Running Community - It’s Everything

Running has been a part of my life for over 30 years. It’s shaped who I am as an athlete, as a coach, and as a person. It’s impacted my family in ways I never could have imagined when I first tied up a pair of running shoes.

And the longer I’m a part of this sport, the more clearly I see it:
Running isn’t just about competition.
It’s about community.

There’s something rare and beautiful about the running world. It’s one of the few spaces where it truly doesn’t matter where you come from, what your background is, or how fast you are. If you run, you belong. If you show up and take that first step, there’s a place for you.

I’ve seen it time and time again — from local fun runs to national championships, and especially at the high school level. Some of the strongest, most lasting friendships are built on high school cross country teams. Something about going through the hard miles together, celebrating the wins, enduring the losses — it bonds you for life. I've watched kids show up as strangers in August and walk away as family by November.

And it doesn’t end after high school.

A friend shared something with me that I’ll never forget. Her husband served in the military, and with every new assignment, they never knew where they’d be living next. It would’ve been easy to feel isolated. But she told me, "Dusty, here's what I love about the running community. No matter where I was, I could find a running group, and I instantly had family."

That’s the power of this community. It’s a built-in family that spans towns, states, and countries.

It’s a community that not only supports each other on the run, but also comes together to raise millions of dollars for causes that change lives. Running events around the world are some of the largest fundraising efforts ever organized. Step by step, mile by mile, runners are some of the most generous people you’ll find.

When I think about everything running has given me — the friends, the opportunities, the life lessons, the memories with my family — I’m filled with gratitude.

But I’m also filled with responsibility.

Because this community doesn’t grow by accident. It grows when we invite people in. It grows when we recognize that every runner, whether they're chasing a PR or just trying to make it to the end of the block, deserves to be seen, encouraged, and welcomed.

If you're part of this world — whether you're a coach, a parent, a student, or someone who just runs for the love of it — I want to encourage you: keep pulling people in.

Invite a friend to a run. Cheer for the last finisher just as loudly as the first. Celebrate every start line and every finish line.

Because running isn’t just changing your life.
It could be changing someone else's too.

Live What You Love,
~ Coach Dusty