Check Out Linda Keller’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Linda Keller.

Hi Linda, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I started running after college when I realized I needed a hobby, and I had no idea how much it would change my life. Running became where I found my people and a space where I learned how far I could push myself.

During the pandemic, when most run clubs weren’t meeting, a small group of friends and I started running at 5:00AM just to stay connected and sane. This group eventually grew into Coffee Club – built to help women do hard things together rather than alone. Community has a way of making even the scariest goals feel more doable. When you set a goal that scares you, doubt always shows up—the early alarms, the long miles, the quiet “why am I doing this?” When you’re surrounded by women chasing the same goals, those moments feel less intimidating, and what once felt out of reach suddenly feels possible.

Running has given me strength, clarity, and belonging. Coffee Club is my way of passing that forward and helping other women feel empowered, supported, and capable of more than they imagined.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. There was a period where I wasn’t sure Coffee Club would survive. Convincing anyone to run at 5:30AM is a challenge on its own, and at the same time many people were moving away or going through life changes. There were mornings when I honestly wondered if anyone would show up.

The turning point came when a few members encouraged us to start posting more on social media so people could actually find us. As new women began showing up, it became clear just how needed this space was – for safety, for consistency, and for a community that helps women push past their own boundaries. Coffee Club grew not because things got easier, but because we embraced who we were and created something some women were actively looking for.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Coffee Club has grown from a few friends running before sunrise into a women-centered run club with chapters in San Francisco and Colorado—and more on the way.

We’re known for training with purpose and having fun while doing it, and the “coffee” in Coffee Club? You don’t have to drink coffee to join us! It’s our version of an early-morning happy hour – a chance to slow down, talk, laugh, and start the day with women who make the miles meaningful.

What sets us apart is the environment we’ve built: supportive, ambitious, welcoming, and rooted in the belief that women can do hard things – especially with the right community beside them. That’s what we’re most proud of. The best part? It’s completely free to join us.

Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
I like to read fiction books that has a good story and plummets me into another world. A couple of my favorites:
-A Court of Thorn and Roses
-The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
-The Silent Patient

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.coffeeclubrunning.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sbcoffeeclub/
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@coffee.club.running