Southwest Austin - Dripping Springs Edition | January 2026

Health & wellness

BY DACIA GARCIA

While some individuals are interested in coping with experiences by enrolling in traditional one- on-one therapy sessions, others may be drawn to healing alongside a community. Austin-based running club Good Grief has shaped an experience for community members to nd solace in staying active while working through their grief with people going through similar situations. The inspiration The club was founded by Samantha Hendel, who received news in 2022 of her mother’s lung cancer diagnosis. While trying to make sense of the news, a week later Hendel was notied her father had received a colon cancer diagnosis. To cope, Hendel started running in addition to going to therapy. She said while run clubs were popular in the city, she wasn’t nding an exact space like the one she was looking for. Hendel recognized the gap in running clubs for runners who use the activity for mental health or to cope with grief, and hosted her rst meetup in May 2024. About 20 people showed up. “I shared my mission and my goal for starting Good Grief,” Hendel said. “I remember I got in my car that day and cried because I was so moved by everyone showing up and supporting me and also hearing the other stories from people.” The local impact Today, the group averages 100 people every Monday morning at Noble Joe Coee Co. in South Austin. Individuals interested in joining a run can nd 8-minute to 11-minute pace groups with a two and a half-mile route and a four-mile route. While the space can be used as a form of coping, Hendel said she encourages members to nd other outlets of therapy as well. She said after her mother’s passing, she found comfort in the running club in a way she wasn’t able to in other facets of her life. “While my friends were lovely and supportive, it wasn’t the same as talking to someone who really gets it,” Hendel said. “Good Grief gave me a community of people that just understood me on a deeper level and helped me cope with grief in a dierent way.” Looking forward The meetup has expanded beyond state lines Austin’s Good Grief running club oers community in healing

The running club averages 100 attendees at its Austin group.

PHOTOS COURTESY GOOD GRIEF

The Austin-area group meets every Monday morning at 7 a.m. at Noble Joe Coee Co. in South Austin.

The group as founded by Austin local Samantha Hendel who hosted the rst meetup in May 2024.

and hosts a weekly group in Washington, D.C. While Hendel doesn’t have any current plans to expand to additional cities, she said she hopes to deepen the connection in the two cities the group takes place in. “I would love in 2026 to host larger community events outside of the Monday runs,” Hendel said. “Whether that’s certain charity races, fundraisers, dinners where people can kind of sit down and talk about grief, or panels.”

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S . L A K E S H O R E B L V D .

Every Monday, 7 a.m. Noble Joe Coee Co., South Shore Eatery, 1620 E. Riverside Drive, Austin www.goodgriefrunning.com

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