A women-led running group founded by Anna Sanchez and Christina Chairez is bringing women together in Joplin, creating a welcoming and safe space for runners of all ages and abilities.
Sanchez and Chairez began running together in February 2025 and noticed a lack of local running groups that included women their age. While a few groups existed in the area, most were dominated by men or older participants. By July 2025, the two friends decided to create their own group after discussing the idea while working together selling fireworks around the fourth of July.
“We realized it would be really nice to have other girls to run with,” Sanchez said. “Running alone everyday gets boring, and it’s more motivating when you have people with you.”
The girls created social media pages on Facebook and Instagram and quickly scheduled the first meeting. Although they initially expected only close family members to attend, the group grew beyond their expectations.
“We honestly didn’t think it was going to take off like it did,” Chairez said. “I thought it would just be our moms and sisters, but we ended up with a much larger group.”
Running together also addressed concerns about safety, which Chairez said was a major motivation behind forming the group. With Joplin’s many wooded trails, she explained that running alone feels intimidating.
“It’s just more comforting to have someone with you,” Chairez said. “There are a lot of trails here that are hard to use alone, especially when you’re back in the trees.”
Before starting the group, both founders described themselves as new runners. They began training seriously after signing up for a half marathon in April 2025, which required frequent runs and consistent preparation. That experience helped them realize the value of running with others.
Since the groups creation, the founders said they had noticed an increased confidence among their members, especially those who are new to running.
“A lot of people think they have to be really fit to join,” the pair said. “But when they get here, they realize nobody is perfect and everyone is at a different point in their fitness journey.”
They added that the wide range of ages in the group allows new members to find someone they can relate to, whether through shared interests, similar experience levels, or age.
One of the biggest challenges the group currently faces is scheduling, particularly due to weather changes and work schedules. Despite this, the group continues to meet regularly and attract new members.
According to Sanchez and Chairez, new participants often say they are glad they found the group to explore different running locations safely.
When asked to describe the group in one sentence, the founders pointed to their guiding motto: “All girls, all paces, all ages, no pressure-just a fun 5k.”
“There’s no requirement to join,’ Sanchez said. “As long as you’re a girl and you want to get active, that’s all you really need.”
