Runners in Los Angeles toured the Arts District on the eastern edge of downtown, where imposing portraits loomed over the sidewalks and graffiti brought entire city blocks to life; Chicago runners stopped for photos in front of the massive “The Four Season” mosaic and saw their reflections in the gleaming “Cloud Gate” in Millennium Park.
But the runs are more than sightseeing tours: Each event supports local arts and running nonprofits.
“We’re really passionate about giving back to different communities,” Pankey says. “This was a way for us to do that, too.”
On charges a $10 entry fee to join the run, which pulls double duty as an On shoe demo. When it’s over, On donates all proceeds to the partner organizations. Pankey and event organizers also hire local artists to create and display their work along the route or at the On-sponsored party afterward. Pankey says the art on display isn’t just visual, either. In LA, musicians from the Los Angeles College of Music played for runners. In San Francisco, students from Youth Speaks performed works of spoken word poetry.
“I try to make the art interactive, too,” Pankey says. “People are pretty captivated by it—it kind of brings the art to life.”
On raised about $20,000 for the nonprofits over the past two years, and Pankey says he thinks that number will grow as the runs become more popular. Here’s how the numbers looked this year: