The Morning Jo's hit the street to beat the heat
AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Morning Jo’s are a run club in Austin that meets bright and early Tuesday mornings at 6 a.m. to escape the Texas heat!
Rachel Wimberley founded the club a few years ago with one mission in mind: “all paces and all faces” are welcome.
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KXAN Meteorologist Tommy House sat down with Wimberley and co-leader Cameron Nguyen to discuss the run club.
Read an edited version of the conversation below.
Meteorologist Tommy House: Who are The Morning Jo’s?
Rachel Wimberley: The Morning Jo’s is a weekly running group that meets every Tuesday morning. Obviously, we’re biased, but we really believe it’s the greatest run group in town. We’re very pace-inclusive and our motto is “all faces, all paces.” We start early to beat the Texas heat, and once you experience it, I promise you won’t want to run in the sun again.
House: Where does the club meet?
Cameron Nguyen: We meet every Tuesday at 6 a.m. at the Jo’s Coffee location on South Congress. There’s free parking nearby, and it’s super easy to access. The coffee and post-run vibes don’t hurt either!
House: Do you run a specific route?
Wimberley: The Morning Jo’s was actually started in 2017 around a safety concern I had while running alone. So we’ve intentionally kept the same out-and-back route each week for visibility and community safety.
We start at Jo’s, run to the Texas Capitol, loop around, and come back, about 4 miles total. But it’s super customizable. We’ve got pacers for everything from a 7-minute mile to a 12-minute walk pace, plus a strong walking crew. We really mean it when we say all paces are welcome.
House: What are the three big things people need to know about The Morning Jo’s?
Nguyen: First, definitely bring hydration. We’ll have some water available, but it’s summer in Austin — having your own handheld water bottle is important.
Second, know that parking is easy. There’s tons of free street parking until 8 a.m., so you can arrive early, park stress-free, and even stay after to hang out with new friends.
And third, just be ready to be social. This is more than just a run; it’s a community. You’ll meet people from all backgrounds, all paces, and we really encourage that connection, whether it’s with your pacer or someone you meet for the first time.
