Club gets a running start

Smiles on their faces and sneakers on their feet, West Texans of different ages, genders and ethnicities gathered to enjoy a common love: running.

“That’s my thinking time, my praying time,” Andrews resident Michelle Richardson said.

Richardson was one of about 40 people gathered at 7 p.m. Thursday at Windlands Park in Midland at the Permian Basin Running club’s weekly meeting.

Before running participants stretch and share their running accomplishments, whether it’s a marathon or a jog.

And to cultivate a positive atmosphere each member also shares one good thing in their life.

Then participants run, jog or walk together at one of the four parks that they alternate using.

Created in 2003 as a website to distribute information about marathons, club president Shawn Hailey was handed the reins recently and proceeded to expand the club to include a social component.

The club had its first weekly meeting in June and has grown with the subsequent meetings, Hailey said.

Anyone can come to the weekly meetings, Hailey said, and club members get a T-shirt and discounts from some local businesses like “The King & I” Thai restaurants, the Run This Way shoe store and Flat Belly Organics in Midland.

From Odessa, Midland, Greenwood, Stanton and Andrews, the runners come from all walks of life, Hailey said, and for different reasons: whether to socialize, exercise or just get back into the habit.

A little bit apprehensive about wearing a wedding dress for her upcoming nuptials, Odessa resident Staci Barrett decided to return to running and get into better physical shape.

“I used to be an active runner,” Barrett said.

Barrett said Thursday’s meeting was her first time at the club.

For some, the club is also a chance to meet new people.

Recently relocated from Houston to Midland, Celeste Raymond said the club has given her and her husband a chance to meet new people.

Club members will sometimes get together on the weekend to run or do other activities, like the “concert in the park”, Raymond said.

Like some other members, Raymond found the club’s inclusive and laid back nature appealing.

“We have some people that walk, some people that run,” Raymond said, joking, “I’m probably one of the slowest ones.”

Some of the faster members of the group also participate in Gilbert’s Gazelles, an extension of an Austin-based training group, like Nopporn “Popcorn” Leonard, owner of “The King & I” restaurants.

But whether they’re fast or slow, and regardless of their motivation, Hailey said everyone is out there for the same basic reason.

“We’re just all out here to enjoy running and each other,” Hailey said.

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