Welcome to RunGR.com
If you are looking for a great running Club in Grand Rapids, look no further! RunGR.com (formerly known as Rungazelle.com) has been around since 2002, and caters to the needs of all local runners.
RunGR.com is steeped in history in the local running community. It was the brainchild of a few local runners including Ken Sung, Owner of Gazelle Sports, and Fred Bunn, Director of East Grand Rapids Parks & Recreation. Their passion for running together with their devotion to the local community created the perfect platform for launching a great running community. This was originally done through Gazelle Sports, but as the group started to grow, they had the vision to set it up as a local non-profit organization that could function independent of the store. Originally known as Rungazelle.com, the group is managed by a Board of Directors. Gazelle Sports continues to be actively involved in supporting the group through monetary sponsorships as well as through store discounts. However, this has also made it more difficult for the group to establish it’s own identity in the community. As a result, the 2009 Board of Directors voted to change the name of the group to RunGR.com. This change is seen as a step forward for the store & for the running group as each group could promote their own identity while still maintaining a great relationship. The Board of Directors are responsible for the weekly operations of the group s well as sustaining the group’s mission & vision.
One of our group’s biggest missions each year is to give back to the community. As a way of raising funds for this philanthropic effort, the Bridge Run was started in 2002. The 5K & 10-mile runs unite the local community bringing runners, spectators and local business owners together with a common vision. Not only are the funds raised used to support local charities, but they are also used to offset the cost of paying for a Running Coach. Membership fees are set to help pay for nutrition & hydration support during the training runs. To bolster our identity, each member also gets a cool wicking running shirt.
Our group meets on Tuesday and Thursday evenings for Core workouts, Speed workouts & Tempo runs. We also meet on Saturday mornings for the long runs; occasionally on Sundays if there is a conflicting Saturday event. All our workouts are tailored by our Coach to get us ready for specific races of varying distance. Several social events are also scheduled throughout the year. This gives the members a chance to network & get to know each other better.
So, whether you are training for your next 5K, your first marathon, or just looking for new friends to run with, give our group a test run. As a group we encompass all types of runners, from the runner looking for that next P.R., to the casual runner looking for company on their long runs. We supply the coaching, the aid stations at the weekly long runs, and did we mention the pretty nice wicking shirt!