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055 – From One Runner to Hundreds: The Story of the Oak City Run Club and Emmanuel Kamau
Manage episode 495667968 series 3592623
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In Episode 55 of The Health Movement Podcast, Emmanuel shares how Oak City Run Club grew from 8 people into a 300+ member community — all while staying 100% free, friendly, and focused on making people feel welcome.
“I just wanted to make sure that even if someone only showed up once… they’d have the best time of their life.”
Emmanuel’s story blends purpose with play. From his roots in Kenya running 5Ks with his mom, to years of service at the YMCA, to registering OCRC as a nonprofit for long-term impact — everything he does centers around movement, mindset, and meaningful connection.
He talks about how remembering someone’s name can change their week, why he’s obsessed with creating joy on Saturday mornings, and how a simple group run turned into a walking club, a volleyball crew, and a ripple effect of positivity across Raleigh.
“You never know what someone’s going through. So if they give us part of their Saturday — we make it count.”
In this episode, you’ll hear about:
✅ How Oak City Run Club grew to 300+ runners in just 12 months
✅ Why Emmanuel believes fitness is a vehicle for belonging
✅ The importance of building something that’s not about you
✅ What it means to lead with love, smiles, and a whole lot of energy
Whether you’re a runner, a coach, or someone craving more real connection, this episode is a masterclass in community-building — and a reminder that one person, one handshake, and one run can start a movement.
🎧 Listen to the full episode with Emmanuel Kamau on YouTube or any podcast platform
📸 Follow him on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emmanuelgkamau/
👕 Follow the Oak City Run Club (OCRC): https://www.instagram.com/oakcityrunclub/
📩 Join our newsletter for more stories like this: healthmovement.us
📺 Subscribe to our channel: youtube.com/@HealthMovementPodcast
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