Heather Hillenbrand just completed her fourth race, The Sasquatch 20-Miler (she came in second). Now she’s lacing up her running shoes and training for a marathon later this summer.
Hillenbrand is like many other Akronites who pushed through another freezing cold winter and traded in their leg warmers and puffer jackets for shorts and tank tops.
She’s embracing the higher temperatures with her version of outside activities — from biking to gardening, people all over the city are looking for ways to get active and make use of the sun beaming down onto Akron.
Here are some ways to get out and go, Akron style.
Biking, running and sports training
Hillenbrand got back into running through a local club, Joy Run Club, a free extension of Akron Athletic Collective where she has been a member for nearly a year and a half.
“I actually don’t know if I would have started running again if it wasn’t for Joy Runs,” said Hillenbrand, 39.
Runners (and any others interested in a different pace) are invited to run, walk or jog with the club. For about half an hour on Sunday evenings, club members get together at rotating metro parks and trails to stretch their legs, train for an upcoming race or just get some sun.
Hillenbrand joined the club during the peak of the race season — other club members were training for last year’s RoadRokr 5K, which happens right before the PorchRokr Arts & Music Festival. After running with the club for a bit, she bought into the hype and ran her first 5K, the West Hill 5K at Wonder Fest.
For those looking to get more physically active or keep up their momentum, getting steps in on the Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath Trail, joining a summer sports club like the Akron Inner City Soccer Club or biking on Summit Metro Parks’ Bike & Hike Trail using a bike from South Street Ministries might be your speed.
Christopher Usner, director of the Bike Shop at South Street, has watched cyclists build bikes, connect with riders in the community and learn about biking in general for the past six years.
“If we teach these skills at a young age and a foundational level, then we’re actually building towards things like more employable individuals, better skillsets,” Usner said.
The Bike Shop is open to anyone who wants to learn the fundamentals of bicycle maintenance, repair and rider safety. Bikes are earned through sweat equity. After cyclists spend about two hours at the Bike Shop fixing a bike, it’s theirs to keep.
Once they spend time repairing the bike, the new owner is more likely to keep up with it and respect it, Usner said.
Summit Metro Parks collaborates with the Bike Shop on recurring cycling events, where riders can bring their own bike or request to borrow a bike and a helmet for the rides.
Bike Shop locations and times include:
- Summit Lake (9 Plato Lane) from 6 to 8 p.m. on Mondays.
- Downtown Akron (222 N. Main St., in the basement of the old O’Neil’s Building) from 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesdays.
- North Hill (915 N. Main St.) from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursdays.
For youths under 18 years old, getting active through sports like soccer with the Akron Inner City Soccer Club is an option.
The club is a year-round program with free training in the summer. Oladele Olabisi created the club nearly 30 years ago to give his son a diverse team and with the idea that kids living in the city would benefit from it.
“Before I started it, I signed [my son] up for one season with the YMCA program,” Olabisi said. “I noticed that he was the only Black boy and I didn’t like that, and I said, “Wait a minute, there are going to be more children of color.”
“So I started the program.”
How to join Akron Inner City Soccer Club
The four-week summer camp in June and July is free. Participants can drop in to practices as they please.
There are two weeks remaining in this summer’s camp schedule before soccer players move into the paid fall session.
Camp schedule:
Monday – Friday, 6 to 8 p.m.
Week 3: June 22 to June 26 at Jennings Community Learning Center (227 E. Tallmadge Ave.)
Week 4: June 29 to July 3 at Lane Field (630 E. Vernon Odom Blvd.)
The Inner City Soccer Club meets at local parks each week. Olabisi recommends that players train at least three times a week. Campers learn soccer basics and fundamentals from ball control to shooting to passing.
More information can be found online at inner-citysoccer.org
How to join Joy Run Club:
The Joy Run Club schedule is posted on the Akron Athletic Collective Instagram page or by emailing the creator of the club, Jo Line, at jo.line.phd@gmail.com
Every meet-up begins at 5 p.m. with the optional strides (short, fast-paced running to loosen muscles and improve form) at the end of the meet-up. The location of Joy Run Club rotates — the schedule through August is below.
- July 5 at Szalay’s Farm & Market (4563 Riverview Road, Peninsula)
- July 12 at Cascade Valley Himelright Lodge (1212 Cuyahoga St.)
- July 19 at Szalay’s Farm & Market
- July 26 at Cascade Valley Himelright Lodge
- Aug 2 at Szalay’s Farm & Market
- Aug 9 at Highland Square RoadRockr Route (Information will be released closer to the meet-up date.)
- Aug 16 at Cascade Valley Himelright Lodge
- Aug 23 at Szalay’s Farm & Market
- Aug 30 at Cascade Valley Himelright Lodge
Attending downtown Akron events or volunteering
For some, being outdoors could look like experiencing a new culture at a Downtown Akron Partnership festival or volunteering to re-paint murals with a group of community members.
Ashley Zampelli grew up in Akron attending events downtown and now helps plan and execute them as the director of programming and engagement of Downtown Akron Partnership (DAP).
Every event that she has a hand in allows her to learn more about the area’s culture and be a part of a community.
“Every event that I’ve been to, it just seems like a sense of community,” Zampelli said. “Even though I’m not a part of the Latin community, Chinese, Japanese or Black community, it’s still, maybe even more for me, because I got to see everything that we planned come to life and all the community come together.”
DAP hosts free events (some require registration) throughout the summer, including Wellness on the Plaza, with boxing, pilates and yoga, to Midday on Main, where different themed concerts are happening downtown.
Volunteer opportunities are available by signing up for time slots in DAP’s newsletter, online or on signupgenius.com.
Developing a green thumb, or tips to become an expert gardener
Moving mulch into flower beds and stepping onto porches has been found by a handful of Akron gardeners to mingle with neighbors. Mary Wright, 84, uses organic gardening and yard work as a way to exercise.
Local gardeners like Sonia Jurkowski dreamed of having her own garden from a young age.
Jurkowski, 29, picked up gardening tools in 2020 and now has a thriving vegetable garden at her Goodyear Heights home.
“I’m by no means an expert, but I would say my tips for new gardeners would be to view gardening as a learning experience,” Jurkowski said.
“Be patient with it every year.”
Follow these tips shared by Akron gardeners and community members to start (and maintain) a garden this summer.
Start simple in the garden
Beginner (and experienced) gardeners have a few options for where their personal gardens could be — backyards, window sills or hanging balcony pots. Regardless of location, learn the basics of gardening from managing plant diseases to best practices for watering.
“Stay on top of weeding, and have a plan for what you’ll do with your harvest so that nothing goes to waste,” Jurkowski said. “Start composting your food scraps and lawn clippings if you have them! You’d be surprised how easy it is.”
Plants suggested by local gardeners for beginners are nasturtiums, snapdragons or zinnias. Easy-to-grow vegetables include tomatoes, green beans, radishes and lettuces.
Join Akron-area gardening groups
Jurkowski recommends getting involved with local gardening organizations like Let’s Grow Akron, which offers gardening lessons, training and workshops.
Here are more gardening groups or places to get information about gardening in the Akron area:
