Once you’ve been in Boerne long enough, you start to notice something: people here like to move. Maybe it's the Hill Country scenery, or perhaps it's the friendly nudge you get from neighbors who greet you by name on the trail or at the pool. But for many in town, the shift from "I should get active" to "I actually enjoy this" happens the moment they step into a community that welcomes them in.
Three of the people who help make that happen are Kirsten Mengden of iRun, Caroline Pertler, an online fitness and nutrition coach based in Fair Oaks, and Drew Seelman, head coach at Boerne Elite Aquatics. Each works in a different corner of the fitness world. Still, they each echoed the same value, albeit in various ways: movement is easier—and more meaningful—when you don't do it alone.
Each talked at length about what community fitness looks like here in Boerne, how newcomers can find an activity that sticks, and why these leaders believe group movement is about much more than exercise. When asked what they see people struggling with most when trying to get active, the similarity of their responses was striking.
"The all-or-nothing mindset," Pertler said immediately. She works primarily with women, especially busy moms who assume fitness must be an hour a day, six days a week, with a strict diet and no room for "real” life. "Most people don't need that," she added. "They need small, doable steps. Two workouts a week can make a huge difference. Drinking more water. Getting enough protein. Walking. These are the basics, and they're enough to start."
Mengden agreed. As the marketing and community outreach director at iRun, she works with runners of all ability levels, including many who've never been part of a running group. "People think they need to be fast before they show up. Absolutely not. You come as you are. We meet you where you are. The win is showing up."
Over in the pool, Seelman sees the same thing. "Adults come in nervous," he said. "Sometimes they haven't swum laps in twenty years. They think everyone else is going to be doing the Olympic butterfly. But our adult swim group? It's people of all ages and abilities who are just trying to get better, get stronger, and have fun doing it."
Across all three programs, the message was clear: effort counts more than perfection.
A recurring theme in the conversations was that of connection. For all three coaches, the through-line was that people stay committed when they feel seen. A welcoming group can turn a simple workout into something meaningful and, often, something life-changing. Mengden, who helps coordinate iRun's weekly group runs and training programs, said the community often becomes the biggest motivator. "It's not just people running,” she said. “It's people supporting each other through life. New jobs, babies, hard seasons, great seasons—we see all of it. The running is just the reason we gather."
Seelman sees a similar dynamic in the water. "When you suffer through a tough swim set together, you bond," he said. "Our swimmers cheer each other on. They notice when someone hasn't been there in a week. It's accountability, but in a really positive way."
Pertler’s coaching happens mostly online, so she intentionally builds community into her programs. She hosts monthly Zoom sessions, ongoing group chats, and even a local walking group she co-runs with a friend. "Coaching online doesn't mean coaching alone," she said. "Women need a place where they feel supported, where they can talk about real-life challenges. And when they start working on their health together, those connections become really strong."
Even in different settings, the sentiment was the same: community fitness gives people a place to belong.
With so many options in Boerne—running, swimming, walking, group fitness, and strength training—it can be intimidating for newcomers. But the coaches have encouragement. "Ask yourself, 'Does this fit my life?'" Pertler began. "You're more likely to stay consistent if the location, the schedule, and the vibe work for you. And ask coaches questions. 'Is there strength training? Are the workouts safe for beginners?' You want people who know what they're doing."
Mengden added, "Try a few things. Most group runs, classes, and swim sessions welcome drop-ins. See how a place makes you feel. Are you comfortable? Supported? Encouraged? That matters."
"You want a coach who watches your form, who answers questions, who helps you progress safely,” Seelman highlighted. “But beyond that, you want people who make you want to come back."
All three emphasized something refreshing: there is no single workout for everyone. "If you find something that gets you moving and makes you happy," Mengden said, "you're winning."
As we talked through their individual programs, a fuller picture of Boerne's group-activity landscape emerged.
iRun hosts weekly community runs, seasonal training groups, and special events that bring together runners of all paces. Some are training for races. Some are there for fitness. Some enjoy the company.
Boerne Elite Aquatics offers adult swim groups that focus on technique, conditioning, and fun, not competition. "You don't have to be a 'swimmer' to start," Seelman said. "You just have to show up willing to learn."
Pertler’s coaching blends strength training, conditioning, and nutrition guidance, with options for beginners through advanced clients. Her annual “New Year's Kickstart Challenge”—a four-week program with weekly habit focuses and group accountability—begins in late January and tends to be one of her most popular offerings.
Layered together, these programs speak to a larger truth about the community. Boerne residents want to move, connect, and support one another, whether on a trail, in a pool, or through a screen.
When asked what keeps her coming back, Pertler answered, "Seeing people transform—not just physically—even more so in their confidence, their energy, their daily life. Watching someone feel stronger. It's huge." For Seelman, it’s a similar experience. "When someone hits a milestone they thought was impossible—swimming their first 200, learning a new stroke—that joy is contagious."
"I love seeing people realize they're capable of more than they imagined,” Mengden added. “And then they become the ones encouraging others. That's when you know a community is thriving."
Boerne offers countless ways to move, and each of these leaders, along with many others in town, goes out of their way to make newcomers feel welcome. So whether your next step is joining a walking group, dipping your toes into lap swimming, signing up for a run, or carving out time for strength training at home, the message from all three was simple: just start. And most importantly, you don't have to start alone.
irtuntexas.net | trainwithcaroline.com | boerneelite.com
“When people walk through the door, they’re not just signing up for a workout. They’re finding structure, support, and a community that genuinely shows up for one another.” —Caroline Pertler, trainwithcaroline.com
“When athletes train together, the confidence builds fast. You feed off each other’s effort, and that shared momentum keeps everyone improving week after week.” —Drew Seelman, Boerne Elite Aquatics