If you’ve ever sat in your cozy, Brooklyn apartment wanting to meet new people and build deeper connections, Owen Akhibi Herrera, owner of Peak and Pace, may have the solution for you.
Peak and Pace is a social club that hosts weekly running and walking events, as well as social gatherings including comedy shows, ski trips, dance parties and more.
The club was born out of Herrera's need for connection after he moved from London to New York City. He first gathered some friends from his local church for a run on Governors Island in July of 2024. Now, the social club has grown to over 40,000 people, with weekly run/walk events in Prospect Park, which includes people young and old to promote inclusivity and build community.
“I've always been passionate about building community, and running for me felt like the perfect foundation,” explained Herrera. “It's rooted in movement, motivation and connection, and it just felt the natural thing for me to build.”
Running has always been a part of Herrera's life. In fact, in 2000, he said he lost over 60 pounds from running, which made sense for Peak and Pace to begin as a run/walk club and then expand to other activities.
On any given Saturday, you can see people waving flags from various countries like Jamaica, Saint Lucia, Haiti and Puerto Rico as thousands of participants run and walk the Prospect Park loop.
“I have people come up to me and say, ‘You have changed my life. I haven't ran in 10 years...’” Herrera told BK Reader. “It truly changes people's daily lives, because you introduce somebody to the sport of running and to the community, and it changes the whole perspective. It changed my perspective. I was very close to leaving New York, and Peak and Pace made me stay.”
In addition, participants can wear a color wristband based on what they’re searching for: a romance, friendship or networking opportunity. This has made it easier for people to spark conversations throughout the walk or run, he said.
“The very first thing we do whenever people come to our runs is make sure that, if you come with a friend, [or] family member, [that they] leave them alone for two minutes because right now you're about to meet somebody new,” he said. “And what we tend to find is that people that come alone always leave with a friend group.”
Peak and Pace newbie Bria O’Garro, who attended a recent Saturday walk in Prospect Park with a friend, said she had a good time and would be willing to attend another.
“It was really energizing and refreshing just seeing people my age, younger and older for a good cause,” said O’Garro.
Herrera hopes Peak and Pace can become a national and international movement for inclusivity and community, he said.
To celebrate Peak and Pace’s one-year anniversary, the organization is hosting its first-ever marathon on September 6. The 5K race will take place on Governors Island and will bring together the city's finest DJs and runners for a mass event, he said.
