Today we’d like to introduce you to Sam Hendel.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
GOOD GRiEF was born from my own experience with loss. After losing my mom to cancer, running became one of the only places where I felt like I could process what I was going through. I realized grief can be incredibly isolating, but movement has a way of bringing people together without requiring them to have the right words.
In 2024, I started GOOD GRiEF with the simple idea of creating a space where people could show up exactly as they are—whether they were grieving the loss of a loved one, going through a difficult season, or simply looking for connection. What began as a small group run in Austin has grown into a community of more than 1,500 members across multiple cities, with weekly runs, brand partnerships, fundraising initiatives, and events that bring people together through movement.
At its core, GOOD GRiEF has never been about running. It’s about reminding people they don’t have to carry grief alone and helping them find moments of hope, healing, and community along the way.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. Good Grief was built during one of the hardest seasons of my life. Over the last four years, I was constantly traveling back and forth to Buffalo—and around the country—to help care for my parents and support my family as we navigated their cancer diagnoses and treatments. There were times when I questioned whether I could keep the community going while juggling so much personally. But in many ways, Good Grief became the thing that kept me grounded. Every run reminded me why I started it in the first place: to create a space where people could show up exactly as they are and find connection through movement.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m the founder of GOOD GRiEF, a running community built to help people navigate grief through movement and connection. What started as a small group run has grown into a community of over 1,500 members across Austin and Washington, D.C., creating a space where people can show up exactly as they are—whether they’re grieving the loss of a loved one, a relationship, a version of themselves, or simply looking for connection.
What I’m most proud of isn’t the size of the community—it’s the culture we’ve built. GOOD GRiEF has become a place where strangers become friends, people find support during some of the hardest moments of their lives, and movement becomes a way to heal rather than just exercise.
I think what sets GOOD GRiEF apart is that it was created from lived experience. I didn’t start it because I saw a gap in the market—I started it because I needed it. Every event, partnership, and community decision is rooted in what genuinely helped me navigate grief. That authenticity resonates with people, and it’s why the community has grown so organically. My goal has always been to remind people that while grief never fully goes away, you don’t have to carry it alone.
What does success mean to you?
Success, to me, is creating something that genuinely improves people’s lives. With GOOD GRiEF, that isn’t measured by the number of followers or attendees—it’s measured by the conversations after a run, the friendships that form, and the messages from people who say they finally feel less alone. If someone leaves feeling lighter, more hopeful, or more connected than when they arrived, that’s success. Building a community that helps people navigate life’s hardest moments with the support of others is what I’m most proud of, and that’s the impact I hope GOOD GRiEF continues to have.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.goodgriefrunning.com
- Instagram: @goodgriefrunning
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/good-grief-running/
