If getting healthier requires added motivation, JarDan Ramon is happy to help. Events hosted by Ramon’s Eight12 Run Club are a judgment-free zone where no one runs or walks alone, and all who come can stride a distance that best suits them.
An Evansville native and fitness and health enthusiast, Ramon believes that mental and physical wellness intersect. He launched the Eight12 Run Club on Oct. 12, 2025, when 27 runners took off from River City Coffee + Goods and ran up to three miles before returning. More than seven runs — typically attended by 50-75 people — have been held since then, most with a 7 a.m. start time.
Other gatherings, such as an afternoon run on New Year’s Day, attracted at least 100 people eager to get 2026 off to a healthy start. That event started and finished at Honey Moon Coffee Co. in Newburgh. “We currently have over 300 registered participants within the Eight12 Run Club community, and that number continues to grow,” Ramon says.
The runs are free and open to anyone. Security and medical personnel are on hand. Those who attend are led in a warm-up exercise, and after running, they’re encouraged to hang around for coffee and conversation. “It’s just to build camaraderie and a healthier community,” Ramon says.
Ramon’s company, JarDan Ramon Enterprises LLC, encompasses a boxing and fitness program called Hit & Hustle EVV, plus JarDan Ramon Meditations. He’s looking to establish the Eight12 Run Club as a separate nonprofit entity. While the free community runs remain a core focus, Ramon is thinking bigger. His other goals include supporting scholarships or athletic gear for children in need, while also building partnerships with businesses and organizations that promote wellness and holistic practices.
“I want it to be a foundation that helps create access, opportunity, and support for people of all backgrounds, especially youth,” Ramon says of the run club. “This is about building a healthier, more connected community, and establishing something that can positively impact lives not just here in Evansville, but far beyond it.”
“Health is wealth,” he adds, “and I’m an advocate for that. I want to see a healthier city above all in Evansville, and we have a lot of entrepreneurs and businesses who can help bring awareness.”
Lace up your sneakers and join in: Find upcoming events via the club’s website and Facebook and Instagram accounts.
