In this edition of Get to Know Your Running Clubs we chatted with Keith Carroll about the Community Running Association of Boston. 

Want to learn more about them? Read on!

Tell us a bit about your club history, how long has the club been around?

Community Running was founded in 1998 by a small group of runners who ran their first marathons with various charities. Since then, the club has promoted a healthy lifestyle and support for charities. We have had professional coaches for multiple workouts every week since, including speed work, tempo runs, and indoor track workouts in the winter.

Tell us a bit about your membership? What level of runners do you cater to?

We cater our workouts to runners of all levels, regardless of age, experience or ability. Our members include sub-3 hour marathoners and people who are brand new to running.

Where/when does your club usually meet/run?

We meet on Mondays and Wednesdays at 7:15 PM for track workouts. During the summer months, the workouts are at MIT's outdoor track (Steinbrenner Stadium). During the winter months, the workouts are at MIT's indoor track, meeting at the Zeiseger Center lobby first for a warmup.

What part of the city does your group usually run in/around?

Our workouts are held on the MIT campus in Cambridge, just north of the Charles River between Kendall and Central Squares.

Any cool routes/ favourite areas to run in your city that you would like to recommend to other runners? Why do you like those?

Being situated on the Charles, we would be remiss to not start with the paths along the river. The river provides a great way to get in a variety of workouts, including long runs, tempos, and speedwork using the bridges as guideposts. Our members also like to utilize the Minuteman Commuter Path, the paths in the "Emerald Necklace" as well as loops around Castle Island, Fresh Pond, Brookline Reservoir, and Chestnut Hill Reservoir for similar workouts. For a quick ride out of the city, you can get good hill training and trail running in the Middlesex Fells, Blue Hills Reservation and Lowell Woods.

Any cost to be a member/join?

Full-year membership is $150 per member. We also offer a 6-month membership for $95. Our membership fees pay for track rental at MIT and coaches' fees.

Is your group affiliated with any events?

Not yet, but we are in the planning phases of organizing a one-mile time trial road race, hopefully late this summer. Stay tuned for more info!

Do you have any favourite local races? Outside of anything that you’re affiliated with of course :)

We generally have about a dozen members train for and complete the Boston Marathon each year; some runners train for this race with such races as the Black Cat 20 Miler, Stu's 30K and the Hyannis Half Marathon. Outside of that, our runners participate in the Cambridge 5K races and Cambridge Classic 5K races, as well as the Cambridge Half Marathon.

Anything else that we should know?

We are always looking for new members to join us! Anyone is welcome to join our workouts on a free two-week trial period before committing to a membership.

Want to learn more?

Want to connect with the Community Running Association of Boston, or just learn a bit more about them? Check out their information below:

Website | Facebook | Instagram

Find more runs around Boston

Looking for runs in and around Boston? The RunGuides Boston race calendar can help you find upcoming runs and running races in the area www.runguides.com/boston/runs