Rise and Run

On Friday mornings, you’ll JENNIFER LUDEMANN find running around Wilmington with her newly-founded Wilmington Run Club.

Ludemann is a former soccer player for the University of North Carolina Wilmington, and founded the Wilmington Run Club this March as a way to combine her passion for community engagement and working out. By day she works in sales and business for soccer.com, and by night she coaches various soccer clubs.

“It kind of happened quickly,” Ludemann says, adding that she didn’t have luck finding clubs that met early. “I love local coffee and I love running, so I thought it would be cool to partner those two things together. I started reaching out to different coffee shops to see if they had any interest in it, and it was all really positive feedback.”

Ludemann’s club meetings take place in the mornings before work at 6:30 a.m., while other run clubs typically meet after work. Wilmington Run Club runners also meet up for coffee at various shops around the city after their morning run. The club typically runs trails close to the coffee shop the group visits that day, and because of its group size, it adds an extra layer of safety to the runs.

“Even with our group being co-ed, our run club not only provides a socializing aspect, but it also gives our runners a sense of safety and comfort that isn’t always easy to find when running alone,” Ludemann says.

After receiving positive feedback from coffee shops, Ludemann decided to advertise the Wilmington Run Club on social media. From there, it took off: In just the first month, about 50 runners have participated each week.

So far, Ludemann has been able to work with the coffee shops and get her runners various discounts. It saves her club members some money while also bringing an influx of customers to the shops.

In addition to physical fitness, Wilmington Run Club aims to promote new friendships. Between the running aspect and the coffee shop mingling, Ludemann has already seen new friendships blossom.

“I’ve met a lot of people that I don’t think I would have crossed paths with otherwise, which is really cool,” she says. “I’ve been consistent with coming to all three now, and so I can only imagine in months down the road what that friendship … might look like.”

Looking ahead, Ludemann is partnering with the Lululemon in Wilmington to do an apparel giveaway at the last run of every month.

“We’re definitely wanting to not only get involved with the local coffee shops, but also other local branches and companies that are in the health and wellness spaces,” she says. “That’s a pretty cool connection and partnership that I’m excited about.”

Runners interested in the Wilmington Run Club can find which coffee shop the club is meeting to run at through its Instagram, @runclubwilmington.

To view more of photographer Aris Harding’s work, go to arisharding.com.

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