Sofie Spelta and Sophie Rindfleish of SoSo’s Run Club on building a community and their favourite Newstead gems
A few years ago, at the height of the pandemic, a new trend started to take hold in Brisbane. Crowds of joggers started congregating in public spaces – at parks or outside cafes – to collectively pound the pavement. These run clubs became a popular form of socialising amongst stir-crazy locals seeking a new form of connection in an isolating period of time. But even as restrictions eased, run clubs endured. Today, many run clubs that started during COVID have endured and flourished, including the incredibly popular SoSo’s Run Club. Founded by Sofie Spelta and Sophie Rindfleish, SoSo’s Run Club has evolved into a cherished weekend ritual for hundreds of Newstead runners. We caught up with the duo to chat about run clubs as a new form of social interaction, nurturing a community and their favourite Newstead spots.
We’d love to start by finding out a little bit more about the two of you. Many will know you as the brains behind SoSo’s Run Club – what inspired the two of you to start the run club initially?
We have lived together for more than five years and would go for regular runs during COVID and some of our friends wanted to tag along. So we invited them along one Saturday morning in 2022 – a whopping 12 people turned up. After that initial run we thought it would be funny to start an Instagram page for it, and it snowballed from there!
SoSo’s Run Club has grown from a small crew of joggers to a weekly ritual for hundreds of runners – when did you notice SoSo’s Run Club had taken on a life of its own?
Around September 2022 things really started to blow up. We had posted a video about run clubs being the ‘new dating apps’ which got a few million views online and our weekly attendance grew from there.
Run clubs have exploded in popularity in recent years – what do you think is the driving force behind these clubs becoming such a valued part of our routines?
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The social and community aspect, for sure! It’s such a healthy, fun and cheap way to catch up with friends – or make new ones – and in the world we live in today it’s refreshing to be able to have a friendly and welcoming space to connect with others offline.
Do the two of you have a personal ethos when it comes to fostering and nurturing the community around your run club?
We have fun with it! Life doesn’t always have to be serious and we try to embody that in the way we build the SoSo’s brand and connect with our community.
SoSo’s starts every Saturday morning from Waterfront Park in the heart of Newstead. What is it about Newstead that made it an ideal location to base your run club?
We are big fans of the Brisbane River. We have also found that running is far more enjoyable with a picturesque backdrop and the Newstead waterfront always delivers with a beautiful sparkly sunrise. There are also plenty of great coffee spots to go to after the run!
What do you think makes Newstead such a special place to live and work?
The community, cafe culture and overall vibe. Everyone here wakes up early, they’re social and it actually feels like a community. You will walk down the street and always run into someone you know or you’ll sit at a cafe and meet someone new who’ll soon become a friend.
When not pounding the pavement, what are your favourite Newstead spots for a coffee, a bite to eat or a cheeky drink?
We are probably Salt Coffee Roasters’ best customers – you’ll find us there every morning with a soy cappuccino (with extra choccy flakes on top) or matcha in hand. For a casual but delicious lunch you can’t go past Evra and Sunshine. Beccofino is one of our favourite spots for dinner and we love a wine with the girls at NIKY!
Are there any Newstead stores that you turn to for a bit of retail therapy or local spots you frequent when in need of some pampering/self care?
When it comes to shopping you can’t really go past James Street. It has such a wonderful mix of Australian and overseas fashion designers, wellness and homewares. There’s also a number of fabulous bars, cafes and restaurants, which you can stop in at for some mid-shopping sustenance.
As Brisbane continues to evolve, Newstead will no doubt remain a flourishing epicentre of culture. In what ways are you excited to see Newstead grow in the coming years?
Newstead is already such a wonderful community hub and as it grows we’re so excited to see the new restaurants, shops, wellness and other facilities that are introduced to cater to the growing population. We hope a few more cute and casual wine bars pop up for an afternoon drink or some tasty bar snacks!
This article was written in partnership with our friends at LIV Anura, renting soon in Newstead. The Weekend Edition has teamed up with LIV Anura to create the LIV Shortlist, a collection of the best food and drink spots to try in Newstead. Sign up to get fast-tracked for leasing pre-approval for first choice of brand-new Mirvac apartments, plus access to bonus special offers. T&Cs apply. Visit LIV Anura’s website for details and get pre-approved here