Today we’d like to introduce you to Johnny Zarate.
Hi Johnny, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Originally how I started my run club was to get the community that I loved more involved and together. I was always an athlete growing up, which baseball was my passion. I played since I was three years old down in Austin, Tx where I am from to all the way in college. When I stopped playing I knew I still wanted to stay active and running was something that has always helped me during negative times in my life, so I pursued it. I started slowly running everyday which allowed me to invite friends. It became an everyday thing to where I had more core group of friends and I running four-five times a week. Just like baseball did it brought a competitive edge out in me, but still allowed me to be social and interact with the people closest to me on a daily basis. Running at the time had brought me peace, happiness, and got me out of that dark spot I had when I retired from playing baseball.
I then realized that I wanted everyone to feel the way I did because of running, so I decided to start the everyday hustle run club here in Houston, Tx. The run club has grew larger and larger every week and we got the chance to work with so many great companies like Nike, New Balance, C4, and so much more. The run club community is the best community when it comes to positive vibes and energy. Being from Austin, I don’t get to see my family a lot, so seeing the run club family every Thursday brings so much joy to me.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It is has not been a smooth road, I know from the beginning it was really hard to get the word out for people to actually come run. We meet every Thursday, and some weeks it would only be maybe ten people that would come, I felt some weeks discouraged in a way that maybe I should not do the run club anymore because of the little following I had. Luckily with a great team behind me pushing me and motivating me to continue the run club which allowed it to grow. I formed a solid team which they became my co-founders, pacers, and helpers which are Dulce, Sofia, and Nick Contreras. With the three of them helping the run club, helping me market and spread the word, I am forever grateful that I kept it going.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Personally right now I am a baseball coach, C4 field marketing employee, and I work with HEB as the E- commerce manager, which is the online portion of sales. All of this while balancing a run club motivates me to keep going, because I know my family down in Austin, are counting on me to be successful and independent while being dependent on my drive and adaptability. Every week is different and every job I have comes with different kinds of obstacles and challenges, but I love it. The adversity of all of them drive me to keep going and pushing. These jobs have allowed me to build life long friendships as well, meet people that will always hold a special place in my heart. What I am known for is marketing and baseball. Baseball to me has and will always be a part of my life, and I am thankful now to be teaching the younger generation the game I love.
What I am most proud of is being the first person in my family to graduate College with my business marketing degree at the University of Houston. Having my younger siblings and younger cousins see me walk the stage I hope motivated them, so they can better their futures and do the same thing.
What I am most proud of is my family, and the relationship I have with them. They support and love me so much even if they are far away, I call and talk to them any chance I get.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
Growing up I was always that extroverted, outgoing kid that loved to hangout with everyone. I was always on a baseball team, so I was the kid that had the whole team over at my house on weekends playing video games and riding bikes around the neighborhood. The only interest I had growing up was baseball, and when I was not doing that I was doing something with my best friends back home. Whether it was video games, sleep overs, bike rides, I was always doing something with them.
My family loved it because they saw how happy I was growing up and how active I was. Sports in general was something that I was always in whether it was baseball my favorite sport, but I also played basketball and football.
I loved being talkative and surrounding myself with family and friends constantly.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @everydayhustlerunclub
Image Credits
Image credits for pictures will be, Lupe Castillo Instagram: Castillo.photography.1
Image credits for pictures will also be, Aaron Galvan Instagram: a_aron.18
