Table of Contents
Intro
Lance Woods believes running can change lives.
Not because everyone needs to become a marathoner. Not because everyone needs to chase personal records. But because running creates something increasingly rare in modern society: genuine human connection.
Alongside co-founder Joe Robinson, Woods has helped build one of the largest and most influential running communities in the United States. What began as a small gathering of runners in Detroit has evolved into a movement of more than 5,000+ members, attracting everyone from first-time joggers to elite athletes.
Now Woods and Robinson have documented that journey in a new book, We Run 313: The Pulse of Detroit’s Run Club, published recently by Wayne State University Press.
“It’s not just about running,” Woods said. “We connect, run, and build. That’s our motto.”
Growing Up on Detroit’s West Side
Lance Woods was born on July 4, 1988, and grew up near Joy Road and Livernois on Detroit’s west side.
His parents were both lifelong Detroiters. His father graduated from Chadsey High School in 1976, while his mother graduated from Northwestern High School in 1984.
Woods attended Parker Elementary School, Sherrill Middle School, and Northwestern High School, where he played basketball and developed a lifelong love of athletics.
“I grew up in the Boys and Girls Club, The Howard B. Bloomer building on Michigan & Livernois” he said. “I’ve always been active. Sports were a huge part of my life.”
After high school, Woods attended Tennessee State University with the help of several scholarships, including support from the Coleman A. Young Foundation.
“I received a lot of help along the way,” he said. “People opened doors for me. I’ve always felt a responsibility to help open doors for others.”
That philosophy continues to guide nearly everything he does today.
Discovering Running
Although Woods was an athlete growing up, he didn’t become a runner until adulthood.
In 2014, one of his closest friends, DJ Suttle (Rodney), encouraged him to participate in a fitness initiative called Sweaty September.
At first, Woods struggled.
“I was running way too fast,” he laughed. “I’d get frustrated because I couldn’t maintain it. Eventually I learned how to pace myself and started improving.”
What began as exercise soon became something much deeper.
“Running helped my mind,” Woods said. “It forced me to breathe. It helped me process stress, anxiety, and life in general.”
The more he ran, the more he realized running was as much mental practice as a physical one.
By 2015, Woods and friend Bryant George, now a Detroit Police Sergeant, began organizing informal group runs at the Dequindre Cut.
Typically only about ten people would show up. Still, something special was happening.
In 2017, Woods ran his first major race: the Detroit Free Press Half Marathon.
The experience was transformative.
“There were about 17,000 runners,” he said. “It was my first time seeing a running community at that scale.”
But he also noticed something else.
“I didn’t see many people who looked like me. Growing up, I never saw Black people running for leisure in my neighborhood.”
That observation planted a seed.
A few years later, Woods traveled to Miami and experienced the District Running Collective, a large community-based running club.
“I had never seen a run club of Black runners like that before,” he said. “I immediately thought, Detroit needs this.”
The Birth of We Run 313
In early 2019, Woods eventually met fellow runner and community organizer Joe Robinson through a mutual friend.
Ironically, both men had recently run the Miami Marathon but had never met.
“We realized we were doing similar things,” Woods said. “I was organizing on the west side. Joe was organizing on the east side.”
Together, they launched We Run 313 on May 4, 2019.
Their first event attracted more than 100 runners.
“We had over 160 people register and around 110 actually showed up,” Woods recalled.
The response exceeded expectations.
Detroit was clearly hungry for community.
More Than a Running Club
Today, We Run 313 has grown into a community of more than 5,000 members.
During peak season, their popular Two-Mile Tuesdays regularly attract more than 500 participants. Their Thursday 5K and 10K events routinely draw more than 100 runners.
Participants range from complete beginners to nationally recognized elite athletes, including marathon champions and Olympic Trials qualifiers.
“We have runners of every ability level,” Woods said. “Our goal is to make everyone feel welcome.”
Their introductory route is intentionally designed to be accessible.
“It’s one mile out and one mile back. Anybody can do that. We have pace leaders and people cheering each other on.”
That inclusiveness has become a defining characteristic of the organization.
“We’re a social run club,” Woods said. “Our goal is to build healthy and happy communities.”
Ask Woods why We Run 313 has resonated with so many people and he points to something beyond fitness.
For many participants, running becomes a form of therapy.
“The running is what brings people together,” he said. “But the friendships are what keep them coming back.”
Over the years, Woods has watched members navigate career changes, grief, divorce, anxiety, depression, and major life transitions.
The community often becomes a support network.
“What people find here is accountability, encouragement, and belonging,” he said.
Research continues to support what many runners already know: regular running reduces stress, improves mood, enhances sleep quality, boosts confidence, improves cardiovascular health, and promotes long-term brain health.
For Woods, those benefits are impossible to ignore.
Documenting the Story
The idea for a book came from an unexpected source.
Wayne State University Press marketing manager Traci Cothran has been a member of We Run 313 since 2020.
She approached Woods and Robinson with a proposal.
“She told us our story needed to be documented,” Woods said.
The resulting book, We Run 313: The Pulse of Detroit’s Run Club, features contributions from 42 different members.
Rather than focusing solely on running, the book explores the diverse life experiences of people who found community through We Run 313.
“This isn’t really a book about running,” Woods said. “It’s a book about people.”
