Pace Makers: Inside the Ottawa-Gatineau run club community
Ottawa is home to one of the most active running scenes in Canada. You can find a growing list of local run clubs here.
Spotlight on Hull Sunday Run Day: Building Community, one run at a time
Highlighting the dedication and achievements of local run clubs and crews brings their stories to the forefront. Near or far, a love for running connects us all to an amazing global running community. This month we’re featuring Hull Sunday Run Day. We chatted with their run lead Zackery Liberty to learn more about the run club, and here’s what he shared with us…
Hull Sunday Run Day officially launched on Sunday, May 12, 2024. After joining various run clubs in the Outaouais region, Liberty realized there was a gap in the Hull area for a regular weekend run club that could bring the community together. His vision for Hull Sunday Run Day truly came to life after discovering Bobino Bagel, where their runs depart from every week.
Over the summer, as Liberty participated in races and other community runs, He connected with many people looking for a club like Hull Sunday Run Day, a welcoming and consistent group to join every weekend. Since then, they’ve built a solid core of regular runners who show up every week, and on some weekends this past summer, over 30 runners would attend on Sunday morning! Their members reflect a range of ages, backgrounds, and experience levels, from seniors to families with young children.
The ‘vibe’ of Hull Sunday Run Day is all about inclusivity and community. Runners of all abilities are welcome, and while people show up to run, they stay for the camaraderie over coffee and bagels. It’s been rewarding for Liberty to see people building friendships and connections each week.
One of the highlights for Liberty from this past summer was the launch of their HSRD t-shirts. Making the club a non-profit venture has been important to him from the beginning. That’s why they partnered with Base Gatineau, the local food bank in Hull, to donate 100% of their proceeds to support those in need in the community. Hull Sunday Run Day proudly wore their tees to the last event in the 2024 Saturday 5K Series, where they even won the award for the club with the most spirit!
Hull Sunday Run Day meets every Sunday at 9:00 a.m. at Bobino Bagel in Hull, right across from the Canadian Museum of History. You can find more information by checking out their instagram account: hull.sunday.run.day.