Julie Capozziello (L) and Victoria Arczynski. Credit: Photo by Mahika Kukday

In July 2023, Julie Capozziello uploaded a post on Instagram asking if any young women in the St. Petersburg area would like to join her on a weekly walk. Now, at 10 a.m. every Sunday, dozens of women dressed in color-coordinated athletic wear meet to get their steps in and enjoy each other’s company.

“You need to be a little delusional to do things that you want to do,” said Capozziello, recalling the impulse decision to start the @stpetegirlswhowalk Instagram a week before she had even moved from Fort Myers.

The young fitness professional comes from a family of entrepreneurs, and she grew up watching them take risks to follow their passion. Following in their footsteps, Capozziello now works full-time as an online fitness coach—a decision she made after quitting her corporate job at Gartner.

However, her story begins in her high school years. Capozziello remembered her years in cheerleading, when she had an extremely difficult relationship with food and felt forced to eat in secret.

During her college years in Connecticut, she began to see the gym as her escape and her time to socialize.

Capozziello multitasked to earn the various wellness and nutrition certifications that she holds today, while pursuing a finance degree at Fairfield University.

“I had two laptops open, and on my dad’s laptop I was taking the American Council of Exercise exam. On the other, I had an accounting class going,” she said.

Like millions of others around the world, Capozziello said she found herself during the COVID-19 lockdown of 2020. She started posting her workouts on Instagram, and people soon began to follow along.

“The second I started taking care of myself, internally and externally, I just felt like everything was better. And I wanted to teach other people to be that way,” she said.

This sentiment gave rise to the club, St. Pete Girls Who Walk, as it is known today.

In August, having just moved to St. Pete with her boyfriend, Capozziello took to the internet to ask for company on her daily mission to reach her step goal. The inspiration came from various “girls who walk” clubs from other cities, like New York, Chicago, and even Tampa.

Eight people attended the first walk on Aug. 6, 2023, and their highest attendance last spring was 75 women.

The exponential growth in popularity of this informal online club can be attributed to the openness and welcoming nature of its members. In the age of the internet, the prospect of an old-fashioned walk with good-natured female energy is eagerly sought after by St. Pete residents.

“Now, some people ask me if I’m new, or who I am,” Capozziello said.

She stated that she is overjoyed to see that the club’s purpose—to create a community of like-minded women—is extending beyond just her.

“In the future, we want to get a party bus and go to Disney, get matching shirts,” said Victoria Arczynski, an early member who now plays a managerial role in the club’s social media and daily functioning. “Some of the girls have talked about maybe trying to do a vacation, even internationally.”

Arczynski, who assists Cappoziello in running the club and organizing events, said the group has reached a stage where they are regularly approached by coffee shops, fitness studios, and local establishments and offered discounts.

Since the group departs from a common meeting spot, another attractive feature is the chance to pick up what’s known in the TikTok era as a “little treat.” Paradeco, The Chelsea, and Grove Surf and Coffee are just a few establishments that offer SPGWW members discounted rates.

The Feb. 11 walk departed from Grain and Berry at 10 a.m., where Arczynski was one of many members who had brought a friend.

Decked out in red athletic wear—which was the color of the walk—about 35 women enjoyed the sunny weather while hitting their step count for the day. Life stories were exchanged, iced drinks were enjoyed and cardio goals were achieved.

Among multiple solo first-timers was Tampa resident Zoë Bridges.

“I don’t get to socialize much because of my work, but I love attending fitness classes and thought I would check this out,” said Bridges, who currently works in foster care.

Though she came alone, she ended the walk with plans to attend a Super Bowl watch party at local favorite, Ferg’s, with her new friends.

In addition to Sunday walks, SPGWW now hosts multiple events like sports-viewing, Pilates classes, and more. Programming can be found on Instagram and GroupMe.

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This article appears in Apr 4-10, 2024.