ZELIENOPLE — Emily Keir was all about running while growing up.

The 2018 Seneca Valley graduate ran the Raider Maze 5K when she was 8 years old.

She began running cross country in seventh grade and became an all-district cross country runner in high school. She ran the 1,600 and 3,200 meters for the track and field team as well.

“My parents and brother got me into running when I was little,” Keir said. “I really got into it.”

She went on to attend Youngstown State University, but did not do any running there.

“By that time, I grew tired of it,” she admitted. “I got burned out.”

But running is fueling her today.

The running bug returned to her through Michelle Burgess, a friend who asked her to run the Hot To Trot 5K at Glade Run with her in 2024.

“I had been running recreationally for a bit, so I just ran it with her,” Keir recalled. “I realized how much I missed running and got back into it.”

Keir ran the Pittsburgh Half-Marathon in May.

“I’m all in now,” she declared to herself.

But she was running alone.

For a while, Keir drove to Pittsburgh to participate in a running club. She decided she wanted to be part of a similar club closer to home in Zelienople.

“There was nothing in northern Pittsburgh at all,” she said of running clubs. In early June, I decided to go for it. I posted something on Facebook to announce I was starting a club, designed a logo for it, just got the word out.”

She formed the Zelie Road Runners club in June, using Facebook to promote the venture.

The club had its initial meeting June 6. Nine people showed up.

The club meets at 8 a.m. every Saturday in the Zelienople Community Park parking lot. About 30 runners show up now and Keir designed courses of 1.5, 5 and 7.5 miles, depending on the individual runner’s interests and goals.

Besides the 30 weekly runners, another 510 people follow the Zelie Road Runners on Facebook.

“We get four or five new members showing up each week,” Keir said. “The club has grown through word-of-mouth, social media … We put up flyers at local races.

“The club is all-inclusive. Whether people are training for a marathon, running their first mile, run/walk, whatever, we want to help push them and support their goals. There is a shared desire, passion and discipline among runners.

“Whether it’s pushing through a hard workout or getting up early for a long run, we’re there for each other,” she added.

Current club members range in age from 22 to 67.

“This club is fantastic,” Tim Weil, 67, of Fombell, said. “Emily’s done a great job getting this started and organizing everything. It’s good for all pace levels.

“I was a late starter, didn’t begin running until I was 40. I run 30 miles a week now. I’ve built friendships here and running with others has pushed my pace, definitely improved my running.”

Runners from as far away as Butler, Ellwood City and Beaver have joined the Zelienople club.

Megan Rippin, of Cranberry Township, didn’t know she had a co-worker who also ran until they met up through the Zelie Road Runners.

“This is the first (running) club I ever joined,” Rippin said. “I’ve gotten in good shape and we all enjoy actively running together. I run just to stay in shape, but I consider this a life-long hobby now.”

Some club members get together for breakfast each month. A few have signed up for local 5K runs together and Keir is hopeful that trend continues to build.

Keir said the club will continue to run together year-round.

Brett Nesbitt, 33, of Harmony, started running three years ago, initially just to stay in shape.

“Heart disease runs in my family and I wanted to keep up with my conditioning,” he said. “I joined the state police and running has boosted my stamina, which is helpful in that line of work.

“I love to hunt, too, and I’ve noticed a difference in my conditioning going up and down hills there. I love it. This club has made a real difference for me. My goal next year is to run the full Pittsburgh Marathon.”

Ken Gruber, 62, of Zelienople, has been with the Zelie Road Runners since the second week of June.

“I want to stay active and be social,” Gruber said. “This club does that for me on both ends. I run three or four times a week. I want to be there for my grandkids, hopefully stay involved in their lives.”

Keir promotes the social aspect of the club. She has everyone introduce themselves to the group before they start out each Saturday morning. Then the runners start their run together.

“Eventually, everyone breaks off and settles into their own pace,” Keir said. “Certain runners wind up together, talk to each other during their runs. It makes the time go by so much quicker, makes the run more relaxing.”

Keir has developed into a marathon runner. She ran the Erie Marathon on Sept. 13, a day after a Zelie Road Runners gathering, and completed the course in three hours and 34 minutes. Her goal was to qualify for the Boston Marathon.

She fell short of that goal — but not her desire to continue pushing toward it. The Zelie Road Runners continues to serve as a vehicle toward that goal.

“Our club continues to grow each week,” Keir enthused. “I don’t know how big it’s going to get. I just want to see it prosper more and more, continue to grow relationships at local races.

“I think all of that will happen.”