Community
Running and health equity on the South Side
Why access to running, coaching and races shouldn't depend on which side of Roosevelt you live on, and how a South Side run club puts that into practice.
OnThe9 Run Crew stands on three pillars: inclusion, community and health equity. The third one is the reason we exist. Coaching, training and race access should not depend on which side of Roosevelt you live on.
Why running needs a South Side presence
In a lot of Chicago, the running scene is easy to spot. Run clubs meet outside coffee shops, the lakefront fills up on Saturday mornings, and running stores host group runs every week. For years, much less of that showed up south of Roosevelt Road.
That gap matters. When nobody around you runs, it's harder to picture yourself doing it. It's harder to find a route you feel good about, someone to run with, or a coach to tell you how to train for your first race. Running is cheap compared to most sports, but the support around it isn't spread evenly across the city.
What we do about it
We run here. Our Saturday runs cover South Side neighborhoods, from Chatham and Avalon Park to South Shore, Bronzeville and Beverly. When a crew of runners comes down 79th Street on a Saturday morning, people see it. Our first run in 2024 had neighbors stopping us to ask questions and cheering us down the block.
Every pace is welcome. First mile or fiftieth marathon, walk breaks or tempo pace. Nobody finishes alone.
We spend money on our blocks. After the run, we go to coffee and breakfast at local spots on the route. The crew runs through these neighborhoods, so it supports the businesses that keep them going.
We show up for other runners. Every October we run an official community cheer zone at Mile 23 of the Chicago Marathon in Bronzeville, so runners from all over the world get one of the loudest corners on the course. Read the spectator guide.
"Let's run on the South Side"
"We are all South Side runners. There's nothing wrong with the South Side. I feel safe here. Let's run on the South Side." — Neishé Russell, founder
How you can help
- Run with us. Saturday mornings. The start time and meeting spot are posted on our Strava club.
- Run your own South Side routes and share them. Our route guide has ideas.
- Cheer at Mile 23 during the Chicago Marathon.
- Shop on the route. Breakfast after a run is part of the point.
Read more about OnThe9 Run Crew.
Common questions
What does health equity mean for a run club?
For OnThe9, it means coaching, training and race access shouldn't depend on which side of Roosevelt you live on. That shapes where we run, who leads, and how we welcome new runners.
How can I support running on the South Side?
Run here, cheer here and spend money here. Join a group run, come out to the Mile 23 cheer zone during the Chicago Marathon, and buy breakfast from the businesses along the route.
