5K Everyday Conversations
Photos by Micki Benson
There's something truly special about moving at the pace of conversation. It's a rhythm that lets us connect with others, share our stories, and discover new perspectives - all while taking care of our bodies through movement.
5k Everyday Conversation was a daily, conversational 5k that up-values the simple acts of conversation and movement. Our first conversation was on April 1, 2019, and we brought together people from all walks of life to move together and explore the world through each other's eyes.
Our goal was to create access to conversation with strangers for everyone - because we believe that the more we connect, the more we can grow. And along the way, we created a space for one to claim their identity as a runner, regardless of their background or experience.
In a world that often makes simple and human acts into elitist feats, 5k Everyday Conversations was a breath of fresh air.
In the media
Come for the Twin Cities run; stay for the conversation
“On a Tuesday morning just after 9 a.m., J.C. Lippold waited for runners in a hallway at the Mall of America. Several arrived, and more were expected, even though it only was 12 degrees outside. He checked his phone to see how close the others were to arriving. They were here for what Lippold calls “5K Everyday Conversations.”
“Last April, I ran a mini-version of this,” he said. “Each day I would host a 5K where our first goal was to have a conversation, and the second goal was to move. Because 95 % of people will say, ‘I’m not a runner.’ And think about how irrational a statement that is. We’re all capable of the act of running, just like we’re capable of sitting and walking.”
Every day in April, Lippold posted on Facebook where the run would start. Some days, one person showed up. Other days, 25 did…” Read more.
By Frank Bures Special to the Star Tribune
2020 added urgency to Minnesota man's idea to bring strangers together to run and talk
“On Feb. 28 of 2020, J.C. Lippold looked at the front page of this newspaper and smiled. At the top was a banner that read, "Running Conversation" with a picture of he and his fellow runners jumping in the air.
The story was about Lippold's brainchild, which he called "5K Everyday Conversations." The idea was simple: Strangers would meet up, run 5 kilometers together and talk. This would help connect people in our disconnected age, and combat the tidal wave of loneliness.
Two months in, the project was going well. Lippold planned to run and talk for all 366 days of 2020. But just below the banner was another headline: "Stocks' worst day as fears go viral." COVID-19 was on its way…” Read more.
By Frank Bures Special to the Star Tribune
