What began as a personal journey toward better health has grown into a budding movement aimed at building community and empowering women through running.
Paige Nisevic, a recent transplant from Toronto, has launched a women’s-only running group in Lacombe as an extension of the Toronto-based initiative Chix Run The 6ix. The local chapter held its first run on March 8 — International Women’s Day — and continues to gather weekly.
Nisevic, who started running 13 years ago after a high blood pressure diagnosis and her mother’s cancer diagnosis, said the sport quickly became more than just exercise.
“It gave me a sense of self,” she said. “It showed me things I never thought I could do, and I want other women to feel that too.”
The Lacombe group meets Saturday mornings at 9 a.m. at the corner of 50th Avenue and 52nd Street, under the iconic Lacombe Heart. Runners follow a 5-kilometre route around Cranna Lake and back.
Nisevic notes they've had about six runners turn out on a weekly basis.
While Saturday runs are the current norm, Nisevic plans to introduce a mid-week option to accommodate more schedules.
Originally part of a vibrant Toronto running scene, Nisevic also helped start a Calgary chapter of Chix Run The 6ix before relocating to Lacombe in January.
The group, which was founded in Toronto during the COVID-19 pandemic, focuses on creating safe and empowering spaces for women in a sport that can often be male-dominated.
“Women face a lot of different barriers when it comes to sport in general,” said Nisevic, who added the group was created to break those down and build something just for women.
Since arriving in Lacombe, she has embraced the local trails and scenery and is hoping to grow the women’s running community in Central Alberta. She’s also exploring future partnerships with yoga studios and running companies to host events and workshops.
Individuals interested in joining the running group can find out more on the Chix Run The 6ix Facebook page.
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