Members of the newly formed outdoor recreation group, the West End Run Club, successfully completed a half marathon in Moab.
Dani Reyes-Acosta, professional athlete and filmmaker based in the West End, founded the club. She said the main means of communication for the group has been Instagram, and West End runners started with the Nucla Range Loops on June 5. They’ve met up sporadically, more than 10 times, since then.
Reyes-Acosta said the club is inclusive and wants those who join to be able to run at their own pace, whether that’s quick hiking or fast running. She added so far the group has been running “no drop,” which means everyone runs together. She said as the group grows, though, it will likely split into pace-based groups.
“It’s important to note the emphasis is building community,” she said. “That’s a foundational component of why we meet, and it’s important to me to not leave people behind.”
In the future, she’d also like to offer some skill-based workshops for speed or distance running in the West End.
For the Moab Trail Marathon and Half Marathon, held on Nov. 3, members completed the event in the rain and in temperatures of 40 degrees. That includes Jenny Wheeler, Cara Pallone, Megan Urban, Zita Suprenant and Reyes-Acosta. Honorary member Heather Sackett, formerly of Telluride and with ties to the local area, also joined.
Reyes-Acosta said every one of the ladies finished the 13.1 miles and that all were smiling is an indicator of the joy of running, but also the joy of running with community. She said the ladies truly embodied the “grit” that those in the West End have.
“Every single one of the participants finished strong and with a smile,” she said.
Megan Urban, of the West End, told the Forum she enjoyed it.
“The fact that we had six local girls get together for a day of running in the cold is something I never would have seen, coming just five years ago, when I moved here,” she said.
Urban added the West End Run Club is “very chill,” and that any and all levels should feel welcomed to join.
Cara Pallone, of Norwood, said she loved the Moab run.
“It’s one of my favorite half marathons, because it feels like an obstacle course with the sand and slick rock and desert landscape,” she said. “This year was rainy and cold, but it didn’t matter because we had the best crew.”
She added that as a mother of a young child, the West End Run Club has been fulfilling for her.
“I never thought I’d get back into running, let alone be a part of this community of strong, wild women who lift each other up,” she said. “There’s a deeper bond that’s forged through trail running because you have miles to share life experiences and memories and these intimate conversations that would never come up during, say, happy hour or a dinner party. I love how we approach each run without judgement or expectations. It’s about community, and that’s a beautiful thing.
Reyes-Acosta said though winter is on the way, the group will likely still be meeting, but they’ll stay flexible due to weather and daylight limits. She said already people are using the West End Run Club’s Instagram platform to simply find running partners and a time that works, something she’s happy about.
Men are also welcome to join the West End Run Club.
