The Rise of the Mobile Town Square by Steve Schallenkamp
Onteora Runners Club members share a warm post-run delicious breakfast at Steve & Pat Johnson’s home—grateful for their generous hospitality after the “Three-Car Garage” Breakfast Run.
🏃♂️ The Mobile Town Square: Running, Community, and Connection in the Mid-Hudson Valley
Over the years, I've seen running becoming more commercialized, with more emphasis on medal size, swag, and the "runner's experience." Bigger and "hype" seemed to be replacing soul and community. Local running clubs seem to be the only organizations holding the line against this increasing encroachment. Now I see in the Mid-Hudson Valley running scene a quiet, stubborn rebellion. It isn't happening in the multi-million-dollar races like the Abbot Six Star World Marathon Majors with its corporate boardrooms; it's happening on the roads and trails of our local area. It's built on a concept I call the "mobile town square." While I see it most clearly through the bond between the Shawangunk Runners Club (SRC) and the Onteora Runners Club (ORC), this spirit is currently defining our entire region.
🌄 A Different Kind of Running Culture
These clubs have turned running into an exercise in egalitarianism. Take this past Saturday, February 7th. Despite the biting -5 degree temperatures, runners gathered for the Onteora Runners Club "Three-Car Garage" Breakfast Run. The name refers to the upscale neighborhood the route hits, but the event itself is the opposite of exclusive. It's free and open to everyone—no membership, no bibs, no fees. Just show up and run.
☕ Where the Real Magic Happens
The real magic happened afterward, when we sought refuge from the cold in a local home—this time, the kitchen of Pat and Steve Johnson. To an outsider, it looks like a simple potluck. But those of us in this community know the work involved. Hosting a crowd of frozen athletes is a labor-intensive act of love. The Johnsons spend hours prepping food and opening their private space to a literal mob. Even the leadership gets their hands dirty; ORC President Diana Karron was there as the chief kitchen assistant. In this community, leadership doesn't look like a title—it looks like wearing an apron and serving coffee to a shivering newcomer.
🤝 Sistership Over Status
In that crowded kitchen, the vibe was one of "sistership." I use that word intentionally because it's deeper than "networking." It's where the sweat of a sub-zero run turns into the shared warmth of a meal. At that table, your job title doesn't matter. Whether you're a CEO or an hourly worker, you're just another runner thawing out over a plate of food.
💪 The Backbone of Toughness
This kind of grit—the ability to face a frozen road and then offer genuine hospitality—reminds me of the toughness I grew up with. My mother was only 5'2" and 100 pounds soaking wet, but she was "tough" in a way that had nothing to do with muscle. She was a young widow raising five rug rats. She didn't have the luxury of opting out; she had to show up, do the work, and look out for the person next to her. That was the quintessential baby boomer upbringing, and it's the same backbone I see in these clubs.
🏡 It Takes All of Us
We've all heard that it takes a village to raise a child, but looking around that kitchen, I realized it takes all of us to sustain a community. For someone dealing with loss, isolation, or just the heavy lifting of daily life, these clubs offer a scaffolding. They offer a place where you are seen, expected, and supported. It's the quiet discipline of showing up for one another that keeps you going when your own strength falters.
🌉 A Regional Movement
I'm seeing this same cooperation across the river in Dutchess County. The established Mid-Hudson Road Runners Club (MHRRC) and the newer Eastern Dutchess Road Runners Club (EDRRC) are working together rather than in silos. Further south, the Orange County Runners Club (OCRC) has fully embraced this model, acting as a regional connector. The lines are blurring; "my club" is becoming "our community." When one club holds a race, members of the other clubs show up to volunteer or run. It's a regional sistership with no borders.
🔥 Competition and Community
Don't get me wrong—the racing still matters. We still want to see who's fast and test ourselves against the clock. But today, that competitive fire burns alongside a communal one. We race hard, but we support each other harder.
🎗️ Running With Purpose
Finally, these clubs use their non-profit status to weave themselves into the fabric of the area. Nearly all our events serve a dual purpose: while we're out mastering the miles, the clubs are raising funds for local charities. The road isn't just a place to exercise; it's where we build a community on the move.
❤️ The Heart of It All
By choosing sisterhood and cooperation over commercialization or being the most dominant club in the region, we know that Mid-Hudson running is more than just a trite, self-centered exercise. When we sat down for breakfast at the Johnsons', I think we all felt that sense of connection and realized that the heart of local running is this sense of community. When we sat down, we were not just warming our hands and filling our bellies; we were reinforcing bonds that hold us together. It's simple: you show up, you work hard, and you make sure there's always a seat for the next person coming in from the cold.
