The Anti-Runners Run Club: Why You Don’t Have to Love Running to Show Up
If You Hated Running in PE, You’re Not Alone
Let’s go back for a second.
Think about PE class.
Running the mile.
Everyone spread out across the field.
Some people sprinting. Some people walking.
Most people just trying to get it over with.
If you hated that feeling, you’re not alone.
A lot of people carry that same energy into adulthood. Running feels like punishment. It feels uncomfortable. It feels like something you’re supposed to be good at but never really enjoyed.
Honestly, I don’t love running either.
But I do believe something simple:
We should all be able to run a mile.
Not fast.
Not perfectly.
Not without stopping.
Just… be able to do it.
And more importantly, feel like we have a way to do it that doesn’t suck.
The Anti-Runners Run Club
So we started something new at Spite Fitness.
The Anti-Runners Run Club.
And yeah, it’s exactly what it sounds like.
We meet Fridays at 6am.
We warm up together.
We do a little bodyweight work.
Then we go run about a mile.
You can jog.
You can walk part of it.
You can complain the whole time.
Then we finish at a local coffee shop and walk back.
That’s the whole structure.
Nothing fancy.
Nothing intense.
Just consistent.
You’re Allowed to Complain
One of the best parts of the first run was how honest everyone was.
Mid-run:
“This is awful.”
End of the run:
“That sucked.”
And then right after:
“Same time next week?”
That’s it right there.
You don’t have to fake motivation.
You don’t have to pretend you love every second.
You just have to show up.
And honestly, I want to hear the complaints.
That’s part of the culture.
Why We Do It Together
Here’s the truth.
Running alone is easy to skip.
Running with a group, even when nobody loves it, is different.
When you show up and see 10, 12, 15 people all doing the same hard thing, it changes the experience.
You realize:
You’re not the only one struggling.
You’re not the only one out of breath.
You’re not the only one questioning your life choices halfway through.
What you can’t do alone, you can do together.
That’s what makes it stick.
Fitness Doesn’t Have to Be Perfect
Most people think they need to get fitness “right.”
Perfect plan.
Perfect pace.
Perfect consistency.
That’s not real life.
Fitness is messy.
Some days feel great.
Some days feel terrible.
The goal isn’t perfection.
The goal is staying in the game long enough that it becomes part of your life.
Fitness should be something you get to do forever.
Something that keeps you moving, keeps you capable, keeps you strong.
Personally, I want to be able to outrun my grandkids one day.
That doesn’t come from one perfect workout.
That comes from showing up, over and over again, even when it’s not your favorite thing.
Fitness Should Be Accessible to Everyone
You don’t need to be a runner to join a run club.
You don’t need to be “in shape.”
You don’t need to be fast.
You don’t need to know what you’re doing.
You just need a space where you feel comfortable trying.
That’s what we’re building.
A place where:
- beginners feel welcome
- effort matters more than performance
- and people can show up exactly as they are
Because fitness should be accessible to everyone.
What Happens After the Run
We finish at a coffee shop.
We catch our breath.
We talk.
We laugh about how bad that felt.
And then something interesting happens.
People start looking forward to it.
Not because they suddenly love running.
But because they like the people.
They like the routine.
They like how they feel after.
That’s how habits are built.
Want to Join the Next Run?
We’ll be there.
Fridays at 6am.
Start at Spite Fitness.
End at a local coffee shop.
No expectations.
No pressure.
Just show up, move a little, complain if you want, and be part of it.
First class is free. –
Click here to join us.
Or Click here for your Free week
About the Author
Ryan Nolan is the founder of Spite Fitness in Santa Rosa, California. After losing over 100 pounds and feeling out of place in traditional gyms, he built Spite Fitness to create a more inclusive and supportive approach to fitness.
Spite Fitness is a queer-inclusive boutique gym focused on helping people feel strong, confident, and part of a community where they actually want to show up.
