Grammy-nominated singer Jelly Roll is gearing up to run his second 5K race and has started a running club to support others in their journey of crossing the finish line.
“It was really bad. I had let myself get to a point of just being absolutely disgusted with myself. I was just sick and tired of it, and I was like, ‘Man, I’m going to figure this out.’”
At the time, Jelly Roll found inspiration in comedians Tom Segura and Bert Kreischer, who were hosting their inaugural 2 Bears 5K at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.
“I knew right then that if there was ever a place that I was going to feel safe trying to do my first 5K, it was going to be at the 2 Bears 5K,” the singer recalled.
After successfully completing the race last May, Jelly Roll is now set to join the “2 Bears, 1 Cave” podcast hosts for their second 5K event, slated for May 4 in Tampa, Florida.
Touching on his decision to start a running club, the country music star said he was fortunate to have a supportive team that pushed him to get across the finish line at his first race and wanted to provide a similar opportunity to others his second time around.
‘Losers Run Club’
Members of Jelly Roll’s running club will receive lifestyle, diet, and exercise tips from the Nashville-born singer’s personal trainer, Ian Larios.Those interested in tackling the 3.1-mile course will also gain access to beginner and intermediate training plans created by Austin, Texas-based professional ultrarunner Matthew Johnson.
“Jelly’s No. 1 goal here is to cater to the person who has no idea what they’re doing—the person who wants to lose weight but just doesn’t understand how to start,” Johnson told The Epoch Times in a recent interview.
In addition to its many physical benefits, Johnson said running serves as a great stress reliever for him.
“You’re giving time back to yourself, you’re giving yourself that quiet moment, you’re giving yourself that time in your mind to think and to evaluate—to kind of slow down for a moment,” he said.
“Just the benefits of even moving your body in general. We are humans; we’re made to move, and I truly believe in the saying that movement is medicine,” he added.
“If you’re having a bad day and you go out and you move your body, I think 95 percent of the time you’re going to feel 10 times better after and get that mental clarity in the process.”
Johnson said Jelly Roll’s running club is helping to create monumental change within the fitness community by making it more inclusive.
“I think it’s incredible what he’s trying to do,” the runner shared, acknowledging that exercising can be intimidating to some.
“He’s trying to create this space for people that kind of get looked past, so I think this is going to open a lot of doors for a lot of people.”
In his Instagram video, Jelly Roll said the ultimate goal of his run club is to foster a sense of community.
“It felt so good to have friends and people behind me telling me I was doing the right thing and people cheering for me when I went and walked my first 5K,” the singer said.
“I believe that we can create huge change right here,” he continued. “I believe that a group of people can come together right now and encourage each other to actually become what they’ve been dreaming they can be.”
Jelly Roll, who has shed more than 100 pounds, said his own fitness journey has significantly improved his quality of life.
“I can’t even begin to describe to people how much better and more mentally focused I am, more clear-headed I am, more energetic I am, more happier I am in life in general,” the singer shared.
“It’s possible, y'all, and it’s not overwhelming,” he continued. “It’s just dedicating a little time every day and a little more time than you did the day before the next day. Slowly we’re going to build our way up here.
“We’re going to create a community. It’s going to be awesome.”
