For many, Women’s History Month is a time of celebration, a moment to spotlight women’s achievements. But for Tammy Salazar-Andurand, it wasn’t enough. “We pay more attention to women, then the minute March is over, everything dies down,” she said. “I saw a lot of that in the running community.”

So she decided to change that. She wanted a group that consistently celebrates and supports women—every day of the year through ups and downs as well as a space where they felt safe to just be. That’s how the Brooklyn-based running club Women Make Moves was born.

Three years later, Women Make Moves, which welcomes all women, femme-identifying, and non-binary individuals, has grown into one of New York City’s notable run clubs (in a city with lots of choices). The group was featured in Runners World magazine, has more than 150 members, and even launched a chapter in London.

Creating a welcoming space for members

Tammy immediately focused on how to center women and make them feel comfortable at every Women Make Moves event both physically and mentally.

One of her first decisions was choosing the right home base. She connected with Jill Hubbard Salk of Urban Asanas, the first Black woman-owned wellness and yoga space in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. 

“The moment you enter, you’re welcomed. It feels like home,” Tammy says. 

She also created a culture of warmth and inclusivity. Before every run, the group does introductions, acknowledging everyone—whether it’s their first or 50th time. Plus, there’s always a fun icebreaker. “I’m into Zodiac signs,” Tammy said, “so maybe it’s ‘Hey, what’s your sign?’ or ‘What are you doing for Halloween?’” Whether you’re here to train, run for fun or come to meet others, we’re here for you either way.

Tammy said in the nine years she’s been part of the New York running community, she’s seen people get left behind in other clubs.“The group goes ahead, and there are some people who are a little bit slower, and they’re by themselves, and it’s dark,” she said. “I wanted to fix that situation by having all pace groups. We’ll always have someone there with you.” It also gets rid of that anxious feeling of “am I going to be holding people back and be a burden?”

No one finishes alone. The entire group stays to cheer on every single runner, whether they’re walking or running 8-minute miles.

“I want you to feel comfortable enough that you don’t hesitate to come back,” Tammy says.

Her approach is working—sometimes, women see the group running on Thursdays, join in, and start coming back week after week.

”I want it to be a safe space. I want it to be a fun space. I want you to feel like you can grow here, but also just be yourself, whoever that is. We don’t need to worry about egos in here”

From cross country as a kid to a career in running

“I did cross country when I was in elementary school and it was like sprinting in the park because I wanted to beat the boys and just run fast for a short amount of time. And that career was short-lived,” Tammy recalls. She stopped running and pursued a career in theater.

After moving to New York from Miami, Tammy reconnected with friends from the theater community. One wanted to do a Spartan race, and training for it—including joining a run club—reignited her love for running.

“I rebuilt my running stamina, and then I fell in love with it. Part of it was because of just how amazing the community was and how good I felt after”

She went on to train for her first half marathon, became a coach, and worked for New York Road Runners for five years.

Now, running is part of her daily life, especially through coaching and Women Make Moves. 

“It's kind of like a full-time job. There’s not one day that I don’t wake up and think about this group,” she says. “But in a good way, it’s always exciting to think about how this group can grow.

Her leadership has brought an unexpected bonus—coaching. Within the group, she started a training team that does specialized workouts like track sessions and hill work to prepare for upcoming races.

And Tammy helps runners at all levels. “Sometimes in the community runs, I explain what an easy pace is. Sometimes I’ll have them do strides after our run, and I explain what that is.”

Why Women Make Moves uses Heylo

With so many members and events, staying organized was a challenge. Initially, the group used WhatsApp, but messages got lost in the constant chatter. Then, one of Tammy’s captains introduced her to Heylo.

“The chats are so organized, and I love that we can have separate event chats,” Tammy says. They ask members to give them their pace when they sign up for weekly runs, which has helped pacers plan ahead. “It’s been a game-changer.”

Tammy is also thrilled to see members checking in on Heylo at events. With some members reaching 50 or even 100 check-ins, she’s considering introducing incentives and awards to celebrate their participation.

Advice for new leaders

For anyone thinking of starting a group, Tammy’s advice is simple:

• Find reliable people to help. “Having one or two people you trust makes a huge difference.” Tammy has worked hard to find captains and pacers with strong communication skills and run club experience.
• Know your mission. “Be clear on your purpose from the start, and let it guide your decisions.” Her mission led her to support women-owned businesses and plan events like attending Liberty games.
• Expect ups and downs. “Successes and failures happen. It’s a learning process.”

Most importantly, she encourages leaders to build a space where people feel valued. “People thank me for creating this group, but I thank them,” she says. “Without them, Women Make Moves wouldn’t be what it is today.”

More than running: a community in motion

”I came up with the name Women Make Moves because we’re moving together in unison while running, but we’re also making moves or strides in life and everything we do,” Tammy said. “Every time we’re together, I like to acknowledge the fact that we’re connected through movement.”

For Tammy, the greatest joy about leading her group is seeing women come together who wouldn’t have met otherwise. “You have conversations with them and build friendships,” she said. “And I think it’s beautiful.”

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