I am one of 14 volunteer captains of the Amsterdam chapter of Midnight Runners, a global not-for-profit run crew which focuses on building community through accessible, social workouts. We aim to bridge the gap between enjoying your workout and hanging out with your friends. We use a unique combination of group exercise and high energy music to turn the simple act of running into a shared social experience that brings people together, regardless of their background or fitness level.

Our local chapter here in Amsterdam hosts weekly bootcamp runs (which despite the name, actually start at 7pm, but our post-run socialization may end closer to midnight) in addition to special events which range from a shakeout/cheer zone for the Amsterdam marathon, to running a beer marathon with one of our fellow European chapters (that's right, 16 beers along the full distance of a marathon), to our annual Pride run where a local DJ collective live-mixes from a bicycle alongside our run which was also followed by an after-run party that went until the early hours!

As a classic expat who moved to Amsterdam looking to make new friends and get a little bit more fit along the way, I joined Midnight Runners and immediately felt the strong community spirit. Within the span of a year, I went from painfully trying to survive a 5km to running my first half marathon, becoming a Midnight Runners captain, and training for my first full marathon! Arguably most importantly, I also found a group that celebrates my accomplishments (running-related or otherwise) and made me feel at home among both locals and other fellow expats. I attended The International Running Expo last year representing Midnight Runners (among a few other captains) and very much enjoyed the partnerships and activations we have been able to establish as a result. Very much looking forward to attending this year as well!