What if the thing that changed your life started with a stranger posting their run on Instagram? That's exactly how Soal Running Club came to be — and now it's changing the culture of wellness in Dalton, one Saturday morning at a time. We sat down with founders Geovanni (Geo) Villa and Jorge (Jorgey) Hurtado to talk about how two childhood soccer rivals reconnected through running, why they opened the club to everyone regardless of pace, and what makes Dalton feel like home even after you leave.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Geo and Jorgey met as kids playing for the East Ridge Express, a travel soccer team out of Chattanooga, and later became rivals at Northwest and Southeast high schools.
• A college ankle injury ended Geo's soccer career but ultimately pushed him toward running — and eventually, reconnecting with Jorgey.
• The Bill Gregory race was Jorgey's first eye-opener to competitive running — he thought his soccer fitness would carry him and learned quickly that running is its own beast.
• Soal started in 2023 with just a handful of friends and a group chat; by mid-2025 they were regularly drawing 25–35 runners on Saturday mornings.
• The club runs Wednesdays at Dalton High School (track night, 6 PM) and Saturdays at rotating local coffee shops including LoFi, Highland Bake Shop, Casa de Café, and Common Ground.
• Beginners are not just welcome — they're the whole point. Soal runs in "laps," with a 3-mile option designed to make showing up feel possible.
• Training in summer heat is actually a secret weapon: when race season hits in the fall, your body is already built for endurance.
• Rocky Face Ridge is Jorgey's favorite trail; the Dalton State (Raisin Woods) trails are a humbling hill workout; Hag Mill is a community staple.
• Local businesses have been key sponsors, and Soal literally wears that support — they call themselves "a running billboard" for Dalton.
• One club member is heading to San Francisco to run his first marathon. Geo and Jorgey are just getting started.

CHAPTERS

• 2:08 – Soccer Roots Reunite
• 4:30 – High School Rivalries
• 8:51 – From Soccer to Running
• 13:06 – Finding the Running Hook
• 14:25 – Beginner Friendly Mission
• 17:34 – Weekly Runs and Coffee
• 20:23 – Club Growth and Training
• 23:54 – Races and Big Wins
• 27:22 – Why Dalton Feels Home
• 28:50 – College Drives Home
• 29:56 – Dalton Pulls You Back
• 30:28 – Creating Local Positivity
• 31:39 – Dalton Food Favorites
• 33:17 – Downtown Growth Vibes
• 34:42 – How to Join SOAL
• 35:11 – Support and Celebration
• 36:51 – Upcoming Races Calendar
• 38:22 – Beginner Running Tips
• 41:02 – Best Local Trails
• 45:10 – Wildlife and Trail Resources
• 46:57 – Local Sponsors Shoutout
• 48:41 – Final Thanks and Wrap

RESOURCES

• SOAL Running Club on Instagram: @soalrunningclub
• SOAL Running Club on Facebook: Soal Running Club
• SOAL Running Club website:https://runsignup.com/MemberOrg/SoalRunningClub
• Believe Greater Dalton – Discover Dalton Hike & Bike Pass: believegreaterdalton.org

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