Run club at local craft beer bar grows to hundreds in size

When Marc Tuchman, owner of 99 Bottles Taproom & Bottle Shop, started a weekly run club three and a half years ago, it drew just 14 participants.

That was a stark contrast with the sea of runners that headed in unison down a block of 2nd Street the evening of June 4, to the music of a DJ, in celebration of Global Running Day.

Tuchman said most recently, the club has been averaging about 200 to 225 participants.

“Did I ever think it would be that big? Never," he said. "I always felt like in my head it was going to be like 50 people, and it would be a lot of fun, and it's really just people that enjoy running and having a beer afterwards and being social. This has literally taken on a life of its own.”

A dose of community

Tuchman said a significant amount of effort that goes into managing the club, which has become its own entity. 

Yet according to 99 Bottles, the result is Sarasota's largest weekly run club. 

Photo by Ian Swaby

Runners say the event has become a hub for the community, especially for younger individuals. 

Many people continue to return each Wednesday, as runners head out on the 5K run down 2nd Street, halfway across the Ringling Bridge, and then back to the start where many enjoy drinks and socializing. 

“We've been part of the club for over a year now," said attendee Julia Hollinger. "Great people. Great way to meet friends. And I run every day, so it's just part of our routine." 

Photo by Ian Swaby

In honor of Global Running Day, the run on June 4 had a slightly different twist, with runners led along the route by a golf cart featuring local DJ Tim Schalch of TLS Entertainment. 

Tuchman said Diplo’s Run Club, which is led by the DJ Diplo inspired the event and hosts 5K runs in different American cities, combining fitness with music. 

He noted thousands attend Diplo's events.

He said at 99 Bottles, attendance began pushing the level of 100 people on a consistent basis about two years ago, before it reached the tipping point that was the summer of 2024.

Photo by Ian Swaby

At that point, he said, attendance soared from 100 a week to 300 a week. 

He said although after that summer, it went through a decline, but the club has continued to hit the mark of about 200 for the past year, with ebbs and flows in between.

"One of the best compliments that we get often is how so many participants say that they love coming back every Wednesday because they have met friends and groups of friends that they hang out with," he said.