This summer, Klarna—the global tech company reimagining how people spend and save– is highlighting running clubs and crews transforming the trending sport. Next up on the journey: a visit to the City of Angels, where community and movement come together in bold, new ways. Founded in 2020 by friends Duy Nguyen and Jason Suarez, Long Distance has evolved into more than just a fitness club—it’s an international collective of artists and creators united by a shared passion for the pavement.
Let’s face it, long-distance relationships aren’t easy. Still, run-centric cohort, Long Distance, manages to stay connected with its far-reaching community in a way that feels personal and authentic. These days, it seems like run clubs are popping up everywhere, but this collective in particular has cut through the pack, distinguishing itself with a strong presence at major marathons, as well as coveted releases of run-related merch and limited-edition zines. If you catch yourself daydreaming about your next route, perpetually adjusting your mile-time goals, and keeping up with #runtok drama between meets, these are your people.
Suarez conceived of the idea for Long Distance while talking with Nguyen in 2020. Amidst the isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic, they believed it would empower their friends to get back in touch with their creative sides while most projects were on pause. While the name ‘Long Distance’ obviously suits a running org, it’s also a nod to how members hail from LA, China, Berlin, and beyond. “[In the early days] it was like this long-distance relationship,” Nguyen shares. “A lot of Zoom calls, a lot of emails, but we just made it work.”
Nguyen had already co-founded the popular Koreatown Run Club in 2016, so the new venture was familiar territory. Plus, he and Suarez were both experienced at building businesses: Suarez is a freelance sports photographer who’s captured track-and-field athletes at the Olympics and every other level of competition, while Nguyen co-founded Koreatown’s Love Hour burger joint—a regular presence at Coachella known for its tantalizing smashburgers.
Already, the pair understood the importance of managing finances to ensure the success of a project, which is why they turned to Karna's flexible tools, like Pay in 4 with interest-free payments, to manage bigger purchases while staying on top of their budget. “Adaptability is really the heart of our growth,” Nguyen explains. “Whether it's shifting event formats, or scaling up production with our magazines, or just meeting the run community's changing needs, Klarna really mirrors that mindset.”
Once the globe-spanning collective’s co-founders and members could log miles together in person, they turned a few blocks in the sprawling city of LA into go-to stops before and after meets. On the iconic Sunset Boulevard, they start with Renegade Running, one of the city’s first boutiques dedicated to the sport. For those trying to find a sold-out sneaker drop, Suarez and Nguyen say it’s likely Renegade will have it. Another draw? The associates don’t try to upsell the most expensive gear to new runners, instead working to find the right fit for every athlete’s needs. With the flexibility of Klarna’s one-time card, you can shop almost anywhere and stay in control of how you pay, making it easier than ever to gear up for your next run. While Klarna is integrated with thousands of stores, for the local, small shops that aren’t yet, runners can still get what they need by generating a one-time card via the Klarna App.
Kicks in hand, there’s no need to sprint to Bandit Running—the sportswear shop is right next door. Bandit originally hails from NYC, as does Suarez. The Queens native applauds the store’s expansion, and not just because it brought a piece of home to LA. “Leaving New York and coming out to a completely different market and trying to expand is such a New York kind of attitude—just saying, 'Let's roll the dice and let's see what happens,” he says.
After catching up with the Bandit crew, it’s another quick stride to Picnic Coffee for a little pre-run fuel while shopping locally. The spot isn’t just a favorite because it’s convenient, although that certainly adds to its appeal. “It's on some [best coffee bar] lists. It's not just like a random coffee shop,” Nguyen explains. “They got good stuff. So that's a good block. It's a good block for runners.” Suarez agrees, citing the shop’s iced matcha latte as a favorite order before a meet.
Post-run, the group’s members have usually worked up an appetite, which is when they head a few blocks south to Love Hour for its signature burgers. They’re not the only crew that swears by the spot, either, Suarez notes. “Anytime that an outsider comes, that's a runner, and they’re in LA for The Speed Project, they come to Love Hour to have a burger and go on a run. It’s the place to be on a Thursday night.”
As the once-solitary sport has blossomed from an isolated hobby into a wellspring of social clubs, tight-knit crews, and diverse collectives like Long Distance, small businesses have expanded to meet the booming market and stay connected with their local athletic communities. “[Running stores] are just a part of the ecosystem here in LA now, and it's all pretty cool to see,” Nguyen says, noting that Bandit Running, Renegade Running, Love Hour, and Long Distance have held events together.
With help from Klarna, they’ve set their own pace as a business, spreading out purchases so they can direct their resources into experiences like The Speed Project, an annual run from Los Angeles to Las Vegas. The trying trek across the desert to the sparkling lights of the strip is known to draw out the blood, sweat, and tears from its participants, but also creates lifelong friendships.
“Every year, we create a new group chat on WhatsApp, and every single one of those WhatsApp group chats is still active. And I think that's where [Long Distance] really stands out, in terms of community,” Suarez shares. “It's always been really cool to witness how we go from complete strangers to becoming family towards the end of it.”
LA might be the definition of an urban sprawl, but collectives like Long Distance make the city feel smaller, friendlier. Are you a transplant feeling homesick? Or a local, feeling jaded? Look out for the runners: stretching along Sunset Boulevard, grabbing a burger at Love Hour, or crafting the next great ode to the sport over a matcha latte. Better yet, lace up your shoes and join them. A few laps should be enough to jog your memory of why you fell in love with the city you all call home.
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