October 24 Vallejo/Vacaville Arts and Entertainment Source: Vallejo Run Club Welcomes All

Five years ago, Marcellus Brown decided to start running with a friend.

“We just started with a mile, and then we ran a mile every day to see who could beat who,” says Brown. Eventually, one mile turned into three, which turned into six … which ultimately turned into the pride and joy of his passion, the Vallejo Run Club.

The club started in 2022 and since then has only grown. It meets three times a week on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.

“Mondays are usually the lighter crowd because we just do hill repeats,” says Brown. “Most runners don’t even like running uphill.” Wednesdays draw a larger crowd, meeting at the Vallejo Ferry Building, with the club’s largest recorded meeting a few weeks ago at 52 runners.

So, why did Brown decide to start Vallejo Run Club?

“I got tired of running in Vallejo and never seeing no other runners,” says Brown. “I thought if I can get (his friend) to run, then I can get other people to run.”

“I enjoy running because I inspire other people to be healthy and be active,” says Brown. “No runner left behind,” is the motto of the club and a sentiment that Brown tries to instill in its members.

“I found Vallejo Run Club to be my home, I think because of the diversity and community,” says Sophie Simmons, who has been a member of the club since 2023. “You meet a bunch of people from different backgrounds with different fitness levels.”

Simmons comes from a military background, as a former 88 series for the U.S. Army. “When I came home I was just trying to figure out and adjust to life as a civilian,” she says.

The club and its motto fosters a community of inclusivity, says Simmons. “It makes every run and every mile we share together really a journey towards everyone’s individual and collective goals.”

The clubs welcomes every level of runner, whether you are a seasoned marathoner or first starting out. “Everyone has been so encouraging of one another,” says Simmons. “That is honestly what keeps me coming back for more.”

When asked what his favorite part of the club is, Brown had only one answer: “The people.”

“I met a lot of good people that I can say will be lifelong friends now from the run club and without the run club, I probably would have never met these people,” says Brown.

Even experienced runners like Brown and Simmons know it isn’t always easy.

“What’s been inspiring to me is seeing people’s growth and determination and even when things get tough, people keep pushing. There’s something so powerful in that mental strength,” says Simmons.

“There’s no right or wrong way to run,” she says. “The hardest part is just getting there.”