Who is 501?
501 Running Club is a diverse group of committed, local endurance runners who train year-round – through the crazy Michigan weather – for a wide range of races from local 5k’s to trail ultras. What makes 501 special is the camaraderie among all types of runners that has resulted in many lasting friendships formed over the years. Our goal is to promote the sport of endurance running in a supportive environment that celebrates both the individual achievements and collective success as a team.
Regular Supported Workouts
Twice every week you will find a group of like minded individuals to run with.
On Saturday mornings (7:00am in the summer, 8:00am in the winter) we meet at Kensington Metro Park for our long run. In this case, long can mean anything from 5 to 20+ miles. The team provides water and gatorade for members at two locations within the park so you won’t have to make short loops and stop back at your car for fluids. Nothing gets you out the door like knowing there will be someone counting on you to show up and run with them. Even when it’s 90°and humid or 20°and snowing.
For speed work, the club meets at 5:45pm Wednesday evenings in the Northville area. We will either be on the track pushing each other through a prescribed workout, or doing multiple, lung busting circuits up and down a nearby hill.
After these workouts, many members will meet up in a restaurant nearby for either second-breakfast or dinner and beverages. It’s a great way to rehash our efforts and discuss upcoming races.
Any Pace, Any Distance, Any Terrain
You will find all kinds of runners in 501: competitive runners who are chasing their next personal records (PRs), some of whom have qualified for and participated in the Boston Marathon; runners whose primary focus is to simply enjoy the sport of running; and those who come to 501 looking to improve their health with the support of a running group. Some of us prefer to go all out on 5k’s and 10k’s while others have challenged themselves on various ultra distances. While most of our runners tend to stay on the road and solid pavement, a good handful of 501’rs have found their happy place on trails. In recent years, some 501’rs have become triathletes, racing everything from a sprint distance to full Ironman. Whatever your pace, distance, or terrain, you will be sure to find a home with 501.
Be a Part of the Team
Running is a team sport. Over the years, many 501 members have participated in the team competition portions of the CRIM Festival of Races in Flint (10 Mile) and The Brooksie Way Half Marathon in Rochester Hills. In recent years, some 501 members have formed relay teams for the Detroit Free Press Marathon (a fun-loving masters women’s team of “Good Morning Florence Grimley” and a bit more hard core masters mixed team of “501 Running Club Elite Masters”) and had an absolute blast on the course! Some have even teamed up to participate in the grueling 3-day Great Lakes Relay (now Michigan Outback Relay), conquering everything from hot asphalt, river crossings, knee deep mud, stairs, and a suspension bridge. Need a familiar face to cheer you on as you dig deep for the final few miles? If you’re running in a local race, you will likely find a fellow 501’rs to get you to the finish line with a smile!
Support System at Destination Races
501’s signature camaraderie and support system go the distance and beyond as trusted traveling buddies and course support at destination races. Our members have traveled together to “away” races, from the Glass City Marathon in Toledo and the Bayshore Marathon in Traverse City, to the Pittsburgh Marathon, the Chicago Marathon, and the Boston Marathon among many others. If you are traveling with a fellow 501’er, you won’t have to worry about making your own pre-race dinner reservation or finding a post-race watering hole – we have our priorities straight.
Giving Back to Our Community
As frequent racers, we understand that volunteers have a profound impact on our race day experience, which is why we are committed to giving back to our running community whenever we can. For the past few years, 501’rs have staffed the registration team at Trail to the Victors 5k in Ann Arbor, and many of us are scattered all over the course and near the start and finish line areas of the Dexter-Ann Arbor Run as race day volunteers. Did you see a group of runners dressed up as Zombies helping runners find their kick in the final stretch of Kona Wicked Halloween Run in Plymouth? That was 501! In addition, several of our members have raised funds for charities whose causes are near and dear to their hearts, including the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Every Mother Counts, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, and American Brain Tumor Association’s Team Breakthrough.
Celebrate with 501!
Social interaction is an integral part of the 501 experience. Every year, we celebrate our runners’ accomplishments at our End-of-the-Year Afterglow. Several members regularly host 501 holiday parties and summer BBQs at their homes. You will find us getting together for a post-run breakfast in Milford just about every Saturday morning, as well as post-run beer on Wednesdays. We share training tips, race day strategies, and all things running-related both on and off the road; sometimes you just can’t talk when you are going all out on the track or challenging yourself on the hills at Kensington Metropark.
What’s Next?
If you are looking for a supportive, collaborative, and challenging environment to take your running to the next level, or simply looking to find like-minded runners to run with, join the 501 Running Club!