WASHINGTON D.C., DC — Elections can be stressful, we all know that.
Wednesday night, more than one hundred runners headed to Bryant Street Market to relieve some of that stress.
"No matter what be going on in the country, at 6:30 on Wednesday we know we're here for community. We know we're here to get some miles. This is a place to run, to communicate, to vibe out," Matt Green told the group.
Green is the co-founder of the District Running Collective.
"We started in 2013. It was a simple idea that started as a birthday run and it just transcended into this amazing community of people that run," said Green.
He told WUSA9 there's definitely been a boom in the running community since the pandemic.
"I think it's just important for folks to move. Especially in my community, people who look like me, fitness is a big thing. The fact that we can have so many people come out, building community and run with us is so special," he said.
For some, Wednesday night was an opportunity to just be around others.
"Me coming here running with all these people it's a blessing. . Seeing everyone from different dimensions, diversities to be here, I love it," said Kenzy Ayuk.
"Running is a big part of my life," said Jules Wonodi.
She told WUSA9 running is way to feel in control.
"Only you can workout for yourself. No one else can do it for you. For me that's the best way to feel in control and just focus on keeping my pace, keeping my breathe calm. It just calms my mind," said Wonodi.
For others, it was a way to handle an outcome they weren't happy about.
"Just being here feels like a release. It feels like just for like two hours I can like lift the burden of what it feels like to be a minority in today's society," said Tyrique Gopaul.
"In so many ways you're sitting there anticipating the election and the stress builds up and then the hurt comes in because maybe you had a specific candidate you wanted who didn't make it. You can come out here and relieve that. Even outside of just yesterday's situation just life in general," said Dwayne Chappell.
Offering a place to just take a minute and feel safe, is what Green says this crew is all about.
"We wanted to make sure you can still find your community here. You still have your tribe. Whatever way you feel we can kind of come together, decompress and find ways to communicate. Even if you might not be able to talk, you may still want to just be around people," said Green.
The crew meets Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
For more details about what time and where they meet, click here.