Run, walk and chat about mental health every Friday morning during 21 Run Club’s [Mo]re Than a Run series in support of Movember.

21 Run Club (21RC) meets every Friday at 6:30am at the Glenelg jetty to run, walk, skip, plod (whatever mode you prefer) either three or six kilometres, and meet for coffee and a chat afterwards.

Despite the word ‘run’ being in its title, co-founders Jack Shephard and Claudia Thomas say 21RC is “so much more than running”.

Instead, they use the weekly meet as an opportunity to check in with one another, ask how the members of the 21RC community are going, and discuss each other’s mental health.

“It was our effort to change the current narrative around mental illness in Australia, and I guess in the world,” Jack says.

“It was, how can we create something that makes people more aware of mental health? You know, we don’t have to be reinventing the wheel here; it’s the things that we already have in our lives that can better facilitate and support us with our mental health.

“Whether you’re a runner or not, [21RC] goes far beyond the action of running. It’s about opening up a space for people to feel welcomed and encourage them to be vulnerable, and a safe space to speak about how they’re going.”

In 2021, Jack set a goal to run 2100km, complete 21 half marathons and raise $21,000 in the calendar year to increase awareness and funds for mental illness and mental support in Australia. It was through this initiative the idea of 21RC began.

“Jack was obviously doing his running a lot and trying to get his kilometres up, and we had so many beautiful people around us that wanted to get involved,” Claudia says.

“It sort of just happened that Friday morning was good. One week they had I think it was three that we started with and sort of went from there. It was so organic and natural. It was never the intention to make a run club.”

With initiatives like Mental Health Month, which runs every October, there is an increasing focus on wellbeing in contemporary society. Jack says men’s mental health especially needs attention, and he wants to use his run club to create action.

21RC is participating in the annual [Mo]re Than a Run campaign as part of Movember, which is dedicated to men’s health, mental health, and suicide prevention. For the initiative, 21RC members will take part in a 10, 30 or 60 kilometre run on 26 November.

“It’s just a good opportunity to make some good impact, particularly in the men’s health, men’s mental health and suicide prevention place,” Jack says.

“Back to the roots of 21 Run Club, it’s important to me because I feel as though as men, or those who identify [as men], it’s traditionally been one of these things that we haven’t been good at speaking about – you know, emotional, mental, spiritual health, speaking about our feelings and our concerns, and things that are going well and things that are maybe going not so well.”

21RC runner and passionate Movember supporter Josh Kiosses attended [Mo]re Than a Run last year and says the energy was powerful.

“I think that the best thing about that, personally, for me, was just seeing different communities come together,” Josh says.

“That’s what it’s all about. It’s about bringing people together for a greater cause. If they can take one little piece away and share it with their family, their friends, and hopefully just create a ripple effect to really change the stats and the narrative around mental health.”

Josh says starting with smaller, local communities is the best way to fight this stigma.

“It’s gonna be bloody good to see [the event] grow from last year in South Australia and to see what we can create,” he says.

“So, I feel like having a whole month to focus on it, there’s so many different opportunities within the month to create those conversations in those safe spaces.

“I think being a male and always growing up being taught that males are tough, you’re strong, you’re the rock. But it’s okay to be sad some days and to cry, because you’re going to be healthier for it.

“If you can be more in tune with how you’re feeling, I feel like you can be a better friend, a better husband, a better partner to those around you.”

Connect with 21RC on Instagram for more information or to take part in the [Mo]re Than a Run event.

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