North County run clubs build community for Latino runners
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North County running party. Photo: Courtesy of Pacific Coast Run Club
Run clubs are having a moment, but a few in North County aim to go beyond helping people log miles.
The big picture: The Pacific Coast Run Club in Oceanside and OCHO Run Club in Carlsbad want to reach out to beginner runners, especially in the Hispanic and Latino community.
- The goal is to make people feel comfortable and improve their fitness, organizers told Axios.
Zoom in: OCHO (which stands for One Can Help One) is run by sisters Dani Teodoro and Berenice Teodoro Diaz.
- "The majority of our runners are Hispanic or Latino, and it's sometimes harder for that population to be able to get out there moving because a lot of times they're working, or they just have big families," Dani Teodoro told Axios. "They can't find the time to show up for themselves."
The vibe: OCHO focuses on socializing and having fun, which can show members that exercising doesn't have to be a chore.
- "When you're talking with people, that can make the exercise go by faster," she said.
- They started two years ago and now have more than 100 members who range in age from toddlers in strollers to runners in their 60s.
Meanwhile, Pacific Coast Run Club has grown from six people last year to around 60, organizer Juan Tapia told Axios.
- "We're a really big diverse group, and most of us being Latino allowed members to just be more comfortable and be able to be themselves," he said.
By the numbers: Both groups have easy runs of 3 miles, but some members who are training for races run longer.
- Pacific Coast waits after 1.5 miles for slower runners to catch up, and OCHO runs a flat out-and-back route that's approachable for anyone.
- "I've heard people say they went to other run clubs and nobody really even goes up to them or talks to them, so I always want to make sure new people feel included," Tapia said.
Running is like free therapy, and talking something out on a run can make you feel better, Berenice Teodoro Diaz said.
- "I have a very demanding job, and running is just my getaway," she said.
What's next: Both groups came together for two runs where a DJ spun records from a truck, and they plan more joint events.
- Events won't always involve running, Tapia said, but also volunteering and community service.