The sun had barely risen above the horizon when a group of 42 women gathered in a circle to stretch at Craig Ranch Regional Park in North Las Vegas.
It was 6:15 a.m. on Saturday, and Michelle Way, founder of the Vegas Girls Run Club, had a beaming smile on her face as she blared music from her speakers.
After walking or jogging a mile or two around the park, the women chatted at the starting point, where Way offered them water bottles and popsicles. As the women left, Way hugged each of them goodbye.
The women-only running club, founded in June, is one of several running clubs that have sprung up in Las Vegas in recent months.
Running clubs vary in size, neighborhood and demographic makeup, attracting a wide range of participants, from people who have never run before to runners training for a marathon.
Founders and members alike say the clubs motivate them to pursue their fitness goals and have helped them build community in their neighborhoods.
Fitness and fun
“I’ve often heard that people move here and have a hard time meeting new people. The city is not very walkable, so if you want to meet people, you just have to get out there, and I think this is a great way to do that,” said Cindy Nguyen, who founded Run Drink Las Vegas in Summerlin with her friend Kiona Padilla.
While the hotter summer weather may mean earlier start times, it doesn’t seem to have affected participation. In fact, Christine Jaojoco, founder of the Summerlin Run Club, has seen an increase in participation.
“People just like to socialize,” Jaojoco said. “I guess that’s how it works these days: at a running club.”
The clubs vary in style and appeal, but many who spoke to the Las Vegas Review-Journal emphasized that they are beginner-friendly.
“We are great runners, but not serious runners,” joked Nguyen.
The founders signed up with other club members for the Rock ‘N Roll Half Marathon in February, but while they’re training, they also want to have fun. The two started their running club so they could bring their dogs, and after a run of about three miles, the group grabs a drink on the patio of Frankie’s Uptown in downtown Summerlin.
“We’ve created a community that depends on us showing up every week,” Nguyen said.
Motivating factor
In many clubs, such as the Stride Run Club in the Arts District, there are three different groups, often with different routes: walkers, joggers and runners, all active for about 30 minutes.
“There is a place and a pace for everyone,” said Stride founder Niko Edward Diaz.
Jaojoco of the Summerlin Run Club was surprised by how many people showed up for Saturday’s long runs, which started at eight miles. She and many of her club members are training for the Las Vegas Marathon.
Way, who did not consider herself a particularly good runner, was very afraid of running alone and founded her club because she wanted to become more involved in the sport.
Yessica Solorzano and Melissa Rios didn’t run much before joining the Vegas Girls Run Club, but they’ve been running twice a week since June.
“I think just having a group is kind of a motivation and support. When you try to come alone, it can be a little daunting. But I think that kind of motivates me,” Solorzano said.
The two of them actually wanted to start running, but the club finally got them involved. Now they go to the park together to run outside of the club.
Make friends
Solorzano and Rios were friends before the run club, but many people meet at run clubs. At GRACE, an organization that promotes girls’ running and empowerment, founder Haylee Fuentes said many people come alone and meet each other there.
“I thought that was very brave of them because doing things on your own can be very scary, especially when you don’t know anyone, and they went with a friend. And I thought that’s the whole point of it. Starting a new hobby, meeting new people,” she said. “I want to continue to be the place that people come to when they don’t know where to start.”
The women-only club gathers about 150 people for sunset and sunrise runs on Wednesdays and Saturdays at Mountain’s Edge Park or in the Henderson area.
Diaz said many of his closest friends are from the Stride Run Club, and the group often “grabs coffee and chats” at Bungalow Coffee Co after their runs. He is also working on organizing a singles mixer as part of the run club.
“I think we live in a time where a lot of things are done on apps, so there aren’t many places for adults to meet new people and friends outside of work,” Diaz said. “The running club has been a really good way to get out of your bubble and meet new people.”
“Try them all”
Many running clubs offer collaborations and other activities. At the Vegas Girls Run Club, the women participated in free Zumba, kickboxing and a butt workout. Way also partnered with the Vibe Girls Hike Club for a hike on Mount Charleston that 60 women participated in.
“The amount of girls who put themselves first – who say, ‘You know what, I’m going to get up early, go to the mountains and we’re going to go hiking and have fun’ – that’s one of the best things for me. I started because I wanted to start running. But now I’m just so happy that I was able to give these girls the space to come together,” Way said.
Runners from the Run Drink Las Vegas group have also formed a volleyball and basketball team and participated in paddleboarding events, which they say they take very seriously.
To join, just search for running clubs on Instagram or the Meetup app, and you’ll find them popping up everywhere from Henderson to North Las Vegas, Summerlin to downtown.
“For anyone thinking about joining a running club, I would say we have some great running clubs in Las Vegas of different types. You should try them all. Find out which one fits you best in terms of schedule, atmosphere, people and level,” Diaz said. “Try them all – they’re all great.”
Contact Katie Futterman at [email protected].
