Why Group Runs Matter More Than We Sometimes Realize

By: Greg Koch

I love a group run. I’ve been leading them for more than 11 years here in Sioux Falls, and some of my closest friendships and favorite memories trace back to those shared miles. Countless runs to Falls Park and back from our shop have shaped not just my personal journey, but the principles that guide our business today. That isn’t lip service — it’s reality. Running, and especially running together, has deepened my understanding of what truly makes our store special.

Over the years, I've also enjoyed watching runners gather all across Sioux Falls. Small packs meeting at trailheads, sidewalks, coffee shops, and parking lots. That’s a beautiful thing — people finding movement, rhythm, and connection on their own terms.
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At the same time, something broader has been happening. We’re increasingly operating in silos. It’s harder than it used to be to bring groups together in shared spaces, even when connection is something we all want more of.

With Christmas here, I’ve been thinking a lot about the moments that make the season so special to me:

• The joy of school recitals filled with family and friends.
• Warm meals shared around a table.
• Cruising around town and viewing light decorations across the city.
• Thoughtful gifts exchanged with people we love.
• Card games with aunts and uncles, sleeping Papa's in Lay-Z-Boy chairs with football on TV, all happening with a warm fire in the fireplace, and fresh baked goodness flowing from the kitchen.    

These moments remind us that being together matters — that shared experiences shape us in ways nothing else can.

When a group run goes right, it captures that same spirit — and it does it year-round.

A great group run isn’t about pace or distance. It isn’t about having the “perfect” workout. It’s about showing up. It’s about choosing to be part of something shared, even when it feels easier to stay comfortable and do your own thing.

Most people who hesitate to join a group run are worried about the same things:

• Am I too slow?
• Am I too fast?
• Will I fit in?

​What’s rarely realized is how many others are feeling the exact same way.

Running is simply the vessel.

It’s the thing that brings us together, lowers barriers, and reminds us of the best parts of the human experience. When people with different backgrounds, abilities, goals, and stories move side by side — even for 30 minutes — something shifts.

• Conversations happen.
• Confidence grows.
• Community takes shape.

That’s the magic.

And it doesn’t happen without people choosing to show up.

Every time someone joins a group run, they help make the space more welcoming for the next person who’s nervous, unsure, or standing on the fence. They help turn an individual activity into a shared experience. They help bring our four pillars — movement, coaching, events, and community — to life in a very real way.

Group runs aren’t about having your best run of the week.

They’re about being part of something bigger than yourself.

Runners never regret going on a run once it’s over. And more often than not, the runs we remember most aren’t the fast ones — they’re the ones we shared.

At 605 Running Company, we believe running is at its best when it brings people together. We’re grateful for every person who chooses to show up, run alongside others, and help build the kind of community that reminds us why we started doing this in the first place.