VACO Studio Shows Us Miami In HOKA’s Not In Run Club Finale
We’re here in Miami for our latest Not In Run Club, and sadly, the final one of the year. The Not In Run Club Series spotlighted how running culture thrives in three vibrant cities—New York, Paris, and Milan—through collaborations with local creatives and HOKA, who've helped us celebrate inclusivity and the power of running communities everywhere.
In NYC, HOKA partnered with ROOTED, a South Asian creative collective, to showcase how running fosters meaningful connections. ROOTED’s mission to promote community and cultural dialogue aligned perfectly with HOKA’s ethos, blending wellness with scenic Hudson River runs, yoga sessions, and field days that reclaimed Eastern practices for BIPOC communities. The collaboration highlighted running as a gateway to building inclusive spaces that empower both personal well-being and collective growth.
Paris brought a creative twist with Horah Inc., a graphic design studio, exploring the intersection of running, fashion, and self-expression. Through routes spanning iconic landmarks like the Louvre and Jardin des Plantes, Horah redefined running as cultural exploration, integrating functionality and aesthetics in event branding and attire.
Meanwhile in Milan, Slipmode, an all-female collective, merged running with music and DIY arts during Design Week. Their inclusive approach, addressing accessibility and environmental challenges, demonstrated running as both a creative outlet and a catalyst for community-building in what were once seen as exclusive spaces.
The Not In Run Club concludes in Miami with Studio VACO, a creative agency celebrated for its storytelling and bold designs. Known for turning movement into an artful exploration, VACO transforms this finale into a vibrant cultural experience. Runners will traverse Miami’s Design District, weaving through iconic landmarks like Buckminster Fuller’s Fly’s Eye Dome and Zaha Hadid’s Elastika, while vibrant murals and tropical landscapes inspire every step. Signature moments, like the “Herd Chant” and “Tunnel of Arms,” emphasize connection and collective energy, making the run as much about community as it is about fitness. With HOKA’s innovative footwear reflecting the city’s bold spirit, participants are invited to experience Miami’s unique blend of art, architecture, and inclusivity in motion.
For Studio VACO, running is a storytelling tool, immersing participants in Miami’s creative pulse. From the flat, bridge-connected terrain to curated routes that showcase public art, the city becomes a living canvas for runners. VACO’s projects, like Overtown’s Teach the Truth Community Garden and The Water Below Us AR experience, highlight their dedication to fostering creativity and community. This final chapter of the Not In Run Club celebrates movement as a form of exploration and connection, offering runners an opportunity to engage with Miami’s vibrant culture while redefining what it means to run together. We caught up with the studio’s own Ivan, Kevin, and Trey to hear how they merge creativity, community, and fitness.
Miami is known for its larger-than-life persona. How did you plan to bring this bold spirit into the run experience for participants? What inspired the storytelling focus on exploration and movement within the city’s iconic art districts?
Ivan: By being us and being loud. We usually carry little speakers, so we’re always playing some music and hyping one another up. Music plays a big part in our city as well as our run club.
Kevin: To bring Miami’s bold spirit into the run experience, we’ve created a few signature moments that capture the energy and unity of our community. One of our favorites is the chant—one person calls out “Herd!” and we all reply loudly with a spirited “Heeeeeeerddd!!!” It’s how we excite and emphasize that we’re here, moving as one. We also have our iconic tunnel moment, where the first finishers create a tunnel of arms, cheering on the runners behind them. This sense of collective hype and positivity is at the heart of what we do.
Community participation is key for us. We encourage everyone to engage, whether it’s chanting, connecting during stretches, or spending time together before and after the run. We started this run club not just to stay active, but to connect with like-minded individuals and creatives. The run club offers a platform for VACO Studio and our team to stay fit while fostering creativity and inviting our local community to be part of the journey.
How does the Not In Run Club bring community members together to explore Miami, beyond just running, and how do you see its global format as changing the traditional running club format?
Kevin: The Not In Run Club goes beyond running by creating a platform for community members to explore Miami in meaningful and unexpected ways. Through thoughtfully curated routes, they immerse participants in the city’s unique blend of culture, art, and design. Showcasing neighborhoods, murals, public art, and even local businesses that reflect the spirit of Miami. It’s not just about running; it’s about connecting people to their city and to each other.
What sets their global format apart is its flexibility and inclusivity. They are redefining what a running club looks like by blending movement with cultural and wellness experiences that are tailored to each city’s identity. Whether it’s hosting events during Miami Art Week, collaborating with brands like HOKA, or creating moments that reflect the diversity of their community, they are paving the way for a new kind of running culture.
HOKA’s provide support and speed, their shoes make taking a deep dive into exploring Miami a much more rewarding experience. What makes HOKA footwear ideal for running and exploring a city like Miami, with its flat terrain and easy access to diverse areas?
Trey: Miami is flat and straight which allows runners to traverse large areas of Miami without having to navigate hills or worry too much about traffic. You can start downtown and be at the beach within a few miles.
VACO is known for community-centered storytelling. What are some of the most compelling stories from Miami’s art and design districts that you hope runners will take away?
Kevin: At VACO, which stands for Visual Artist Community, we are a multidisciplinary design studio that focuses on high design to create spaces where creativity thrives , whether through art, design, activism, or wellness. Community and inclusivity are at the heart of what we do.
We live in this huge tropical public art playground, and we’re truly blessed to call Miami home. Miami’s art and design districts, like the Design District, are vital in making public art accessible to everyone. The colorful plazas and outdoor art collections there offer a unique opportunity to experience world-class art in a public, walkable space. With iconic pieces like Buckminster Fuller’s—Fly’s Eye Dome at the Palm Court, a fantastic mural by artist Amani Lewis, and Zaha Hadid’s Elastika sculpture in the Moore Building, it’s a place where high design, art, and culture seamlessly interact, inviting all people, no matter their background, to connect with the creativity around them.
HOKA’s presence around cultural events like Art Basel Miami highlights an intriguing overlap between sportswear, art, and culture. How do you see HOKA positioning itself as a brand in these creative spaces, and how does this connection to art and design enhance the experience of runners engaging with Miami’s vibrant cultural scene?
Trey: It’s all about diversification of their audience. When HOKA shows that they are committed to not just supporting traditional runners but runners that come from all areas such as creative, HOKA becomes an affinity brand for the creative who has thought about getting into running but hasn’t taken that step yet, but with an event that intersects their creative interests, it could be the thing that makes them show up. That runner becomes a more likely supporter especially if HOKA engages in supporting individual artists and community initiatives locally within their markets.
Anyone can run, it doesn’t have to just be that ideal runner in mind.
