NASHVILLE, Tenn. — In Nashville, running is becoming about far more than miles and finish lines.
Across the city, run clubs are growing rapidly, drawing people together from different backgrounds, neighborhoods, and experience levels. What began as a simple way to exercise has evolved into something deeper.
At the center of many of these connections is The Exchange Running Collective, a running-focused retail and community hub in East Nashville that emphasizes culture and inclusivity over competition.
But according to founder’s and husband/wife duo James and Lauren Osborne, the real story isn’t about the store itself. Their story is about the people who make Nashville’s running community thrive.
Before opening The Exchange Running Collective, Osborne and her husband James spent years working within the running and athletic industry. But it was during the COVID-19 pandemic that their perspective on community shifted.
“We worked in the industry our whole lives,” Lauren Osborne explained. “I worked in running stores previously while James worked with Nike through retail, customer service, marketing and eventually straight up the ladder to management.”
The pandemic highlighted just how much people rely on in-person connection. That was when their lifelong dream of owning and operating a running store came full circle.
“We found ourselves, one, isolated, but also more behind computers than actually in running communities,” Osborne said. “We realized how much people were craving community and needed a space to create culture and invite people in.”
East Nashville, known for its strong support of local businesses and vibrant arts scene was the perfect fit for The Osborne’s to bring their store to life.
While The Exchange Running Collective operates as a retail space, Osborne says its mission goes far beyond selling products.
“We have shoes, apparel, nutrition, accessories and gear that you need,” she said. “But we really aren’t a store that pushes products. We push running.”
The store is intentionally designed to remove the pressure many people feel when walking into specialty shops.
“We focus on helping people create a love for running and eventually we know they’re going to be seeking the products that keep it fun and keep their bodies healthy.”
For newcomers, especially those intimidated by running culture, that approach can make a big difference.
For many people, starting a running journey can feel overwhelming.
The Exchange Running Collective recognized a need for running to be accessible to all and recently launched a program specifically for beginners called The First Mile.
“It’s a running group that meets on Monday nights for beginners only.” Osborne said.
The space set out to create a welcoming entry point for people who might otherwise feel intimidated and unsure of how to start his or her running journey.
“We really want people to be able to show up that have never run a mile and feel confident that they’re not just going to get left behind,” she added.
Across Nashville, run clubs have exploded in popularity. But the volunteers who organize them often work quietly behind the scenes.
Osborne says those leaders deserve far more recognition than they typically receive and even mentioned most do it entirely for free.
To celebrate those efforts, The Exchange Running Collective recently hosted an event recognizing local run club organizers, providing dinner and new running shoes as a thank-you.
Many of those clubs serve as vital community spaces not just for runners but for groups of people that share something in common.
Their event hosted founders of running clubs including Nice Jewish Runners, Muslim Run Club, Black Girls Run, Black Men Run and so many more.
“These are groups that become safe spaces for people that might be thinking about wanting to run,” Osborne shared. “They might want to find people that look like them or identify with them.”
For many runners, finding a group where they feel comfortable can make all the difference.
Beyond the miles logged each week, the larger goal of the community is to create meaningful impact.
“Our mission is to use running as a platform to create change in people’s lives, culture and society,” Osborne said.
Rather than focusing solely on traditional races or competitive goals, the organization regularly hosts unique community events designed to challenge runners in new ways.
“We have one event called Shortest Day of the Year, Longest Run of Your Life,” Osborne said. “It’s where we just have loops and people can come out and try to run the farthest they’ve ever run.”
The concept shifts the focus inward and allows runners to become in competition with themselves rather than those around them.
“It’s not a race against everyone else,” she said. “Everyone is working towards their own goal simultaneously!”
One of the most impactful programs hosted through The Exchange Running Collective is a youth track initiative held during the summer.
The Kids Summer Track Program serves as one of Lauren’s favorite events held through the business.
The program welcomes children ages four through thirteen and introduces them to both track and trail running.
In the past, the turnout has been remarkable. “We’ve had up to 200 kids before,” Osborne expressed.
For those interested in joining Nashville’s growing running scene, The Exchange Running Collective regularly hosts events and community runs.
More information can be found on their website or on Instagram.
As run clubs continue to expand across Nashville, Lauren and her husband, James, hopes even more people will discover what the community knows that running isn’t just about speed or distance.
It’s about connection.
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