General Information
About The Club
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 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.
Our Runs
The Melrose Running Club meets several times a week for group runs!
The main club run is held every Tuesday at the Melrose Knights of Columbus at 7PM. Their are two main sets of routes: the Summer routes and the Winter Routes. The unofficial change of seasons is determined by the Red Sox baseball season, running the summer routes while the Red Sox season is going which if we are lucky runs from April through late October. When the Sox bats go silent we switch to 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 a group of MRC runners meet in front of the Melrose YMCA to run various routes. The groups usually leave the YMCA at 8AM and run through the neighborhoods near Melrose Center.
Thursday nights are track night! Held in association with the Mystic Runners, MRCers head over to the track at Reading High School to get some speed work in. Workouts change each week using the track or nearby streets to help you increase your race pace.
If you are training for a marathon or half marathon, MRC has an established Sunday Long Run program with winter and summer sessions. Routes are designed to help club members train for spring and fall marathons. Each week several runners meet at 8AM in the municipal parking lot behind Shaw's for long runs. Routes change each week with a half route and full route option. Participant provided water stops are available every 3 to 4 miles along the run. Members of the Melrose Running Club or neighboring community running clubs are welcome to participate. Join the SLR Facebook Group for details on upcoming Sunday Long Runs.
The Melrose Running Club meets several times a week for group runs!
The main club run is held every Tuesday at the Melrose Knights of Columbus at 7PM. Their are two main sets of routes: the Summer routes and the Winter Routes. The unofficial change of seasons is determined by the Red Sox baseball season, running the summer routes while the Red Sox season is going which if we are lucky runs from April through late October. When the Sox bats go silent we switch to 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 a group of MRC runners meet in front of the Melrose YMCA to run various routes. The groups usually leave the YMCA at 8AM and run through the neighborhoods near Melrose Center.
Thursday nights are track night! Held in association with the Mystic Runners, MRCers head over to the track at Reading High School to get some speed work in. Workouts change each week using the track or nearby streets to help you increase your race pace.
If you are training for a marathon or half marathon, MRC has an established Sunday Long Run program with winter and summer sessions. Routes are designed to help club members train for spring and fall marathons. Each week several runners meet at 8AM in the municipal parking lot behind Shaw's for long runs. Routes change each week with a half route and full route option. Participant provided water stops are available every 3 to 4 miles along the run. Members of the Melrose Running Club or neighboring community running clubs are welcome to participate. Join the SLR Facebook Group for details on upcoming Sunday Long Runs.
Contributing to the Community
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.
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.
Walk-to-Run Program
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.
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.
Melrose Run for Women
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.
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.
Mount Hood Nutcracker Challenge
The Melrose Running Club hosts a 3.5 mile cross-country run and 2 mile walk each year in early 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.
The Melrose Running Club hosts a 3.5 mile cross-country run and 2 mile walk each year in early 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.
Other Activities
Throughout the entire year MRC members participate in a wide range of activities.
MRC tracks our runners racing activities on our race results page. We'll track our fastest, our farthest, and our most improved runners throughout the year.
MRC Challenges are tracked online for our members who participating. Each month runners are challenged to go for a run to complete streaks, mileage, elevation, and street name or location challenges. Runners submit their run tracking data through Strave, Fitbit, or MapMyRun to participate.
MRC volunteers can be found at Melrose and Boston area races such as the Boston Marathon, as well as our own Melrose Run For Women and Nutcracker Challenge.
Our runners are encouraged to participate in local road races and we coordinate an annual MRC Racing Series to earn credit towards MRC Apparel.
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!
Throughout the entire year MRC members participate in a wide range of activities.
MRC tracks our runners racing activities on our race results page. We'll track our fastest, our farthest, and our most improved runners throughout the year.
MRC Challenges are tracked online for our members who participating. Each month runners are challenged to go for a run to complete streaks, mileage, elevation, and street name or location challenges. Runners submit their run tracking data through Strave, Fitbit, or MapMyRun to participate.
MRC volunteers can be found at Melrose and Boston area races such as the Boston Marathon, as well as our own Melrose Run For Women and Nutcracker Challenge.
Our runners are encouraged to participate in local road races and we coordinate an annual MRC Racing Series to earn credit towards MRC Apparel.
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!
BAA Invitational Numbers
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.
Affiliations
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.
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.