Tyler Dixson was living in Beaumont and while getting in his daily run, he would come across other runners, or those on a bike. And no matter how tired they were, there was a moment where the two would make eye contact or wave or even say, “hello.”
But when the Orange native moved back home and began running, he more than often found himself running by himself. He missed those moments, those positive gestures.
So he went to social media and invited people to run with him. And the Orange Texas Run Club was born.
“We had 11 people show up 10 weeks ago for our first run,” the 27 year old said. Admitting, “five of them were family members.”
But on Tuesday night, there were 104 people of all ages laced up. “I’d say the ages ranged from 7 to 60. We get a chance to visit and make new friends, and then we get to exercise. It also gives people the security about not having to run alone.”
The group has been meeting at Starbucks on 16th Street each Tuesday around 6:30pm. They run down the sidewalk to Green Ave. and then turn around and come back. Dixson says the distance is about 3.5 miles and everyone is invited.
“Some walk, some run and some walk and run,” he said. “People wave and honk and we smile and wave back. It’s just been a real positive experience so far.”
-Gary Stelly, KOGT-
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