Mahomet Residents Find Community Through Exercise
- Jun 19
- 3 min read
For two groups in Mahomet, exercise provides a perfect opportunity to find community and meet fitness goals. The Mahomet-Seymour Women’s Walking Club and Mahomet Area Running Club both invite individuals to come together for scheduled walks and runs, respectively, as a way to connect while also exercising.
Ali Kreider, who was inspired by similar groups on social media, created the walking club in 2024. She was particularly motivated to get “women...moving in whatever ways work for them,” as women sometimes face barriers to fitness such as time constraints, kids at home, or gym intimidation. Kreider notes that walking is an inclusive, cost-free means of movement with a low barrier to entry. For the group, this often means that people walk their dogs or moms push their strollers while joining in on the community walk. The group primarily meets spring through fall for walks around 2 miles in length, in Mahomet’s parks, forest preserves, and neighborhoods.
The Mahomet Area Running Club (MARC) has met for over 3 years, now running together 2-3 times per week for runs about 4-6 miles in length, often concluding with a meal together. On Saturdays, the group members run varying distances and speeds, but because they use a loop route, runners can see others no matter their speed. The group has grown to include 281 members on Facebook, with about 50 people who actively participate in runs, races, and destination events throughout the year.
Both groups report that their communities have expanded beyond planned fitness meetups. Friends who met in the walking club, for example, might start taking early morning walks on their own. MARC routinely organizes activities beyond running, from group brunches to yoga workshops. Members have even traveled to other cities to run races together, most notably to Las Vegas (for the Rock N Roll half marathon) and Detroit (for the Detroit Free Press International, a half marathon that crosses into Canada).
Organizers of both groups agree that connections shared between members are the most special part of community exercise. As MARC’s Nicole Wellman put it, “What started as a group of companion runners has become family. Whenever someone new joins, I’m always happy for them because I know that they have walked into something special.”
Both groups are active on social media and are always open to new members. The M-S Women’s Walking Club can be found on Instagram and Facebook. Mahomet Area Running Club has an informational website and active Facebook page, and prospective members can also reach out to Wellman with any questions at nicole@nicolewellmaninsurance.com. Follow the groups to learn about scheduled meetups, and give community exercise a try this summer!
Interested in other ways to exercise in Mahomet?
Mahomet Parks & Recreation offers adult sports leagues including basketball, softball, co-ed volleyball and pickleball; as well as group classes like dance fitness and yoga.
There are three full-service fitness gyms in town. Barbell Barn (903 S Sunny Acres Road) is a local business that also offers personal training and an array of equipment suitable for powerlifters, bodybuilders and beginners alike. Fitness Premier (1706 Patton Drive) is a national chain with group fitness classes, personal and group training, and cardio and strength equipment. No Limit Fitness (2107 Tin Cup Road) is a cross-training gym that offers personal training, group training, and kids classes.
