craved more than ever, and running clubs are one of the leading beneficiaries.
Emanual Jones, co-founder of BLK AZ Run Club, believes everyone should join a run club, even if you are a walker or lack run experience, just for the community. “People seem to crave for community more than we know,” Jones tells GU. “That, in my opinion, is essential for a productive and pleasurable experience. Run Clubs do wonders for your body and improve your mental, physical, and emotional well-being.”
The dating part is something that, when you check online, seems to be talked about that Jones doesn’t have a problem with as he understands that people within communities date and should get what they are looking for. “I want individuals to get out of run clubs with what they are looking for; therefore, if someone is seeking love, this is probably a far better location to go than a bar, club, or anything else they would be interested in,” he says.
Run clubs in the Black and Brown communities are building worlds, and their members are going there to create lifelong relationships while creating and maintaining the body of their dreams. Before you write run clubs off, give them a try, and you might find wellness and a new outlook on finding love platonically and romantically.
About the Author: I’m Kasim Kabbara, a freelance writer and producer from the best city in the world, Dallas, Texas. I specialize in writing about race and culture. My work has been featured in publications like BuzzFeed and ABC News. I’m known for conducting insightful interviews and offering thought -provoking diverse perspectives.