Today we’d like to introduce you to Valley Runners Run Club .
Hi Valley Runners Run Club, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Our run club started in May 2019 as the Helton Adventure Tribe. Dave Weissman and Crystal Perez teamed up with Helton Brewing Company to gather people for an easy group run. The idea came from their passion for running, the friendships they’d formed at other group runs, and the owner of Helton Brewery’s interest in hosting a group run. They got right to it, setting up a 3-mile route around the neighborhood by the brewery and inviting local runners to come along.
At first, it was just a small group of runners meeting bi-weekly. But word spread quickly, and the group run started to grow. What began as a casual gathering turned into an actual running family, with people from all paces and backgrounds showing up not just for the runs but also to make new friends.
By 2023, the group was ready for a new chapter. The name “Helton Adventure Tribe” didn’t fully reflect the nature of the run club. They occasionally met at other locations and decided to rebrand as Valley Runners. Along with the new name came a new home base at the newly opened Fate Brewing Company in Central Phoenix, which allowed for more space and new routes. Around this time, Matthew Debelak joined as a co-leader, bringing fresh ideas and energy to help take the group to the next level.
By February 2024, Valley Runners had grown even more. They started hosting weekly runs for the first time, alternating between two locations: Fate Brewing and The Joy Lush Club. The shift to weekly runs was inevitable, driven by the incredible response from the community and the desire to create more opportunities for people to run together.
Over the years, Valley Runners has become more than just a running club. It’s a place where people of all abilities can come together, feel supported, and build lasting friendships. What began as a running group has become a family still growing, changing, and motivating each other.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
One of the biggest obstacles has been juggling everyone’s schedules. At least one of us tries to make it to every group run to lead, but there have been times when all three of us were busy. Thankfully, we’ve built such a strong and supportive community that we can easily tap another runner to step in and lead when needed. It’s a testament to the people who make up Valley Runners—they’re always willing to help.
Another major challenge has been the Arizona summer heat. This past summer, temperatures during our runs often topped 110 degrees, which forced us to get creative to keep everyone safe. We partnered with DripDrop, which has been a fantastic partner and provides electrolytes for our runners. Hydration and safety are a big deal, so we’ve prioritized educating everyone on good hydration practices to handle those extreme conditions.
Once summer’s over, a new challenge pops up—darkness. As soon as temperatures cool down, it starts getting dark earlier, and we’ve had to adjust our routes to find better-lit paths with less traffic. Safety is always at the top of everyone’s mind, and we want everyone to feel confident and secure while running with us.
Finally, as the run club grows, one ongoing challenge is ensuring everyone feels welcome. With more people joining, we’re conscious of how easy it could be for new runners to feel like outsiders. To deal with that, we start every run by inviting newcomers to introduce themselves and involve them in conversations during and after the run. It’s all about welcoming them into the family and ensuring they feel at home immediately.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Valley Runners is all about bringing people together. We make a place where everyone can join, whether you are experienced in running or just starting to run for the first time. Besides our regular weekly runs, we plan fun activities like yoga and running together, special runs for holidays, and charity events. These events help people connect and enjoy running as a community.
What truly sets us apart is our focus on inclusivity and connection. After our runs, more than 80% of the group sticks around to hang out, and it’s not unusual for people who didn’t even run that day to come by to join the post-run fun. We make it a priority to ensure no one feels left out. Someone from the leadership team always stays with the back of the pack during runs, and our post-run social culture makes it easy for everyone to bond, whether or not they ran that day.
We’re incredibly proud of the friendships and connections that have grown out of this group. With so many people moving to Arizona and looking for ways to meet others, we know how tough it can be to build a social circle. One of our biggest goals is to create those opportunities for people to make friends, feel included, and become part of a community that goes beyond just running.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
If there’s one thing we’d like readers to know, it’s how much joy and pride we take in our annual holiday run through Candy Cane Lane. It’s the perfect example of what Valley Runners is all about coming together, celebrating, and giving back to the community. Whether you’re running or just cheering people on, we’d love to have you join us. Moments like these remind us why we look forward to the runs every week.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://valleyrunnersaz.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/valleyrunnersaz
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/valleyrunnersaz
- Other: https://strava.com/clubs/valleyrunnersaz
