[person running]
I wanted to start
something in Del Valle so that we had our own thing out there
and that we could say, Hey, there's also runners out here.
Don't forget about us.
[lawnmower mowing]
I think running is one of those activities that
anyone can do because it doesn't require a whole lot.
All you need is a pair of sneakers really to run.
[quick steps on pavement]
I've always been an active person.
I started running to train for basic training.
I'm in the National Guard
and I knew that running was going to be a requirement.
I began running to prepare for that.
And sure enough, I got bit by the running bug.
[Two people running]
Running has benefited me just mentally and physically,
and I just feel like running can give someone
a lot of positive benefits, especially when you're running with people.
It gives you that accountability.
I had been running with another group in Austin.
They're usually tied to a certain community,
so there's groups that run in the East Side.
There's a group that meets at South Congress,
and so people have that sense of community
because the groups are based around a certain community.
[quick steps on pavement]
I live in Del Valle.
I was surprised to find that there wasn't a running group out here.
I would see people running in the community.
And one day it just occurred to me
that I should start a group in Del Valle.
[person running]
It was important for me to start something there
to make it just more convenient for the people who live in the valley.
I figured if people can just drive five minutes down the road to meet up,
they're more likely to come out and run
than if they have to drive 30 minutes into town.
They created a page.
The first run is going to be on August eleven.
We hope to see you there between a time and a time.
And I think we had about seven people on our first run.
Taking it right. It's the right.
[footsteps]
Some days it's just been two of us, but I've never been by myself.
There's always been at least one person show up since August eleven,
which is pretty cool.
[person running]
And I wanted to build a group that had that sort of welcoming atmosphere
and open it to all people, all ages, all experience levels
and make it accessible.
And so people feel like no matter where they are at,
they can come to our group and feel welcomed.
[hopeful music plays]
But I felt good, so I kept going.
What happened?
I didn't feel good afterwards.
What's cool about running is you're out there in the community, right?
Like so running in the streets of Del Valle.
People see us, you know, people see people forming together.
And it's already happened a couple of times where we're running.
And even though it's just a small group of us,
people start to notice and I think it's contagious.
And I think that's the coolest part about it is that just
putting out those good vibes and letting people know that, hey,
people are gathering together, strangers are coming together
in this community and they're doing something positive.
To health and wealth.
[hopeful music]