The View from the Back of the Pack – by Karla Gander

I am not a fast runner.

I will never qualify for the Olympics. I will never qualify for Boston. I will not get an overall top three finish at a race.

I can occasionally sneak in an age group award if it’s a small race and the weather is bad and a lot of people decide that staying in a warm bed seems like a better idea than running a race. But you know what? I keep running. Because even though I’m not fast, it brings me joy.

I didn’t start out as a runner. I was a biker during my college years, until someone stole my bike and I couldn’t afford to replace it. But I had some cheap, crappy gym shoes, so I became a runner. I picked up steam with running when I moved from Wisconsin to Tennessee in my twenties, and I did a few races with Knoxville Track Club to meet people with a similar mind set. I was fortunate to run into two people who shared my views of inclusivity in the running community, and I became a member of the Back of the Pack Elite.

The Back of the Pack Elite is an all-inclusive running club. Originally started by Bobby West and Amanda Maynard, BotPE was born after a poor group run experience, and the belief that every kind of runner should be celebrated and supported. I took over leadership a few years ago, but the vision of the club remains: to create on-going support and encouragement for runners of all paces and distances, while celebrating our members’ victories in life, and on the roads and trails we run.

We don’t care if you run a 15-minute or a 50-minute 5k. The point of our club is to be out there, together, being active and encouraging other people to do so as well. Running doesn’t have to be just about paces and PRs. It can be about having fun, building relationships, and enjoying a community of likeminded folks as well.

If you’ve been to a local race since 2019, you’ve probably seen our group in tie-dye or brightly colored shirts, running, volunteering, or cheering in runners at the finish line. We believe every runner should cross a finish line full of support and energy.

If you’re interested in running or looking for a friendly community of runners/walkers, come check out our group run on Mondays at 6pm from Yee-Haw Brewing.

📱 Find us on Facebook: Back of the Pack Elite

📧 Email Karla: [email protected]