Chain of Rocks 6k Team Feature: Dogtown Running Club
We have 10 teams signed up for the inaugural Chain of Rocks 6k on Sunday, March 27th, 2022! Each week we will feature a different team. The beauty of the St. Louis running community is there are several clubs and teams you can be a part of. We are grateful for these organization’s support in our first year event. Today we highlight the Dogtown Running Club!
How did the Dogtown Running Club come to fruition?
Founded March 2021.
I was a daily solo Forest Park runner at the time and was interested in connecting with like-minded runners to form a group. Given the accessibility and proximity to Forest Park, I figured it only made sense to give it a shot. After gauging interest via neighborhood Facebook groups, I decided to run with it (punny!). I collected contact information and running habits for each runner, then created a Facebook group to begin scheduling our first run, which took place exactly a week before St. Patrick's Day! I had never been a part of a running club, and didn't even know there were any that existed here on the scale I now know they operate as. It was clear from the beginning that there was a want, need, and craving for a group such as Dogtown Running Club, which is more than just an avenue to develop your running skills, but also to create connections with neighbors who just so happen to enjoy running!
What's the criteria for becoming a member of the Dogtown Running Club?
All you need to do is sign a participation waiver!
Completely free club!
Be kind & courteous, no hate speech or bullying.
Join the Facebook group or follow along on Instagram to stay up to date.
What makes the St. Louis running community so special?
There is an undeniable passion amongst the running community in St. Louis, which helps those who make up the community effortlessly build connections with others and make great strides towards their running goals. While running as a sport is ultimately an individual effort, it requires an immense amount of support, guidance, and cheerleading from the community around you. It's clear that the running community in St. Louis fosters a culture of acceptance and inclusivity, which is apparent by the positive and uplifting runners that are a part of it. Runners in the community are actively engaged in communicating across groups and sharing knowledge & ideas, making the community incredibly inviting and easy to get involved in. The leaders who make up the community are SO welcoming and great role models to those who look up to them.
Anything you want to add or highlight about your group to our followers on social media?
Dogtown Running Club is accepting of all new members at any point in their running journey.
The group is low maintenance and caters to a wide audience, which is part of the magic!
It's easy to get involved quickly and become part of the team. Most of us proudly live in or around Dogtown, which builds a sense of community and openness to all. There are members from all walks of life who are new in their running journey, experienced, or may just be getting back into running, and they are all welcomed with open arms.
Pat Connolly's has become our home, and we are all proud and excited to be able to visit there after every Wednesday run. The owners & staff have been accommodating to our growing group and we have partnered with them well in order to make our presence mutually beneficial.
