Oakland running club hits its stride with community participation
OAKLAND -- Head over to Laney College in Oakland on a Wednesday evening and you might think you've stumbled into a political rally.
No one here is running for office. Instead, they're just running.
"It's just good for the body and, when you do that with a group of people that you love and respect and care for, you go home feeling good," said Victor Diaz. "Then you can really enjoy that super burrito."
A year ago Diaz, who owns Renegade Running, a sporting goods store in Oakland, forked over $700 from his own pocket to rent a track, welcoming community members to join a free running club.
Little did he know his club would become a citywide phenomenon, with 150 people jogging in week after week.
Zipporah Allen, chief business officer at Strava, a popular app with more than 860,000 running clubs worldwide, said the app has seen a 35 percent increase in club registrations in just the past couple years.
"You want to connect with people that, yes, share the same activity and the same passion but also you feel connected to on a deeper level," she said.
Diaz's group is specifically aimed toward minorities and other underserved communities.
"I grew up in San Jose and I was definitely not tracked for and running helped me sort that out," he said.
Cristian Morales has been coming to the club with his 9-year-old daughter Ariel. He said that, as a Mexican-American, he didn't' always feel as if he belonged in other running clubs.
"I want her to experience what I've experience here, find that community and find that support. It doesn't matter who you are, doesn't matter what color you are, you're welcome," he said.
Dor Diaz, it's about introducing others to a sport that helped get his life back in the right lane.
"it's exciting to be in community with so many people of color. I go home every night feeling blessed to be a part of it," he said.
If you'd like to join Renegade, just show up at Laney College on Wednesdays at 6 p.m.