AAPI-Centered Running Clubs and Groups
The New York City area is home to a number of running clubs and crews centered on Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) identity. We spoke to members of three of them about how they’re honoring AAPI Heritage Month, their clubs’ histories and identities, and more.
There are other AAPI-centered clubs in the area, and we list several more at the bottom of this article. You can search our database of local clubs, teams, and crews here.
Adobo Social and Anti-Social Athletic Club
Adobo Social and Anti-Social Athletic Club takes its name from a way of preparing Filipino food. “Adobo can be anything—the main characteristic is that it includes garlic, soy, and vinegar,” said founder and president Jud Santos.
Jud was born in the Philippines, moved to New Jersey with his family in the 1980s, and later relocated to NYC. When he started running in his new home, he rarely saw other runners who looked like him.
“As a Filipino, and BIPOC runner in general, I stood out,” he said. He never was harassed and rarely felt threatened, but he couldn’t find a club that truly embraced diversity. So, in 2009, he started Adobo.
“We like to say that the only requirement to join is that you like Filipino food—and if you haven’t tried it, we’re happy to share,” he said.
“Having ‘adobo’ in the name was meant to [draw] Filipino runners, because at the time there was no Filipino running club that I was aware of,” he added. “It didn’t completely work out that way—the club includes Filipino runners, but we haven't managed to attract them in droves.”
He added, "We cultivate diversity, and any runner is always welcome. At the Berlin Marathon a few years ago, we had five runners who were from five different countries.”
Adobo has two workouts a week, a “social” group run and an “anti-social” speed workout. (“It’s meant to be tongue in cheek,” said Jud.) The group also gets together once a month for a picnic or restaurant meal.
“Many clubs are centered on cultural, racial, or ethnic identity; we reflect the diversity of NYC,” said Jud. “I might not necessarily meet this range of people in other settings, but through Adobo, I do.”
Learn more about Adobo here and check out an NYRR Running Route with members of the club here.
Asian Trail Mix
Asian Trail Mix was born out of a belief that trail running—an activity that’s predominantly white and non-urban—can and should be accessible to all.
“The idea is to have trail running not be intimidating,” said Samantha Dong, who started the group in May 2022. She'd taken up running a year earlier and tried a few trail runs, where she seldom saw other AAPI runners.
“Trail running isn’t accessible to many AAPI runners. We live in cities, we don’t have cars, we may not be familiar with getting out of our own neighborhoods.” said Samantha, who lives in Manhattan. “The goal is to increase inclusion, participation, and representation of runners of color, especially AAPI, in trail running."
The first Asian Trail Mix (ATM) run was held on the bridle paths in Central Park. “We met at Columbus Circle, we had different paces including run/walk, we hung out and ate snacks after the run,” she said.
Since then, ATM has held monthly runs in parks all over NYC including Queens’ Forest Park (pictured above), Brooklyn’s Prospect Park, Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx, and the Staten Island Greenbelt, as well as at South Mountain Reservation in New Jersey and Mt. Beacon in Dutchess County, NY.
On May 13, they’ll have an anniversary run and AAPI Heritage Month celebration trail run in Cold Spring, NY.
“We organize transportation so everyone who wants to come can do so,” said Samantha. “We love it when people experience something they’ve never done before, when they say, ‘I didn’t know this existed.’” The group has partnered with Salomon to hold clinics on trail running including guidance on uphill and downhill form, trail etiquette, equipment, reading trail markers, and more.
Runs draw up to 75 people, and there are 200+ in ATM’s Heylo group. They connect with other running clubs such as Brooklyn Trail Club. “As we’ve grown, we’ve found so many connections. It’s been very grassroots,” she said. ATM has no membership fees and is open to all.
Samantha said that like all new runners, new AAPI trail runners are looking to feel confident and have fun. “As a relatively new runner myself, I understand that. We do everything we can to give them confidence and make it fun.”
Asian Trail Mix photo by Gary Dean Clarke (@garydeanclarke) and used with permission of Asian Trail Mix.
Follow and connect with ATM on Instagram.
Bergen Runners
Bergen Runners, a running group in northern New Jersey, is home to many first-generation Chinese American runners. “Bergen Runners is one way to express two things that are very important to us: running and our Asian American identity,” said Amy Ko-Tang, a member and the group run coordinator. “Our purpose is to get together, run, and provide a comfortable setting to connect culturally.”
Founded in 2017, the group has about 200 members and holds weekly runs attended by dozens. This year, Amy and about 20 other members ran the Boston Marathon, cheered on by about 15 teammates along the route.
“We celebrate athleticism and camaraderie,” she said. “If we’re not running, we’re cheering for our members and other clubs—our cheering crews cheer and support all. We share our resources as others have done for us. The support is transcending and bonding all at once.”
Running with Bergen Runners and other AAPI-centered clubs helps counter stereotypes, she said. “The stereotype is that we’re not athletic, not strong. Running gives us a way to defy that.”
AAPI identity is central to Bergen Runners, she added. “[AAPI people] are asking for visibility. We want to be seen and heard, not invisible or a stereotype. As runners we are strong, athletic, fun, humorous, and we love to engage and give back. We love being part of a rich and diverse community.”
The visibility and strength of Bergen Runners and other AAPI-centered run clubs is a sign of progress, said Amy, but she noted that some AAPI runners, especially women, still have safety concerns when they run. “We worry about running alone in some locations, and that’s unfortunate."
She added that for her, running plays an important role in mental health. “I have a history of mental health issues in my family—my uncle committed suicide. We don’t talk about it in our culture, but I’m acutely aware it’s in my DNA and I have to take active steps to manage it. Connecting with others through running is vital for me.”
Learn more about Bergen Runners here and read a 2022 blog post about their "Loops of Love" 1,869-mile relay run here. The event will take place again this year in late May; stay tuned for details.
{chinatown} Runners
Founded in 2021, {chinatown} Runners “is a grassroots social activism movement focused on creating safe spaces for AAPI/ESEA/BIPOC athletes and promoting inclusivity, cultural diversity and acceptance in the world of amateur running,” according to the group’s website. Global in scope, {chinatown} Runners hosts monthly activations that unite running groups worldwide.
Check out an NYRR Running Route with NYC members of {chinatown} Runners here.
Misty Mountain Runners
Misty Mountain Runners members hail from all over the NYC-metro area and take on all types of races and distances, from 5Ks to ultras. "From dim sum in Chinatown to potluck parties, from training to volunteering, members play and support each other in all conditions," reads the group's Facebook page.
Old Man Run Club
Old Man Run Club, a group with a large AAPI representation, bills itself as “a casual running club that meets Saturday mornings for long runs… We welcome all levels and it's not just for men.”
Runners High with Bala
Based in Edison, NJ, Runners High with Bala has a large representation of Indian American runners. The group seeks to “drive impact to hundreds of amazing human beings around the world through the medium of long-distance running,” according to its website, and offers training with RRCA-certified coaches.
Find more NYC-area clubs here.