“The contributors tell their own stories. What they were experiencing when they found us, how they found us, and what this community means to them.”
The book officially launched on June 09, 2026, during an event at the Shaka Senghor Literary Lounge inside Michigan Central Station.
More than 75 people attended the celebration.
Service Beyond Running
When Woods isn’t organizing runs, he’s helping improve Detroit neighborhoods through his work with the nonprofit, Renaissance of Hope Community Development Corporation.
As a community manager, he helps coordinate critical health & safety home repairs for residents in Detroit’s 48204 zip code.
“We help people stay in their homes,” he said. “Many residents simply can’t afford major repairs.”
The work reflects the same values that drive We Run 313.
Service. Community. Opportunity.
One of Woods’ favorite quotes comes from Mahatma Gandhi.
“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others”
“I try to live by that every day,” he said.
As We Run 313 grew from a handful of runners into a movement of more than 5,000 members, Woods discovered that the organization’s impact extended far beyond fitness.
“The biggest thing I’ve learned is that people want to belong,” he said. “Everyone wants to feel seen, valued, and connected to something bigger than themselves.”
Over the years, the club has attracted people from every background imaginable. Some members are executives, others are students. Some are elite marathoners, while others are lacing up running shoes for the very first time.
Yet once the run begins, many of those differences disappear.
“Running strips away a lot of barriers,” Woods said. “Nobody cares what your job title is. Nobody cares what neighborhood you came from. We’re all just people trying to improve ourselves.”
That sense of belonging has become one of We Run 313’s defining characteristics.
Members have formed lifelong friendships, business partnerships, mentorships, and even marriages through the club. What started as a running group evolved into a powerful support network.
“The running is what unifies us,” Woods said. “But the community is what keeps people coming back.”
“We live in a world where people are more connected digitally than ever before, but often feel disconnected in real life,” Woods said. “Sometimes all it takes is showing up, seeing familiar faces, and knowing people genuinely care about your well-being.”
The philosophy mirrors the values that have guided him throughout his life.
“I’ve been fortunate to be part of organizations that taught me the value of community,” he said. “People helped me. It’s in my spirit to help others.”
For Woods, success isn’t measured by race medals, finish times, or social media followers.
It’s measured by the lives that have been improved through friendship, accountability, service, and shared purpose.
“Consistency is everything,” he said. “Whether you’re building a running habit, building a community, or building a better city, it all starts with showing up.”
Chasing the World’s Biggest Races
While building We Run 313, Woods has also become one of Detroit’s most accomplished distance runners.
He has completed six Abbott World Marathon Majors: New York, Chicago, Boston, Berlin, London, and Tokyo.
“Sydney is next,” he said.
His favorite race distance, however, is not the marathon.
“I love the half marathon. It’s long enough to be challenging, but not so long that it becomes miserable.”
His personal best is an impressive 1 hour and 17 minutes.
Of all the major races, Boston stands out.
“Boston was definitely the hardest,” he said. “The hills are no joke.”
Even after completing 13 marathons, Woods says every race continues to teach lessons in patience, discipline, and perseverance.
For people interested in getting started, Woods offers surprisingly simple advice.
“Run easy and run often,” he said.
One of the biggest mistakes beginners make is trying to run too fast.
“When people first start running, they think every run needs to be hard. It doesn’t.”
Instead, Woods recommends focusing on consistency and building a strong aerobic foundation through slower-paced training.
“In Zone 2 training, you’re building your cardiovascular base. Think of your heart like a car engine. You don’t floor it the second you start the car. You ease into it.”
He also emphasizes that running is not one-size-fits-all.
“Experiment and find out what works for you.”
For most people, he believes three runs per week is enough to experience meaningful health benefits.
Nutrition is equally important. Woods became a vegetarian in 2020 and says it has improved both his health and athletic performance.
Before long runs, he often relies on simple foods like bananas, peanut butter, and wheat bread.
The key, he says, is consistency.
“You don’t have to be great. You just have to keep showing up.”
Final Thoughts
Woods continues to train for major races around the world.
Yet despite international travel, corporate partnerships, media attention, and growing recognition, Woods remains focused on Detroit.
“I love the pride people have in this city,” he said. “Detroiters are loving and gritty at the same time. This city is the center of the universe to us.”
“Detroiters are resilient. We find ways to make things happen.”
As We Run 313 enters its next chapter, Woods hopes the organization continues to serve as proof that something as simple as putting one foot in front of the other can bring people together.
“Consistency is everything,” Woods said. “The miles matter. But the people matter even more.”
Lance Woods and Joe Robinson didn’t set out to create one of America’s largest running clubs.
They simply wanted to run and bring people together.
Seven years later, We Run 313 has become far more than a running organization. It has become a community, a support system, and for many members, a second family.
Through thousands of miles, countless conversations, and a shared commitment to service, Woods and Robinson have demonstrated that something as simple as a group run can help transform lives.
Detroit Bookfest congratulates We Run 313 on the publication of We Run 313: The Pulse of Detroit’s Run Club and looks forward to seeing where the next mile leads.
Contact
We Run 313 (Detroit, Michigan)
Purchase the book We Run 313: The Pulse of Detroit’s Run Club (Wayne State University Press)
