New Bolivar Runner’s Club welcomes runners of all types

Whether you’re an accomplished runner or you’ve never set foot inside a running shoe, the Bolivar Runner’s Club will welcome you with open arms. The new club was started in November 2023 by Lori Fritz and Tara Risner as a way to get together with other like-minded people who want to run.

“We call it a fun run because we don’t want it to feel competitive,” said Risner, who owns the Have Shala yoga studio in Bolivar. “We formed the club to have people come together and find accountability, camaraderie, connection and community.”

Fritz agreed. “When you’re accountable to other people, you are less likely to not show up,” she said. “It can be hard to stay motivated, especially during the cold winter months.”

The group meets at Haven Shala every Sunday at 8 a.m., rain or shine, with Fritz determining the route for the day.

“We change it every Sunday. We’ve run in Zoar, on the Towpath Trail and in Wilkshire Hills,” Fritz said. “It helps to have a change of scenery.”

The typical run lasts about an hour, leaving time for runners to return to Haven Shala for a yoga session if they desire.

“Having a yoga class immediately following a run is huge,” Fritz said. “I can’t tell you how much it has helped me, especially my knees, ankles and lower back. I highly recommend it to everyone.”

Risner said she had the idea to start a runner’s club shortly after opening Haven Shala in 2022.

“When we first opened, I wanted Haven Shala to be a health hub for Bolivar and the surrounding area,” she said. “I was thinking I want a runner’s club, I want a kayaking club, I want a biker’s club and I want all these fitness activities here.”

However, she couldn’t find the time while getting the studio up and running. “But word got around that I had this idea for a runner’s club,” Risner said.

Fritz said she contacted Risner as soon as she heard about it and said, “Let’s do it.”

According to Fritz, your age and skill level don’t matter.

“We have a nice mix of age and skill actually, as well as a good mix of men and women,” she said. “In fact, some of us who are a little faster than others will do a wagon wheel where we circle back and jog with some of the slower runners. Again, it’s all about the positivity of everyone getting together and helping each other.”

Since forming, the group has attracted runners not just from Bolivar, but also from Dover, Waynesburg, Magnolia and Canton.

“We’re only 12 minutes from Canton, and this is a safe area for running,” Risner said. “It’s also nice because we’re so accessible from the highway. Once people come here, they realize how nice the town is.”

One of the first to join the club was Kelly Tomblinson. “I got to know Lori last year when she brought back the Strawberry Festival 5k,” she said. “We’ve been running together ever since.”

Tomblinson said she enjoys running because it’s relaxing for her. “I’m not out to run any marathons or anything. I just enjoy it. It helps with anxiety, it’s good exercise, and you get to meet new people and have fun,” she said.

People who want to join the club can do so for free. There are no club dues. Those who want to try a yoga session after their run can do so for $17. Risner also offers a Bolivar Runner’s Club package of five yoga sessions. For more information call Haven Shala at 330-949-3736.

Fritz and Risner are organizing the 2024 Strawberry Festival 5k, which will take place Sunday, June 9. Runners will be able to register online this year. Call Fritz at 330-401-6000.