The Brickell Run Club, sponsored by Baptist Health and Nike, calls South Florida runners every Tuesday night at 7 p.m. Their group is hard to miss, sometimes totaling over 1,200 runners per night. Photo credits: Marra Finkelstein
Just past dawn on a balmy Sunday morning, Victoria De Freitas laced up her running shoes and stepped into the vibrant swirl of Club Running, University of Miami’s very own run club.
For De Freitas, spending the early morning running alongside a diverse group of enthusiastic runners in the UM student running club wasn’t just exercise – it was a lifeline, a way to reclaim her mental health while connecting with commonly of like-minded individuals.
“For a long time, I didn’t have an outlet and was bottling up my feelings,” said De Freitas, who said she had a bout of depression four years ago. “What’s so beneficial about running is that it forces you to think and understand emotions”
In the bustling world of university life, where stress and deadlines loom large, many students like De Freitas find solace and strength through running.
THE BEST FEELING IN THE WORLD
Running clubs have swiftly gained traction across United States, a trend accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. As gyms, schools and offices closed, these clubs became a crucial avenue for maintaining physical fitness and fostering social connections.
A 2022 survey by Running USA, a nonprofit research and networking organization for runners, revealed that running club memberships in the U.S. have risen by 25 percent over the past five years.
This trend is mirrored globally, with the International Association of Athletics Federations noting a 30 percent increase in organized running events and clubs during the same timeframe.
Scores of run clubs in South Florida attract hundreds of participants each week. This uptick highlights a broader movement toward integrating physical wellness with social interaction in a post – pandemic era, reflecting a nationwide shift toward outdoor and communal activities as a remedy for isolation.
Socializing is just the beginning. The benefits of running in company are backed by science on boosting brain power and physical health.
Brian Arwari, associate professor in the School of Education and Human Development, has spent 16 years studying the physiological connection between running brain function.
“The community aspect is the most important benefit,” said Arwari, who completed his Ph.D. in psychophysiology, cognitive psychology and personality psychology. “More important than any technique or other factor because a lot of mental health issues stem from a lack of social connection.”
Arwari’s research underscores that exercise, including running, enhances brain connectivity, slows cognitive aging, boosts IQ and improves cardiovascular health.
He said it also plays a significant role in alleviating anxiety and depression by regulating stress hormones.
SOUTH FLORIDA RUN CLUBS
Buoyed by a favorable year-round running climate, hundreds participate in running clubs daily in South Florida.
Carlos Del Valle, 38, co-founder of No Sleeping Running Club in the Brickell area, is a living testament to these benefits. Running helped him on his transformative weight loss journey and allowed him to develop in his personal life while making a positive impact in his community.
“Running has changed my life and the lives of the people around me,” he said.
Del Valle, who was formerly considered medically overweight, said he was tired of making empty promises to himself and decided to invest in his health through running with his friend and club co-founder J.R. Jensen.
His transformation didn’t just enhance his physical health. It also shifted his outlook on life and the way he interacted with those around him.
As president of UM’s Club Running, De Freitas said she made it her mission to help other students discover the beauty of this exercise form.
“People think you have to be a professional athlete to run and do hard things and that’s not true,” De Freitas said. “When people tell me they can’t, I always say ‘yes you could.’”
Ruth Michael, a freshman neuroscience major, recently joined UM’s Club Running as a way to stay active as she adjusted to university life. As an out-of-state student, she was eager to fall into a steady routine, balancing her studies, fitness and mental health.
“Running is very therapeutic,” Michael said. “If I’m worried about something, I run, and then I forget about it.”
Being a college student comes with its own set of pressures and stressors. For many, running offers a necessary, yet healthy outlet from the responsibilities of everyday life.
“Running clubs provide a structured way to manage the delicate balance between academic responsibilities and personal well-being,” said Ana Montes, vice president of UM’s Club Running.
“The feeling after you run is the best feeling in the world,” Montes said. “When you’re overwhelmed, running gives you a moment to be present, to clear your mind and reset.”
In a vibrant city like Miami, where the party scene is a driving force of social interaction, finding a balanced social diet can be challenging. Arwari said he believes that while joining a running club isn’t the first thought on most people’s mind when considering a university, maybe it should be.
EXPAND YOUR SOCIAL CIRCLE
“Healthy decisions are lonely and poor decisions come with friends,” Arwari said. “If you can get both the fitness and the social connection doing one activity as a group, it’s a win-win.”
New to UM and new to Miami, Michael sought a healthy way to make friends in her new home. Club Running was the perfect solution.
“I met a ton of people,” Michael said. She noted that running with others, and creating friendships, makes it feel like cardio isn’t part of the equation. “You create more memories.”
Club Running leaders, De Freitas and Montes, as well as active Club Running members, were a key factor in Michael’s decision to continue with the club as opposed to running alone.
“With mentors like that, it’s pretty hard to not want to come back,” said Michael.
If you are someone who has little experience with running, it can be intimidating to attend a running club cold-turkey. But local run club leaders demonstrate a commitment to inclusivity for people of all ages, physiques and skill levels.
UM Club Running embraces participants of all body types, genders, ages and running experience, encouraging everyone to participate however they can. The club was established in 2017 and currently has over 270 interested students for this semester, with approximately 15-20 participants in each run.
Michael was apprehensive about joining a running club with no experience, but said De Freitas was very attentive to her and all the other newcomers, ensuring no one felt left behind.
Likewise, inclusivity is a core value of No Sleeping Running Club, as well as many other running clubs across Miami. An emphasis on encouragement for all promotes a comfortable experience that challenges participants to continue showing up for themselves.
“Everybody runs differently; we keep everybody close,” said Del Valle.
Del Valle said that running club leaders are dedicated to making sure that everyone makes it to the finish line, fostering a supportive and uplifting environment for all.
FUN AND SAFETY IN NUMBERS
Running alone in a big city can pose safety concerns for many, especially women. And if you are new to the area, a run club can give you the opportunity to explore the vivacious city with an added peace of mind.
Rivera, who has had concerns about running alone in the city, said she feels safer running in a group and that running with a club provides her with an extra sense of security.
The collective presence of a group can transform the running experience from a solitary activity into a shared journey, enhancing both safety and enjoyment.
CLUB RUNNING
If you don’t want to venture off campus to find a club to join you can join UM’s run club. Find them on Instagram at @umclubrunning. They do a few different runs each week, so if you’re interested, join the pack.
Wednesday 7 a.m.
Campus Loop
3 miles
Outdoor Adventures Center
Sunday 7 a.m.
Sunday Funday Long Run
5-10 miles
Outdoor Adventures Center
