Wednesday, May 30, 2018

Social Running and Community Building

On  2017 I started to be curious about those "social runs" around the city. I enjoy so much my solo time during my runs, focus on my next race, thinking situations in my personal life, or just completely listening my music and no thinking at all. I've almost trained for 3 Chevron Houston Marathons by my own, because when I moved to Houston and even later, my closer friends did other activities. The hard part some days were the long runs, I missed a lot my friends of my Rugby team because we used to Run together at the University. But the idea of a running group taking this magical time of my solo running didn't get me so excited so, I kept listening about the fun social runs and events without try them.

Two months before the Global Running Day 2017, I decided to "have fun and run" with a group of strangers ( most of them) what I remember is the smiles and the relaxing energy even that a lot of us didn't know each other, my love for the route because was around one of my favorites places to run in my city ( Buffalo Bayou), and when we came back to the start point, I realized I ran faster because during the run with this group I was feeling so relax, focus to stay close to the big group, and even needed my music!


Yes! from that day I kept going to meet that group of strangers to Run every Thursday that I could. The second time they were no strangers anymore and at the end of the Run I wanted to stay longer to talk more and know more about their non running lives, races or fun life's facts. I realized I had a new family, a Running family witch was growing more and more because I decided to Run with more strangers in others areas of the city.

Since I moved to Houston I belong to Internations.org. Is a Social community with people from all around the world that get connected on a massive web of activities and you connect with the group of your preference, of course, I connected with the Running group! And couldn't wait to be there with a new group of strangers to do something that we love: RUN.

This group was amazing too and as I love diversity, have the big plus of running with expats and all their fun accents and of course, after the run we head to a different place every week to eat and drink.
One day was working in a different West area, and red about the Social Run at the Lululemon store of the Woodlands and guess what? I was just addicted to get to a place and meet with strangers and have fun running together. On this moment, I was a member of three different Running families LOL. Every week, depending of work, schedules, etc, I coordinate during the week where to Run, where and when to do it solo.

I have the opportunity to lead a social Run for Athleta Galleria Houston, and after the Run we had a cool Yoga Flow at the store, I just can't stop and want to try a lot of possibilities of social runs, and supporting good causes so much more!

 















And how do this happens? Why I was so curious and wanted to try a social Run if I enjoy so much to Run by myself? How this happens to so many people so different and with so different goals on life? Because we are humans, humans are social, we look to socialize and we get "addicted" to these activities when we can be ourselves in different social groups. Nobody cares your age, what are you wearing, where are you from, how much money can you have...The only thing that matter is that we can be US in these social groups, we can show our passion because doesn't matter if you're fast or a slow runner, the important is that you show up, you're there making this social family bigger, you're one of a new circle, humans like to belong somewhere, to Fit, and it feels great when these groups welcome any type of person, that's why we love Social Runs, and of course, the physical activity that provides endorphins and we feel happier!
Social Media plays a very important role in our society. It can and connects the people from their homes, works, vacations, countries around the world and social fitness activities and groups. The freedom sensation of the Running, the fun to Run with a group meeting different people, making new friends from all ages and the health that provides the Running life, is converging to built a new community. The community that loves to be outdoor moving, who challenge themselves together and from there, more races and running events involving a bigger community every day. Runners can learn from others how they train, bad experiences, tips or advises, everything in a complete fun package and there's always something good to add to our routines or something to take care of with the other's runners experiences. We all keep learning on focus to push ourselves better and, when we need it, we run solo too when we want to focus on a race, or just sometime by ourselves, just a "different running" with us, is always necessary. On a different side, we have more "Run for a Reason" programs around the world. I do believe is the best way to give back to our communities through our miles. It's a very, influential and powerful way to combine our society and its needs with the Running life, and give that extra or intention and love to our hardest training.

The Irons: RacePace Group supporting against brain cancer



In my case, this first social open door was RacePace. Shiva and Jeff Douse are a lovely couple who built an amazing running studio. But this is not the most important, what really matters is the big impact they did to the people, they have involved and grow our Running community challenging us to be better each day and making us show up every Thursday like something important, because it is important, because we, the community, the runners, can make any city smaller with our miles, smiles, and love to get together to Run, it's just our healthy addiction and nobody can take it away from us. Running is Community and Houston community is always ready to new challenges!




Carolina Muriel
Chevron Houston Marathon Ambassador 2019
Girls On The Run Solemate Greater Houston/ Chicago Marathon 2018
I Run like a Girl