It's so much hard work to "be the change you want to see." I feel lucky and grateful to get to learn from you doing it. Thanks for bringing me into project elevate and for leading the charge on the changes the running community in this city + the entire city + the entire running community very much needs. My first half ever was the SF half in 2013 and wowowowow you could feel the difference in the energy in the air this year after what you've started building. Can't wait for next year!
This is so interesting, particularly the lack of support from local sponsors 😓 i think you’re doing all the right things and wish more stores followed your lead
as a runner/lover of SF, this was SO energizing to read! many thoughts ideas but top 3:
1) tale as old as time: brands with the most money have the hardest time loosening their grip on ROI-or-die-metrics! as if they don't have the weight (financial/cultural/creative) to spare on something... idk human? or congruent to their brand "values"? again, not SURPRISED, but just exasperated. also, massive side-eye to the "Wilder Running," good lord....
2) "people are hungry for an event like the marathon to rally behind in a way that isn’t for the hype of a social media moment but purely for love of city and sport." i've become skeptical of any run club here in Hawai‘i bc everything feels a stuck in "do it for the gram!", but this feels like a beautiful compass for assessing environments... along with my own intentions as a community MEMBER. i just wanna do FUN shit and fall in love with this place/this sport alongside full-hearted peeps!
3) "The weekend reaffirmed that we’re doing the right thing, building a strong community + giving the people what they want" — HELL YEAH! the energy/thought circulating thru these events/store presence is palpable through the screen.
finally, i recognize that view, one of my favorite morning swims! thanks for such a cool read. :)
Having worked at a chain running store, I can confirm the fit process is just a way to make money.
Also, this is a great point: "Strava, currently valued at $2.2 billion was founded here; should be the leading sponsor and yet I saw very little beyond a Strava branded sign. I unfortunately have to pay for a Strava membership in order to have a club for the store otherwise I wouldn’t due to their lack of involvement across the board (apparently they told the SF pride 5k that they were unable to offer any sponsorship money)³"
It's so much hard work to "be the change you want to see." I feel lucky and grateful to get to learn from you doing it. Thanks for bringing me into project elevate and for leading the charge on the changes the running community in this city + the entire city + the entire running community very much needs. My first half ever was the SF half in 2013 and wowowowow you could feel the difference in the energy in the air this year after what you've started building. Can't wait for next year!
This is so interesting, particularly the lack of support from local sponsors 😓 i think you’re doing all the right things and wish more stores followed your lead
as a runner/lover of SF, this was SO energizing to read! many thoughts ideas but top 3:
1) tale as old as time: brands with the most money have the hardest time loosening their grip on ROI-or-die-metrics! as if they don't have the weight (financial/cultural/creative) to spare on something... idk human? or congruent to their brand "values"? again, not SURPRISED, but just exasperated. also, massive side-eye to the "Wilder Running," good lord....
2) "people are hungry for an event like the marathon to rally behind in a way that isn’t for the hype of a social media moment but purely for love of city and sport." i've become skeptical of any run club here in Hawai‘i bc everything feels a stuck in "do it for the gram!", but this feels like a beautiful compass for assessing environments... along with my own intentions as a community MEMBER. i just wanna do FUN shit and fall in love with this place/this sport alongside full-hearted peeps!
3) "The weekend reaffirmed that we’re doing the right thing, building a strong community + giving the people what they want" — HELL YEAH! the energy/thought circulating thru these events/store presence is palpable through the screen.
finally, i recognize that view, one of my favorite morning swims! thanks for such a cool read. :)
Having worked at a chain running store, I can confirm the fit process is just a way to make money.
Also, this is a great point: "Strava, currently valued at $2.2 billion was founded here; should be the leading sponsor and yet I saw very little beyond a Strava branded sign. I unfortunately have to pay for a Strava membership in order to have a club for the store otherwise I wouldn’t due to their lack of involvement across the board (apparently they told the SF pride 5k that they were unable to offer any sponsorship money)³"