By Lionel Getten & Pablo Tirado

Begun on May 4, 2024, SweeTreat Run Club established itself within the heart of Rancho Cucamonga attracting residents from cities as far as Garden Grove. Pioneered by Luz Zermeño, Daniell Hernandez and Miah Menjivar, their intentions with the club were to encourage young adults to build healthier habits whilst connecting themselves with their community. “I feel like a lot of young people our age develop hobbies that aren’t the most healthy or the safest and I just thought that starting a club for running would be a really good way for young people to socialize as well as also get some exercise in their day” Zermeño explained.

Although advertised towards a younger demographic, SweeTreat welcomes and includes attendees of all ages. The club also accepts people of all paces, from walkers to sprinters.

When asked if she had always enjoyed running, Zermeño expressed that this kind of physical activity had only recently piqued her interest.

Photos by Alyssa Valle

She shared that back in 2022, a near-death car accident put her through months of physical therapy which only made her more aware of her physical capabilities. “I think after my accident I felt really good about being able to move my body again, and I wanted to use it at its full potential,” Zermeño reccounted. While the accident was not necessarily a catalyst for her newfound interest in running, she was overcome by a feeling of invincibility which has fostered itself in her pursuit of becoming more active.

Before having aspirations of beginning SweeTreat, Zermeño was encouraged by her sister, Ana Zermeño, to join “Runday Nights,” another Rancho Cucamonga-based run club. “They're run by honestly an awesome group of people that I've gotten the privilege to talk to and get to know” Zermeño detailed. While there, she immersed herself within the community that they had developed which inspired her to build her own.

Starting out, SweeTreat Run Club mainly consisted of friends and family, but has gradually expanded with the help of their instagram platform and collaborations with local businesses. Brands like NONGKRONG Coffee have been featured in recent meetings, allowing members to enjoy a sweet treat after their run. “Honestly it’s a dream of mine to host something like this especially with a run club and it’s been really fun” said one of NONGKRONG’s founders, Gary He. “We’ll be back for more.”

On Mar. 1, 2025, SweeTreat will host their first ever fundraiser with Handel’s Ice Cream, with the proceeds going towards merchandise for the club. “I really wanna start putting out some shirts that people can rep, some of those cool dad hats and definitely some stickers,” Zermeño mentioned.

As a simultaneous part-time worker and nursing student, Zermeño revealed that the most difficult aspect of managing her club is juggling it all. Fortunately, with the help of her friends and family, “shout out Dani, Miah, Ana and Luis,” SweeTreat is running a steady course as they approach their one-year anniversary.

Aside from the club, Zermeño eventually plans on running a marathon, following in the footsteps of her co-captain, Daniell Hernandez. The physical-therapy-to-marathon pipeline has proven to have its challenges, but through it all, the community she has established with SweeTreat Run Club has motivated her to pursue this goal—one step at a time.

Uniting The Community One Step at a Time