From September 19 to September 26, we invited members of the WordPress community to join us in one of our favorite yearly traditions: the Automattic Worldwide WordPress 5K (open to runners, walkers, cyclists, and hikers — and any other type of ambulation). Here are some of the stories and photos people shared from their corner of the world.
Live from Whistler
Our company is distributed, with Automatticians currently based in more than 50 countries. But once a year, we meet for a week to work and socialize in person — and we always set aside some time to run together, too.
Automatticians preparing for their 5K in Whistler, Canada.
This year, our Grand Meetup took place in beautiful Whistler, British Columbia, Canada. And on the morning of September 19, a few dozen of us braved the chilly early-morning weather for a 5K in the lush mountain landscape. If this sounds like your idea of fun, consider joining us in time for next year’s edition — we’re always hiring.
A thought-provoking jog in Austin, Texas
For many of us, a walk or a run are among the rare moments when we have time to clear our minds and reflect on our surroundings. For Johanna Levene, jogging is also a reminder of gender inequality. In a powerful recap of her jog during a trip to Austin, Texas, she discusses her fragile sense of safety when street harassment and assault are rampant:
But I’m a runner. I love running when I travel for work. Last week I left my hotel room with my phone in hand and my room key in my pocket. I don’t wear headphones when I run, because I know it’s not safe. I hate holding my phone when I run, but I’m somewhere strange and no one knows I’m leaving and no one is expecting me back. On the off chance something bad happens I can call. On the off chance something really bad happens the last known location of my cell phone might be traceable.
Stories like Johanna’s remind us of the strong voices in our community — and of all the work that’s still needed to make all communities safe and welcoming to everyone, regardless of our identity. (Visit our new Diversity and Inclusion page if you’d like to learn more about our company’s efforts in these areas.)
WordPressers celebrating local landscapes
WordPress communities are fiercely local, grassroots operations. The annual WWWP5K reminds us of the global reach of this platform, and brings together developers and bloggers, designers and photographers, and everyone else in between who uses WordPress to tell their stories.
In Paris, Houssanti Baraka celebrated her first blogiversary by walking five kilometers in La Villette park:
Image by Houssanti Baraka.
In South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal province, the blogger at Dis Ekke shared photos from a muddy (but pastoral!) hike outside her recently flooded town:
Image by HesterLeyNel.
And in the US, southeastern Louisiana-based Diana Klein took her mixed run/walk as an opportunity to closely observe the sights and people that make her neighborhood hers:
I’ve passed a few other early exercisers already, but it’s three quarters of a mile in before I see any of the regulars: the speedy woman walker whom I often come up on and to whom I gently call out, “On your left.” She always squeezes her arms into her body to take up less space, preparing for any onslaught I might bring. “Good morning,” I say as I pass her, scenting her gentle baby powder aura. “Good morning,” she always beams back — as though her eighty-odd years have done nothing to quell the joy that determines to exude from her body. I want to be like her — not when I’m eighty, but right now.
Have you participated in the Worldwide WordPress 5K? Tell us how it went in the comments, or share a link to a post you published about it.
Filed under: Automattic, Community, International, WordPress, Wrapup 
