In this episode of Conejo Valley Visionaries, host Cristina Dennstedt sits down with Carly and Zack, the founders of Conejo Valley Run Club—a fast-growing running community serving the greater Conejo Valley.

What started as a personal need while training for a marathon quickly turned into something much bigger. Carly, new to running and looking for connection, noticed the lack of a local run club in Thousand Oaks after experiencing one in nearby Ventura. Instead of waiting for one to exist, she built it herself.

Today, Conejo Valley Run Club is more than just a place to run—it’s a welcoming, supportive fitness community where locals from Westlake Village, Newbury Park, and Agoura Hills come together to move, connect, and stay accountable. Whether you’re a beginner runner, training for your first marathon, or just looking for a social run club near you, this group is redefining what community fitness looks like in the Conejo Valley.

In this conversation, Carly and Zack share how they grew the club from a small meetup into a thriving local movement, how they intentionally create an inclusive environment, and their vision for the future of running in Thousand Oaks and beyond.

If you’re searching for things to do in Conejo Valley, local fitness groups, running clubs near Thousand Oaks, or ways to get involved in your community, this episode is packed with inspiration and practical insight.

Tune in to hear how one idea turned into a powerful community that’s changing how people connect, stay active, and show up for themselves across the Conejo Valley.

Connect with Conejo Valley Visionaries ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Connect with Conejo Valley Run Club ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠

If you enjoyed this episode and find value in the podcast, please leave us a five-star review and rating. This helps more folks in the Conejo Valley find the podcast and that allows each story to reach more people.

If you want to share your visionary story on the podcast, send an email to conejovalleyvisionaries@gmail.com - we are always open to guest nominations!

This episode was produced by Cristina Dennstedt and Justin K. Sloan. Conejo Valley Visionaries is edited by Justin K. Sloan and ⁠J.Sloan Productions⁠.