For the uninitiated, Grave Runners isn’t just a running crew; it’s a movement that’s redefined the run culture in Tāmaki Makaurau and beyond. Centered around mental fitness, physical wellbeing and mindfulness, they attract a unique audience that resonates with not your typical running crowd and leads the way creatively in this space. Emerging on to the scene in 2020, we have been there to support their journey from the jump — one that’s focused more on showing up for each other than about crossing the finish line.
Last weekend, Grave Runners presented ‘The Intersection’ surrounding the Auckland Marathon, where mindfulness met physical endurance at their home turf in Silo Park. The weekend saw a Shake-Out run, Thirst Aid Station and an Unofficial Afterparty at Nami Records to either send it’ or pace yourself’. The weekend was as much about connection as it was about kilometers.
To celebrate the occasion we collaborated with Grave Runners on a limited-edition Nalgene Water Bottle. Perfect to aid your thirst when you’re parched post run, keeping your ‘refreshments in progress’. In a bold marmalade hue and crafted from recycled materials, only 50 of these bottles are available, embodying the epitome of Grave Runners’, always being in motion.
Now, we’re sitting down with Grave Runners’ Crew Lead, Josh Harre, to dig into what drives him and the crew, and what it means to lace up with a group that’s anything but ordinary.
Q. Hey Josh. What’s in your mug?
A: Going route one today with Espresso, double shot.
Q: What inspired you to start running with Grave Runners?
A: As someone who wouldn’t have considered themselves a runner it felt like an approachable place to start. The crew (at that time) was almost a collection of cool misfits, not the kids you’d pick last; more like the kids who were too busy in the studio or creating art to turn up.
Q: How did you pull up after the recent Auckland marathon?
A: I pulled up. Some days you perform, others, you learn. For me it’s always about getting out there and throwing down the best you can on the day.
Q: Running clubs were massive back in the 80/90s in NZ. Why does GR resonate with you?
A: I think the 00s equivalent might have been skating. It’s the idea of getting out in the elements, with your mates, cooking up some ideas, sharing thoughts, and ultimately, having a forum for community and connection.
Q: What has been your most memorable moment with Grave Runners so far?
A: The first run I went to in ‘21, there might have been 6 of us turn up (today, we get up to 80 any given fortnight). Some people go looking for these massive groups because people = connection, but you often find more depth with less width.
Q: How do you keep motivated and inspire others, especially on tougher training days?
A: You either find hard things, or hard things do you. Motivation is remembering the version of me who let hard come to him rather than choosing it as a practice.
Q: Any surprising lessons you've learned since starting running? Something you didn’t expect at the beginning?
A: Just how far you can take it. I remember doing these couple of runs back in the day; 2km, taking something like 15 minutes and thinking that was my limit. Not too many years later, laying down 106 clicks in Tarawera. As far as I can tell, anyone can do it.
Q: Best album to run to?
A: Not an album but a song that I always have on my tempo playlist is Running Man from Camelphat – high bpm and inspiring title.
Q: If you could bring anyone (past or present) on a Grave Runners outing, who would it be, where and why?
A: Many of the original crew have come and then spread their wings on other shores — so maybe just a reunion of our crew from around the world. In Berlin, along the wall and down the river, start at a cafe, end at a beer garden.
Q: What’s something about running with Grave Runners that might be a surprise to new runners?
A: That we aren’t really runners, we just so happen to run. It’s what joins us, but not who we are. So many individual gems being shared and polished.
Grave Runners meet every second Wednesday at 6PM at Silo Park for a 6km ‘talking pace’ run. Keep up to date with them here.
Photography by Elliott MacDonald & Shal Addis.
