Meet Cafe Jam Run Club
- 5 days ago
- 4 min read
The weeks are speeding by and summer is nearly upon us. As the days are warming up, we are too - starting with our first run club feature (hello, Cafe Jam Run Club!), interviews with truly inspiring humans, and fun community events set for later this month and early June!
FIRST UP... MEET CAFE JAM RUN CLUB
Cafe Jam Run Club started with the emphasis on creating a safe space for mothers and children. The run club began as a space for postpartum mothers, moms & strollers and moms who need a group to work out with for free. Gracee founded the group in 2017 after starting a Parkinson's Run for her mom. Gracee created Team Cheryl for Parkinson's research under the Michael J. Fox Foundation. It evolved to a greater group where all runners of all levels and ages joined. As time passed and Gracee's mom's Parkinson's worsened, her mom would always offer her a cup of coffee or a "cafe" when she dropped off her baby, Caleb. Gracee would then respond "I can't...I got 30 minutes to run...I gotta JAM!". This went on for several months...and years. Hence the name CAFE JAM! Cafe Jam officially began during Covid where everything was limited but to avoid more mental breakdowns of mothers at home, we created a social run in the valley. Sherman Oaks became the home base and eventually, the training ground.
CAFE JAM RUN CLUB'S SCHEDULE
Cafe Jam Run Club meets every Monday in Sherman Oaks at 7pm. We meet at various locations. We offer three options - 2 mile recovery jog/walk, 3 mile tempo run, or a 5 mile tempo run. On Saturdays, we usually meet at 7am - May and June will be trails! Follow us to stay in the loop and join a run.
Local Hero round-up
MEET GRACEE: FOUNDER OF CAFE JAM
RUN CLUB
Cassidy: Why do you run?
Gracee: "I run to feel at ease, release anxiety and be free. It makes me happy even when I am in pain."
Cassidy: What does running mean to you?
Gracee: "Running means the world to me. It is the best therapy for any emotional, physical or mental breakdown. Running is therapeutic and the hardest -easiest sport to do."
Cassidy: What is your favorite time of day and place to run in, and why?
Gracee: "My favorite time and day is Saturdays---early, early morning and some week nights. But I am an early morning bird. I love running super early in the morning because it completes my day. I love running early in the morning during the summers as well."
Cassidy: What does community mean to you, and how does community support your running and your goals?
Gracee: "Community is the support you have and the group you give back to. Whether through health and wellness, branding or support as a leader. Community is a safe space and should be a safe space regardless. It is a fitness support group, in my opinion."
Cassidy: If you've run Run Malibu before (or volunteered!), what was your favorite moment and why?
Gracee: "My favorite moment was volunteering at a water station and seeing every runner's from the elite racers to walkers. I love the passion in their faces! To see the love for the sport and racing and also the agony chasing a PR! The race itself is beautiful. The coast and the scenery."
Gracee's Mantras:
"We are on borrowed time...let's keep going, full send and full hearts."
"Ka Mea Holo (Hawaiian for..) one who goes, one who flows and one how ever it happens- keep going."
MEET NATALIE: CAFE JAM RUN CLUB
Cassidy: Why do you run?
Natalie: "I am more of a walker but I do it for my physical and mental health."
Cassidy: What does running mean to you?
Natalie: "I am proving to myself that I’m able to do hard things as long as I keep doing hard things."
Cassidy: What is your favorite time of day and place to run, and why?
Natalie: "Early morning by the beach; I love feeling like I have the world to myself."
Cassidy: What does community mean to you?
Natalie: "Community is so important, it helps with accountability and reaching goals."
Cassidy: How does community support your running and goals
Natalie: "Having a community helps me stay focused and motivated with fitness and non fitness goals. It’s nice to have people to celebrate life with."
MEET CEDRIC: CAFE JAM RUN CLUB
Cassidy: Why do you run?
Cedric: "I run because although I am a happy person, running brought to me another form of joy, another community and an untapped confidence."
Cassidy: What does running mean to you?
Cedric: "Running now means I get to run with people I love to share the road with. Running means I get to share a hobby with like minded people."
Cassidy: What is your favorite time of day and place to run, and why?
Cedric: "Honestly, I amaze myself. I can run at anytime. This year I proved that with training and races I did. I don’t have a preference where to run. I am always up for anywhere as long as I can run with members of my run fam. Early morning is the most common. It allows me to get a head-start to my day. To me the people make my runs. Although, trail runs and the views make me very happy too."
Cassidy: What does community mean to you? How does community support your running and goals?
Cedric: "Community looks very different depending where you are. The run community is just very supportive without even trying. Just the fact that everyone is doing their own thing such as races motivates me. When it comes to community support the fact that someone tells you that you are looking good and solid is such a boost in confidence. These words of encouragement truly unleashes something in you. We are all on different paths in this running journey, but ultimately we meet at the end, which is the goal to finish. I love that."
Consider us MOTIVATED and INSPIRED! Please go join Cafe Jam Run Club for some miles; they are building something truly special in our community. Take these inspiring words and wisdom into your miles this month, channel our local heroes and invite others to join you. Together, we are unlimited. Ready to run with us?
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