AUSTIN, Texas — Do you love to run? Maybe you don’t, but maybe you would like to. We want to introduce you to The Circle C Run Club (CCRC). It’s a great way to get out, get fit, fall in love with running, and meet awesome neighbors.

The CCRC began back in 2014 with leader Josh Janicek starting a Facebook group with the intention of meeting others in our neighborhood who shared the same passion for running that he did. Over the course of months, the online group grew organically but there remained an awkward lack of interaction. It was like a middle school dance; we all really wanted to be there but no one had the guts to be the first to bust a move. It wasn’t until July of 2018 when a new neighbor joined the online group and unabashedly asked, “Does anyone get together on the weekends and go for a group run?” What a novel concept! Someone finally put the needle on the record.

A few days later on a lark, Josh made a group post asking if anyone would be interested in meeting that upcoming Saturday for a group run. Three people showed up- Scott Marcus, Chad Goldwasser and Josh, and that morning the CCRC was truly born. The three new friends committed to meeting and running every weekend going forward. They persistently started inviting others and, over time, the Saturday morning turnout slowly increased.

Now, barring inclement weather, the club meets at the Circle C Community Center at 7817 La Crosse Ave. every Saturday at 7:30am. Often times someone will bring donuts and coffee for the group, and every week there is fun, laughter and bonding. This distracts us from the fact that we’re all out there committed to actually doing some running. We send out reminders on Fridays and we are so excited when new neighbors show up to join us. In other words, WE WANT YOU!

We now also have a Monday run at noon with resident Matt Surina, and Wednesdays at 8:15 with our other leader, Ana Bosada. We organize holiday runs too! We are working to grow the club and provide more options for group runs such as an additional early weekday run, an evening run, a trail run and a women’s only run. We want to add more events such as running workouts and clinics. The club also recently partnered with Fleet Feet, Rise & Run South Austin and The Austin Runners Club which means more exciting growth is on the horizon.

We want nothing more than for our neighborhood to know that we are a very welcoming and inclusive group. It’s okay if you think you’re “too slow,” or if you’ve never run a step in your life. We all started somewhere. We come together to enjoy each other’s company, to get outside, get our bodies moving, and to get some fresh air. Some of us walk. Some of us jog slowly. Some of us are speedsters. We run lots of miles but also one mile. Regardless of your experience or pace, no runner gets left behind and everyone makes a friend…or a few.

Come on Circle C+, let’s get fit!

To read more including the run club’s mission statement and vision, as well as see a current schedule of runs please visit www.circlec.run or find them on Facebook with page name “Circle C Run Club.”

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