Nothing beats a runner’s high. Being out on the open road, defying the odds by pushing past your limits – it’s what keeps runners coming back for more. Nobody knows this better than Raya Mufti, who has built a spirited, social run club based in Nashville. We’re Not Really Runners isn’t just about logging miles or chasing faster times; it’s about community, connection and culture as well. Thanks in part to Mufti, Nashville’s running scene is on the up and up. For Nike’s the Swoosh Stampede, a high-energy running event, the Swoosh tapped Mufti to experience the one-mile run in the new Pegasus 42.
As a new addition to Nike’s fan-favorite franchise, the Pegasus arrives as a responsive road-running shoe prepared to power runners through every stride and that’s exactly what it did for Mufti during the Swoosh Stampede hill run. Laced up in Nike’s latest, the run club leader took off on the challenging route that showcased the strength, stamina and determination she’s developed since creating her run club. But, for Mufti running has evolved beyond exercise. With We’re Not Really Runners, she’s going against the grain of traditional running culture.
“When I first started running,” she shares. “I thought I had to look a certain way, run a certain pace, and finish completely out of breath for it to count,” she continues. “The hardest part wasn’t the running, it was letting go of what I thought I had to be. Once I did that, everything changed.” That rebellious running spirit is what makes We’re Not Really Runners what it is today and the grassroots club growing in reach is a prime example.
“I started We’re Not Really Runners because I realized I wasn’t alone in feeling unseen by the running space,” she says. “I was receiving thousands of comments and praise online for posting my authentic, realistic running experience, and I quickly realized running had only been portrayed by elite runners. I wanted a community first, movement second.”
And community is exactly what Mufti found in Nashville – along with a culture where people come alive, striving to become the best versions of themselves while taking up space in a male-dominated scene where they may have felt overlooked or out of place. So, while miles, muscle and momentum may be what first comes to mind when we think of running, for Mufti it’s always been about so much more.
To see what it means for Mufti to run her way in the Pegasus 42, check out the imagery above.
