CBS 58 Hometowns: Buena Tierra Run Club
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Whether it's your new year's resolution, or you've been doing it for years, running is a great hobby to take up for your health! Even though we’re in the middle of winter, that’s not stopping Buena Tierra Run Club (BTRC) from going out and moving. “We’re the go your own pace, go your own distance run club” shared co-founder Patrick Chaves.
The club was started in November of 2023 after co-founders Patrick Chaves and Mylah Rice ran the Chicago Marathon in 2023. “We came upon this amazing group that looked like us, some black and brown folks that were cheering us on during the hardest part of the race. We said, wow that’s amazing, we love that. We don’t see a lot of people that look like us in this running space… we wanted to highlight the Latino community when we came back to Milwaukee after that race,” said Rice.
Their first few runs started with just a handful of people, slowly growing through the winter, eventually reaching about 200 people at Zocalo Food Truck Park on one of their Wednesday summer runs!
The group is made up of people of all ages and running abilities. Montse Ricossa joined BTRC on Sunday, January 12 when it felt like it was around 15 degrees with some snow coming down. Nonetheless, dozens of runners came out! You could see a couple walking their baby in a stroller for about one mile, a handful of runners doing a 5K, while a select group of other runners took on their training runs of over 6 miles.
Each week, you’ll see some new faces, and some familiar ones too. That includes Fair Kuri-Azamar, who joined BTRC in its first few weeks. He says his first run was when temperatures were about -29 below zero! “In those gloomy Wisconsin winters when you're finding things to do... I just found this club and thought - oh people! I can run with people in the winter!” said Kuri-Azamar.
Running in snow is almost like running in a snow globe, said runner Ana Andrade. She said she started as a way to make friends and loves most the “community and connection” that allows them to form bonds beyond running.
“We do it for the community, we want to see people move, whatever that means to them. Whether it’s walking, running, run-walking... and for them to do it with other people that look like them, I think that’s what keeps them coming back,” explained Rice.
While running is why the group gets together, it’s not why they stay together. The real reason is the community that’s been created. “The fact that other people are going with me… there are people who are willing to be here, choosing to be here, do things that are uncomfortable, but now you’re getting better in the process” explained Kuri-Azamar. Rice added, “it’s cold and windy, my face is gonna hurt. You put on some layers, you get out there, a good playlist and you forget that you’re running!”
Chaves said they wanted to inspire their community to be active, as it’s something he believes isn’t discussed enough in Latino households. Kids “can move their bodies more than playing soccer or something like that. It's something else you can do, and cheaper too. To run you only need shoes, nothing else. You can run everywhere. It's important to move because if you have health, you have life” shared Chaves.
On the run, you’ll hear people cheering, high fiving, laughing, and speaking both English and Spanish. Kuri-Azamar told us it’s a “welcoming feeling” culturally he didn’t have growing up.
Buena Tierra Run Club meets every Wednesday at Zocalo Food Truck Park in the southside of Milwaukee starting at 6 p.m. and on Sundays outside La Finca Coffeehouse in St. Francis starting at 9 a.m. You can follow them on their Facebook and Instagram.