02 / Where We Started Built on Showing Up
From a handful of friends at the Public Market to a community of hundreds. Every step has been intentional.
On July 4, 2024, after weeks of texts and social media nudges, a group of Black runners laced up at the Rochester Public Market for the club's very first run. Twenty people showed up. They cut through downtown and back again, and the 1% Run Club was born.
The mission was simple: build community while addressing the health disparities Black Americans face. The name came from a shared belief. Real change happens by getting just one percent better than you were the day before.
"There's no initiation. You just show up."
Brandon Pinkins · Founding MemberToday, the Saturday runs draw people from every background. The club recently became a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, expanding its reach into youth programs, wellness camps, and family events while protecting what made it special in the first place: a tight-knit community where everyone is welcome.