Hustle Collective

“We’re just a fun group that does fun, unique things with our runs”

Run clubs in Chicago are far from scarce. But while others might see competition, Brianna Van Zanten sees collaborators. From Run to Raves to HOKA fashion shows, every event is an invitation to bring more people and communities together.

For Brianna, the possibilities of collaboration feel limitless: new venues, new brands, new groups.

We talked with the founder of Hustle Collective about how a desire to try new things turned into a thriving running community, how brand partnerships are expanding her circle, and what unique post-run events are up next.

Q&A with Founder of Hustle Collective, Brianna Van Zanten

Founder Brianna Van Zanten at the 2025 HYROX World Championships in June

Q.1. Take us back to the beginning: What was the spark or moment that led you to build this community?

Honestly I don’t think there was one exact moment. It was more just the idea of saying yes to new things. I’m not a runner, I never loved running, but I kind of wanted to go to the extreme and start my own and share this new love I was finding.

It’s such an easy yes when you have a supportive community around you. It makes it fun. I love sharing that. And it’s something positive for our bodies and for connection, which just makes it even better.

Q.2. Your post-run reward events range from raves to coffee catchups to dinner parties. What events have been the most successful and built the deepest connections?

Honestly one of the best was when we combined with our fashion collective at HOKA. It was such a unique concept, bringing together running and fashion. We were testing out shoes, putting together outfits, and even did a little fashion show with a catwalk.

I’ve never seen a run club and a fashion club partner with a running store like that. It brought such a good mix of people and created really cool connections.

Also I’m pretty sure our Run to Rave coming up is going to be the highlight so far. We’re bringing together even more people and we’re already at a crazy number of RSVPs, so it’s going to be a big one! 

Q.3. You’ve had a couple of brand partnerships, such as with Adidas and Hoka. How do these partnerships help fuel your mission, and how do your community members interact with these events?

I love the official partnerships. Giving away high quality products is always fun and people get really excited about that.

But beyond that, those brands already have their own communities, so it turns into more than just a partnership. We’re meeting new runners, mixing groups, and expanding the circle. It just becomes more people, more energy, and more love for running all around.

Hoka x La Mode & Hustle Collective Best Dressed Competition

Q.4. Have there been bumps along the way in building this community? What keeps you growing?

I wouldn’t even really call them bumps, more just figuring things out as we go. It took us a minute to understand who we are and how we fit into the Chicago community.

Now it feels clear. We’re just a fun group that does fun, unique things with our runs.

What keeps us growing is honestly how many opportunities there are to collaborate. There are so many different groups and communities we can bring together. It feels kind of unlimited and I’m always excited to see what we come up with next.

Q.5. What’s next for Hustle Collective? Any interesting events or expansions people should be looking out for? Is there a bigger vision you are working towards?

We always have something cooking. The goal is to keep things fun and new and different.

With Run to Rave getting so much traction, we have a few really big venues in the works right now. Once we lock in dates you’ll definitely be the first to know, but I can promise it’s going to be something you don’t want to miss.

The bigger vision is really just expansion and getting more people to feel and understand the love for running. I want people to know that any pace is the right pace and any place is the right place to start. It’s about building something inclusive but also intentional in how we grow and bring people in.

I also love seeing other run clubs grow in the city. There’s so much space for all of us and just a lot of love to go around.

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Follow @chicagohustlecollective on Instagram for updates on their events and collaborations with other Chicago Run Clubs, such as their upcoming Run to Rave that is being rescheduled to be bigger and better!