Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Brandee Thomas. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Brandee, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’re complete cheeseballs and so we love asking folks to share the most heartwarming moment from their career – do you have a touching moment you can share with us?
There are two stories that I’d love to share with you! One of them is about Pinellas Run Club, which was started a year ago, back in April 2023. Since then, it has grown into an amazing community that we absolutely adore. One of our original runners has been on a health journey and has made incredible progress by showing up to run club every week, putting in the work, and training with a coach. It’s so inspiring to see her dedication paying off!
The other story is just as heartwarming. We have so many members who haven’t run or walked in years, but they still show up to our weekly meet-ups and are achieving personal bests! It’s wonderful to see everyone supporting each other and celebrating their successes together. As we say, better together!
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
My professional life involves a lot of sitting at a desk on a computer when I am not traveling for work. In my spare time, I love working out and moving my body. I wanted to find a way to balance the sitting with more movement, especially since movement is a passion of mine. One afternoon, I was sitting at a brewery with my husband and pup and thought what a great idea it would be to start a run club. I ran with the idea and a week later started Pinellas Run Club. Our first meetup had seven people, three of whom were me, my mom, and my husband. With word of mouth and a fantastic support system, the family, as we call it, started to grow. We just hit our one-year mark, and it was a wonderful celebration, with local spots attending the celebration. Pinellas Run Club aims to unite people for free movement and connection while supporting the local community. St Pete, FL, has a lot of unique spots and breweries, so we typically change our spot location week after week to add variety for everyone. We have been so lucky to partner with some great individuals and businesses; we know this is only the beginning of Pinellas Run Club! Our motto is better together because it simply is. We encourage all ages and all paces, and yes, walkers too! There is a space for everyone, and we love seeing new faces weekly and our returning family week after week. We have supported local gyms, adding members to their books, supported restaurants/ breweries, and brought hundreds/ thousands of revenue to them, and the list goes on. We hope to have a continuous impact on the individuals and also the community!
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
I truly believe it is simply believing in others and showing them you care. Unfortunately, there is a lot of negativity out there, and people just want to feel loved, heard, and seen. Providing a judgment-free space where they can lean in has helped our family grow. We welcome everyone with open arms, whether they have a 6-minute mile pace or a 30-minute walking pace.
How do you keep your team’s morale high?
Our team is the cornerstone of our growth. We strongly believe in acknowledging and celebrating every achievement, no matter how small or big it is. From birthdays to PRs, we never miss an opportunity to celebrate and maintain our high morale. We always encourage our team members to share their personal goals and milestones so that we can show up and support them. Whether it’s a race or a comedy show, we are always there to cheer them on. Our team is very welcoming, and once you join us, you become a part of our family.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: PinellasRunClub
- Facebook: Pinellas Run Club
- Linkedin: Pinellas Run Club