Today we’d like to introduce you to Giovana Garcia.
Hi Giovana, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started running because I wanted to meet people and build a healthier habit, but I knew the typical club or bar scene was not for me. I already went to the gym, but the gym did not offer the same sense of interaction or community as running with a group.
Even then, I was guarded. I would show up, complete the run, and leave as soon as it ended. I wanted connection, but I was still avoiding actually getting to know people. Eventually, I found a smaller community that was serious about running, and I decided to give it a chance. Over time, consistently showing up helped me become more open, and I began forming genuine friendships little by little.
During my first year in the running community, someone very close to me was involved in a life-changing car accident and sustained a spinal cord injury. I became his caregiver while also raising my children and managing the rest of my responsibilities. He had limited resources and very few people showing up for him in the ways he truly needed.
Experiencing a spinal cord injury so closely changed the way I viewed movement. Running was no longer only a healthy habit or a way to socialize. I began to understand that the ability to move is a gift, and that access, support, and inclusion can make a life-changing difference for someone.
It also changed my understanding of community. Community became more than gathering around a shared interest. It meant recognizing when someone needed help, using the resources available to you, and being willing to take action when life became difficult.
That need is what led to the creation of CITY RUN. We organized our first race to raise money for the physical therapy he needed. What began as a fundraiser showed me what can happen when people come together around a meaningful purpose. It also made me realize that CITY RUN could grow into something that served more than one person or one circumstance.
This year, we hosted the race for a second time, and I was intentional with every detail. We wanted the event to feel welcoming, purposeful, and inclusive. We collaborated with vendors, run clubs, and organizations that shared that vision. I wanted people to leave understanding that movement is a gift and that everyone deserves the opportunity to participate, connect, and feel supported.
Today, I am shaping CITY RUN into more than a yearly race. It is becoming a movement where people can show up to run, walk, train for a race, find resources, release stress, or simply connect with others, regardless of their pace, experience, or ability. We are creating opportunities for people of all backgrounds and abilities to move together. I am also grateful for Chris and Larry, who are part of the CITY RUN start team and continue to support me as I bring this vision to life.
When we say community, we mean community in its fullest sense. Sometimes someone needs a training partner. Sometimes they need a healthy outlet during a difficult season. Sometimes they need access to a resource, a conversation, or simply a reason to keep showing up. CITY RUN is meant to be a place where people can find those things without feeling like they have to fit a certain image of what a runner should look like.
I started as someone looking for a place to connect but leaving before anyone could truly know me. Today, I am creating the kind of space that encourages people to stay.
I now have the privilege of calling some of the people I met through running my friends. As a single mother and former caregiver, I understand how much of a difference it makes to know that you do not have to carry everything by yourself. It takes a village to create meaningful change, and CITY RUN is my way of helping build that village…one person, one mile, and one act of showing up at a time.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has not been a completely smooth road. One of the biggest challenges has been learning how to put myself out there. I am naturally more guarded, so creating CITY RUN has required me to step outside of my comfort zone, speak openly about what I believe in, ask people to support the vision, and trust that it can become what I see in my mind.
There is a certain vulnerability that comes with building something publicly. You are asking people to attend your events, collaborate with you, support your cause, or simply believe in an idea that is still growing. There have been moments when I questioned whether people would understand the purpose behind CITY RUN or whether I had the experience and resources to make it happen. I have had to learn not to allow fear, rejection, or uncertainty to stop me from continuing.
Another challenge has been balancing everything. I work full time, I am raising three children, and I was also navigating the responsibilities and emotional weight of being a caregiver. CITY RUN was not created because I had unlimited time, money, or a large team. Much of it has been built by making time where I could, learning as I went, and being resourceful with what was available.
I have also had to learn the operational side of bringing a vision to life. Organizing events involves permits, locations, vendors, sponsors, volunteers, marketing, merchandise, safety, and countless details people may never see. Every event has taught me something, including what worked, what could have been handled differently, and where I need to ask for help.
One of the hardest lessons has been accepting that not everyone will show up with the same level of commitment or understand the vision immediately. I have had to become more comfortable making decisions, establishing boundaries, and continuing forward even when the support I hoped for was not there.
At the same time, those struggles have helped shape CITY RUN. They have forced me to become more confident, intentional, and willing to lead. I am still learning, but I no longer believe I need to have every detail figured out before taking the next step. Sometimes building something meaningful begins with believing it is possible and being brave enough to keep showing up for it.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about CITY RUN ?
What sets CITY RUN apart is that it was built from a real need and continues to be driven by purpose. We are not focused only on pace or distance. Our message is that movement has value at every level. You do not have to be the fastest runner, an experienced athlete, or even identify as a runner to belong. You can run, walk, train for your first race, return after a difficult season, volunteer, or simply come to connect. We also want people with disabilities to be represented and included, not treated as an afterthought.
I am most proud that CITY RUN has grown from one fundraising race into a broader community movement. We are still growing, but our vision is clear: to use movement as a way to improve health, build genuine connections, and create meaningful change.
Do you have any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
I do not have one specific childhood memory that stands out as my favorite, but becoming a mother has made me very intentional about creating meaningful memories with my children. I also try to give them the guidance, knowledge, and encouragement that will help them grow into confident and capable people.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cityrunofficial/
