The Miles That Bind
By Ava Bourbeau
Run clubs have been on the up and up over the past few years. What started as informal gatherings of a few passionate runners has metamorphosed into structured, inclusive communities that draw hundreds of participants across cities nationwide. Of course, some run clubs have a reputation for being glorified dating app replacements. We like to believe that most of them focus more on scoring Strava kudos than scoring … well, you know.
Take Celis Run Club. You may remember us writing about them two years ago in our inaugural Active Issue, and, while it may at first seem redundant, we decided to run it back.
Based in West Palm Beach, Alex Celis, founder and co-owner of Celis Juice Bar, started a run club in 2020 as a way for a couple of friends and regulars to meet up and rack some miles. Two years ago, the group had an average attendance of 30 or so runners. Now, close to 300 runners show up every week.
“I think people are looking for unique social gatherings. Run clubs are great because you’re gathering with like-minded individuals who care about health and wellness,” Alex said.
Whether you’re a negative-split-chaser, a run-walker, or just looking for a third place that isn’t a drain on your bank account, Celis Run Club has a spot for you. Plus, reaching your running goals, breaking a sweat, or just having an excuse to get outside is infinitely easier when surrounded by people chasing similar aims.
“Run Club has made me more accountable. I owe it to myself and my community to show up every week and run and set new goals and achieve those goals,” Alex said. Through this community and encouragement, Alex ran his first half marathon in 2023 and the New York City Marathon in 2024. It’s safe to assume there will be more finisher medals in 2025.
Celis Run Club has so much clout that they’ve been able to collab with other big names, local businesses, and national brands. “We’ve been really blessed, we worked with Sofi Tukker, they did a release party for their new album called BREAD, the vibe and energy was amazing and we brought something new and different to our community. Runners still talk about that night to this day. We’ve worked with brands like Vuori, Vacation Sunscreen, Raw Nutrition, CityPickle, lululemon, and local non-profits, gyms and businesses,” Alex said.
The Celis success is not only showing up at Run Club, they’re also expanding with Celis Juice Bar locations. At the end of last year, they opened a new spot in Delray Beach — just blocks from the Atlantic Current office, no less.
They’ve been gradually sprinkling in a few runs in Delray Beach, and we can only hope that trend continues — for our sake. If you’re interested in lacing up with the Club, check out their Instagram where they post the schedule for the month with times, distances and locations.
