“What is ‘kudos?’” you may ask. You’ve come to the right spot: It’s how people celebrate each other’s athletic accomplishments on Strava, a social platform where you can keep track of runs, walks, hikes, and other activities. It’s also very much in line with the ethos of East End Run Club, where all runners are celebrated as they train for their goals in a supportive, inclusive environment.
The Southampton-based club was founded by Andrea Frankenbach, who saw that the East End was in need of an organized, year-round running community where people could come together to meet new training partners and tackle goals together. “People want to be part of something that keeps them accountable but also creates a warm, welcoming community,” said Frankenbach.
The group’s first run was on March 6, 2023, and it has steadily grown since then, hosting weekly runs, social events, and occasional “field trips” to run with other clubs. East End Run Club welcomes people of all paces for its organized runs — they meet at the Southampton Publick House on Mondays at 6 PM for a 5K (3.1 miles), and they host longer runs on the weekends. “At the end of the day, we want people to hit their personal running goals in a supportive setting,” said Frankenbach.
James Lane Post chatted with Frankenbach about East End Run Club, her reasons for starting the program, and the benefits of training with a community.
What inspired you to start East End Run Club?
We started as a local group of runners that live year-round on the East End. Our original group of runners were a group of friends that would visit other great run clubs up the island. We were attracted to [the other clubs’] inclusive vibe. People ran, walked, trained for marathons, or trained for their first 5K. We realized that the East End was in need of a supportive year-long community that encourages runners of all paces to achieve their individual goals.
What do you think draws people to the club?
Runners are attracted to East End Run Club because we welcome all paces. Everyone from beginners to seasoned runners is embraced. We are also a social run club where every Monday night, we hang out after our weekly 5K for a beverage at Publick House.
Can you talk about the importance of being a year-round run club and serving that community need?
The great thing about the East End is that there are so many effective, friendly, and welcoming fitness communities, but as the summer season winds down, they tend to lose attendance. I felt like Southampton needed not only a consistent platform for runners throughout the year but also a social group where people could make friends, share goals, and support one another. We always say that running is an individual sport, but we build off of each other so much better as a team. Everyone could benefit from a community to fuel their individual goals.
What can people expect when they show up for a Monday evening run?
We have a summer route and a winter route. There is no need to worry about getting lost — someone will always be near you for the run if you’re just getting started, and if you’re a real speed racer, we have some fast people who will show you the way to lead our pack with them. You can listen to music or chat on your run. It’s up to you. Afterward, we take our picture and then head inside Publick House for a beverage and some socialization.
You can follow East End Run Club on Instagram @eastendrunclub to stay up to date on running and social events, as well as learn more about the planned long run routes. The group is also on Strava as East End Run Club.