I know, I know. I ended the banner image sentence with a preposition. It would not be as snappy if I said, “Find some turkeys with whom to run.” Anyway, here is my compiled list of running groups and free running events that people can join. Please add to it if you know of more!
Grand Rapids Moms RUN & She RUNS This Town is a women’s running group that does weekly at runs Riverside Park, and they usually have a weekend long run as well as carpools to races and training events.
Striders does free group runs Monday/Wednesday from their store in Eastown at 6:30pm, and Tuesdays from their Grandville store at 6pm.
Mars Hill Running Group runs Mondays around Reeds Lake at 6pm from the middle school, Tuesdays from Mars Hill Church at 6pm (room 503), and Saturdays from area coffee shops with breakfast together afterward. The Saturday schedule is posted here.
Grand Rapids Running Club meets Saturdays and Sundays at 8am at John Ball Zoo at the Duck Pond by the entrance to the zoo. Wednesdays at 5:30 pm at Johnson Park on Butterworth and Wilson. Park at the second parking lot off Wilson.
Gazelle Sports does the Urban Herd on Mondays at 6:30 pm from the store on 28th St, and Dirty Herd Sundays (4 pm or 6 pm depending on time of year, location varies).
Riverbank Run has free training runs for all distances first Saturday of the month December through May from the downtown YMCA at 8 am. There are some other free training events—click the link for their full list.
Runner’s Support Group meets at 6 pm in Kentwood on Wednesdays, and Saturdays often at Riverside Park through the summer.
Run GR has a full calendar of events you can join up with, but they do have a fee to officially join.
Lululemon’s Run Club (aka ROGA—Run/yoga) is meeting on Saturdays now: Meet at 11 for 11:15 run with free yoga afterward at 12 noon inside the showroom.
Grand Rapids also has a Hash Hound Harriers group—the “drinking group with a running problem.” Runs usually cost $5 (a small donation to help out with beverages and snacks), and dates vary, but here’s the website: http://grh3.org/
