Aug 15, 2025 By Jonathan Guth 4 min read

The name of the club may be a tad confusing when the group’s Facebook page states, “Runners and walkers are welcome,” but Uniontown Run Club founder Joe Carei decided to shorten the name just a bit.

Carei, who has been involved in running as an advocate, coach and participant for over 35 years, created the club to give locals the opportunity to improve their fitness and health while making some friends along the way.

“The key is the fitness part of it,” Carei said. “We want to get people out and have a community to celebrate that. Even though the name is ‘Uniontown Run Club,’ it is welcome to all.”

Running, or walking, can be a lonely endeavor, and even though the participants may be gasping for air or having shooting pain in not only their legs, but arms and back, the activity is less painful when done with a partner or group.

“I always tell people, ‘Find someone to run with,'” Carei said. “You will run further and it’s easier. We want to create an opportunity to run with other people and enjoy the run.”

The group has one scheduled event each Thursday at 7 p.m. in the parking lot behind the new South Union Township Recreation Center at 333 Pennsylvania Avenue in Uniontown.

During the last event, there was a prize drawing, water was provided, and Carei began the session with a brief introduction about the club and an overview on safety.

The ages ranged from young children to middle-aged adults, and there were several four-legged friends that came along for the workout along the Sheepskin Trail that travels through South Union Township to Hutchinson Park.

“We had about 25 people attend today, so that’s perfect for a third week,” Carei said.

The workout began with all runners and walkers starting together, but those who wanted to pick up the pace, or even slow done a tad, were not discouraged. One point of emphasis that Carei stressed is that all fitness levels are welcome.

“We try to stay together the first half-mile, but you can go any distance you want,” Carei said. “We had some that went three miles, and then some will go five. If you are a beginner and you need to go less, that’s fine.

“We just want to bring people together. I know that not everybody’s going to be 100% in shape. We also have walkers out here, too.”

Club member Jimmy Preamble has been running consistently the last 10 months. The Uniontown native and 2017 graduate of Laurel Highlands High School was walking on the trail one day when he decided to give running a try.

“A couple of my friends were running and training for a marathon, so I decided to pick up running,” Preamble said. “I stuck with it, did the Turkey Trot, and I am now training for a marathon.”

Preamble has played other sports, but believes nothing compares to running.

“The thing about running is that it is you versus you,” Preamble said. “You really need to have that strong mindset to keep going, especially when you are really tired and hurting. I really enjoy this group because we can all get together and work with each other. It is so much better than going out by yourself.”

Hopwood’s Brooke Sova was joined Thursday night by her husband, Teddie Sova, during the club’s weekly group workout. Brooke owns Family Ties Health & Wellness in Uniontown where she is a chiropractor and Teddie a physical therapist. Brooke is a native of Clarksburg, W.Va. Teddie is a graduate of Laurel Highlands School.

“We both got into running the last year or so,” Brooke Sova said. “We are training for the Erie Marathon, which will be on Sept. 7. Running has helped with my anxiety a lot. It helps to calm the mind, calm the brain and everything else in between, so it helps a ton.”

Carei would like to add some days to the group sessions, and is interested in having a 5K road race while helping out with other events in the community that are related to running.

“We have a plan for a race, nothing serious, for next spring,” Carei said. “Our main thing is to continue to get people to join the group. We would like to get more kids out here, and eventually adopt a kids running plan.

Those interested can follow the group’s Facebook page or simply show up on Thursdays.