The Melrose Running Club was formed as a non-profit organization in 1996 with the charter to make a positive contribution to our community while promoting the sport of running. Over the years the club has grown into a social, supportive group of over 200 local runners. Although the ability of members varies from the new runner just developing a routine to the seasoned veteran training for their next marathon, each runner shares in the joy of running and the camaraderie that comes with running as part of a club.

The main club run is held every Tuesday at the Melrose Knights of Columbus at 7PM. The club sticks to two sets of routes, the summer routes and the winter routes. The unofficial rule is the summer routes are run while the Red Sox season is going which hopefully runs from April through late October. When the Sox bats go silent we run the winter routes which use safer roads for snowy runs. Routes always start at the Knight of Columbus and share a common path for the first few miles to allow all runners to socialize at the start of the run. As the routes loop around Melrose there are options to turn at various points in the run, cutting back to the Knights of Columbus. This gives members the opportunity to stretch their runs between 3 and 7 miles.

Each Saturday small groups of MRC runners meet at the Melrose YMCA to run various routes. The groups usually leave the YMCA at 8AM.

The MRC Sunday Long Run Program is held during the winter and summer sessions and is designed to help club members train for Marathons and Half Marathons. Each week several runners meet at 8AM outside the Melrose YMCA for long runs. Routes change each week and typically a half and full marathon training route is offered. Participant provided water stops are available every 3 to 4 miles along the run. Please watch the MRC Forum for details on the Sunday Long Run Program.

The Melrose Running Club is committed to making positive contributions to the communities in and around Melrose. Each month on the First Tuesday club members donate select items to the Servants Heart Food Pantry. Each year during the holiday season, MRC members contribute food for needy families at Thanksgiving and Christmas. Club events are coordinate to raise money for the Melrose Council on Aging, World Central Kitchen, and Melrose/Wakefield Hospital Charities. Members of the club have also donated their time to participate in programs at local schools, presenting information about the benefits of choosing a healthy lifestyle, learning to train properly, safety issues, and the sense of accomplishment felt by participating in sports. The Melrose Running Club participates in the Melrose Adopt-a-site Program, tending to a site adjacent to the Melrose Knights of Columbus.

Our Walk-to-Run Program is offered each spring and is geared towards individuals who regularly walk for exercise but are looking to take the next step to running. Over a 10 week period Walk-to-Runners are eased into running with a half-hour of mixed walking and running routine. Each week the mix gradually works towards less walking and more running, culminating in a "graduation run" of 3 non-stop miles of running. Graduates of the Wak-to-Run program recieve a 1-Year membership to the Melrose Running Club upon the completion of the program.

Each Mother's Day, Melrose Running Club hosts the Melrose Run For Women. The proceeds raised in this event are to the Melrose Alliance Against Violence, a local organization devoted to community awareness activities, education and prevention programs, resource and referral services, and outreach support for victims of domestic violence.

The Melrose Running Club hosts a 3.5 mile cross-country run and 2 mile walk each year in December. This run traverses the rugged terrain of Melrose's Mount Hood Golf Course. Proceeds from the race benefit Housing Families and local childrens' athletic programs.

Throughout the entire year MRC members participate in a wide range of activities. MRC volunteers can be found at Melrose and Boston area races such as the Boston Marathon, and our own Melrose Run For Women and Nutcracker Challenge. Our runners are encouraged to participate in local road races and we coordinate an annual racing series. We have also assembled teams to participate in the Mill Cities Relay and Somerville Road Runners 26x1 Relay Invitational. Periodically the club meets for non-running social events like our summer barbecue and holiday party. Many holidays throughout the year are celebrated with short "fun runs" and the first Tuesday of each month is marked with a pizza party.

The Boston Athletic Association provides multiple Invitational Numbers to the Boston Marathon for Melrose Running Club members. These numbers are distributed to interested club members who meet certain criteria: two consecutive years of paid membership in the club, have not received a club number for recent BAA Boston Marathons, capable of completing a marathon within a cut-off time established by the BAA and has earned the most credit for club volunteerism throughout the prior year. Read the MRC BAA Invitational Number Guidelines for more information.

The Melrose Running Club is a proud member club of the Road Runner's Club of America (RRCA). Our club is also a member of USA Track and Field and we encourage members interested in participating in USATF events to register as members. Our club is also a member club of the Mill Cities Alliance.