This is a continuation of our Move Outdoors series, where we highlight individuals who inspire others to get outside and connect with nature through movement and exercise. Know someone who we should feature? Email news@bcparksfoundation.ca.

MEET VINCENT KUBER FROM STEEL TOWN ATHLETIC CLUB

I’m Vincent Kuber from Hamilton, Ontario. I’m a gym manager by day and when I’m not doing that, I’m part of a run club called Steel Town Athletic Club (STAC). We do trail running mostly, and we are inclusive to getting new people out and running trails as well. We provide that safe space where it doesn’t matter if you’re slow or your pace isn’t up there – we’re not going to leave you behind.

Our group’s grown from 5, 10 people showing up, to 30 to 40 now on a Sunday morning group run. We have separated pack leads, so each pace group has a person that knows the trails and will keep the entire group together, so it’s sort of strategic how we manage it on trails as well.

Everyone has a good time and loves to laugh and before you know it, you’ve done a 10 km run, a good solid workout, outdoors and on the trails.

I created this space to help everyone feel more comfortable and experience the outdoors. Being a person of colour, this is important to me because I needed a space where I felt included. So, a few solid humans that felt the same joined me in my mission to make the outdoors for all. By all I mean BIPoC, 2SLGBTQ+ folks and anyone that is dealing with mental health that could use this opportunity to better themselves. It’s not about speed, distance or competition; being outside with a supportive group of likeminded folks is an amazing feeling.

GETTING OUTSIDE IN HAMILTON, ONTARIO

I like keeping busy with the family at home, with my partner and two boys. One plays basketball and the other one – we’ll see what he’s going to be up to. We just try to enjoy the outdoors as much as possible before it gets too cold to do that!

Hamilton has a large number of waterfalls, so going on a trail run, just 20 minutes away from my place, we can visit 4 amazing waterfalls just on a 10 km trail run. We definitely take advantage of that and appreciate everything that we have that not everyone else does.

ON TRAIL RUNNING

I got started about 3 years ago. It’s better on the body because you’re running on dirt or gravel. I just like the challenge of the elevation of hill climbing and the fact that the terrain can change from flat dirt to rocky climbs to mighty downhills, all within 1 km of a 10 km run.

It’s more of a workout, it’s more challenging, it’s more mentally stimulating. All your senses are firing, like your vision. You’re always having to scan, you have to look at the ground to make sure you’re not going to trip on anything. It’s more challenging and it’s less stressful than road running, given the dangers of the road or just getting in the way of pedestrians, or bicycles. All that’s removed, and you’re now focused on the trail ahead.

I’ve found that it’s more beneficial overall. It’s a little bit of a trek as you can’t just open your door and you’re there, you have to drive 15 to 25 minutes away to a parking lot that leads off into a trail. So you have to make time for that, but I just find it more rewarding and easier on the body, and easier to get that escape, because you’re in the woods, so you’re not dealing with the city traffic and you’re not seeing cars everywhere. It sort of gives you a little vacation away from that, from your daily routine.

THE INSPIRATION BEHIND STEEL TOWN ATHLETIC CLUB (STAC)

I enjoy running, and over the pandemic (and I guess before the pandemic and lockdowns), I started getting into trail running more, and just started enjoying the fact that there’s no traffic and no people to worry about.

You’re out in nature so you’re more surrounded by, or distracted by a bird chirping, or a squirrel rustling in the bush. That’s your distraction now, right?

So, it’s more peaceful, more energizing. Once you get into trail running, or at least hiking, you can get into that meditative state where you’re moving, but you’re able to think clearly. It turns into a good opportunity for me to spend at least an hour doing it so that I can think clearly. It just sort of helps clear thoughts and you’re spending time moving, so it’s kind of cool how far you can take it from hiking.

STAC ACTIVITIES

Right now, trail running is how it started, then we sort of formed a community through that network of trail runners, and it formed into what it is now.

And now with the ups and downs of lockdowns–fingers crossed for 2022–we can do more sooner. We plan on playing all inclusive softball, maybe a soccer match, maybe a basketball match. We’re all somewhat athletic types who would of course be down for a Sunday basketball tournament for like, 4 hours or something, you know, hanging out, shooting some hoops, right?

So those are all in the works, but nothing ever happened with the ups and downs of lockdowns. So we’re going to focus on running, because its outdoors, its socially distant, and we’re all being safe. When we’re gathering, we’re all in a big group circle. We run in small packs so were not all gathered in the 30s or 40s at all. If anything happens, there’s always people to support that person, and make sure that they finish strong or get whatever they need for support.

ON FORMING A RUN CLUB THAT’S FOR EVERYONE

Because of the help of other runners and the community (we call them pack leads), we have different options from Monday to Friday.

Monday and Tuesday are 5 km runs (Bayfront Park and Chedoke Trail Run), and they are entry level. It’s around 2.5 km for a straight, simple out and back for a 5 km that’s led by a run lead. It’s not a challenging pace – if you want to walk, it’s cool, because soon you as you hit 2.5 km, you just turn around and the run lead always makes sure everyone we start with, we finish with, no pressure as well. You can’t get lost and we all run as a group more or less. We pass each other, if anything.

Wednesdays and Fridays are rest days. On Thursdays, we do a 10 km elevation trail run; we do hill repeats, so it’s an elevation workout. On Saturdays we do a 15-21 km trail run and on Sundays we do a 10 km trail run, so that’s quite the schedule!

We’re getting new members all the time, like every week, because it’s spread by word of mouth too. If you show up, and you enjoyed it, next week you might want to bring a buddy or someone else to experience it with.

It’s sort of turning into that, so now there are little packs of friend groups formed, so it makes the run more social and enjoyable, and before they know it, they don’t realize they’re doing it for fun. When people sometimes train to do a race, we don’t realize what we’re doing is fun, right?

ADVICE for THOSE WANTING TO GET STARTED WITH OUTDOOR EXERCISE AND TRAIL RUNNING

You can go on our social media and follow us as well as our Facebook run group. We always post information, not just about run sign ups, but helpful information, like winter preparation tips. For example, we might post that now is a good time to look into trail shoes or look into getting spikes if you want to come in for winter running.

We want to keep people running all year round as much as possible and want to make sure they’re prepared. Its very information based – there’s lots already there and it’s an open space forum to just ask your new-person-questions. We’ll definitely help you out because we want to see you out there, but also want to make sure you’re safe and prepared.