Get to Know Your Running Clubs - Forest Hills Runners

In this edition of Get to Know Your Running Clubs we chatted with Katie Merril about the Forest Hills Runners. 

Want to learn more about them? Read on!

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

Our club was founded in April of 2011 as a way for the neighborhood to come together in the spirit of fitness and community. Our club is totally free to join, open to all abilities, and you can come whenever you want. The best part about our club is the community feel. We not only run together, but meet our neighbors and enjoy spending time together after a run getting a cup of coffee or a beer.

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

We have runners who love the social aspect of running a few miles together on Saturday morning followed by coffee, and we have runners who run to compete in cross country races, marathons, and even ultra marathons! Some people come to one run a week because that's what fits into their schedule, and other people come to 3, 4, even 5 runs a week because they know there will always be a running buddy there for them after a long day of work. If you are looking for people to run with, there is most likely a group of people in FHR that would be a good fit for you to join up with!

Where/when does your club usually meet/run?

All of our runs meet at the Stony Brook T stop on the Orange line in Jamaica Plain. To be exact, we meet directly across the street at this weird metal pump-thing that juts out of the sidewalk as a beacon to runners looking for friends to run with.

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

Forest Hills Runners is a community running club based in the Jamaica Plain neighborhood of Boston, MA. We would argue that the best running in Boston is in JP. We have Jamaica Pond, the Arnold Arboretum, and Franklin Park all within a few miles radius. It's the best! For longer runs, the Emerald Necklace and Muddy River will take us on paths right into downtown Boston.

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

We love all the green space in Jamaica Plain. Running up to the top of Bussey Hill or Peter's Hill in the Arboretum is great because you can see the city skyline. We also love doing the loop of the golf course in Franklin Park, or going up into Schoolmaster's Hill. Seriously, Franklin Park is the best. There's also trails and a great USATF certified cross country course right in the park.

Any cost to be a member/join?

No cost! No commitment! Come as you are :)

Is your group affiliated with any events?

Not officially, though we do get a good number of runners and volunteers at the Franklin Park Turkey Trot. We love Franklin Park!

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

Well, the Boston Marathon usually gets a fair number of our runners each year, as does the BAA 1/2. We also tend to get a lot of runners at the Cambridge 5k races and the RACE Cancer Foundation races. Our members also love the opportunity to travel together for races too- particularly half and full marathons!

Anything else that we should know?

FHR becomes your second family. It can be so hard to meet new people as an adult, but our club really allows for those relationships to form. We've even had a couple of marriages come out of the club now!

Want to learn more?

Want to connect with the Forest Hills Runners, or just learn a bit more about them? Check out their information below:

Website | Facebook | Twitter

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 

Published on Dec 05, 2016