We strive to meet the needs of individual runners and community organizations engaged in running and fitness.
Montgomery County Road Runners Club (MCRRC) is one of the largest, most active running clubs in the nation, known for our high-quality club races, training runs, special events, and other activities. We offer programs and opportunities for all types of runners, from newcomers to experienced. Whether your goal is to run a marathon or just to get into shape, you’ll find other club members who share your interests.
MCRRC is affiliated with the Road Runners Club of America (RRCA). Our club members are encouraged to participate in the Maryland RRCA Grand Prix racing series (details on the Maryland RRCA website).
We are a 501(c)3 non-profit organization and are the leading authority on running events and programs in Montgomery County, Maryland. MCRRC was incorporated as the Upper Montgomery County Road Runners Club in February 1978, with the organization’s main goal being “the promotion and encouragement of long distance running.”
Today, MCRRC provides leadership and support to more than 3,000 members. We offer training programs from beginning 5K to marathon distance, serving a wide runner profile from run/walkers to endurance athletes. Our club is proudly represented throughout the DC-MD-VA area by a premier racing team.
Our Vision
MCRRC will be recognized nationally as an exemplary organization through our leadership, policies, and offerings. We will elevate the reputation of running as a sport by fostering a positive profile of runners and demonstrating excellence in our interactions with others. We will continue to promotion the long-term stability of running as a sport and as an affordable form of exercise.
Our Values
Our motto is “A Place for Every Pace.” MCRRC prides ourselves on inclusivity, diversity and equity. Our Values Statement, which was adopted in 2021, guides our strategic planning as well as our tactical decision-making and has three areas of focus: Our Club, Our Community, and Our Members.
Our Club
- We believe that MCRRC is a place for every pace: runners, walkers, and run/walkers. We welcome people of all shapes, sizes, and abilities. We value healthy lifestyles through movement.
- We value the strength of MCRRC as a volunteer-led organization. At the same time, we acknowledge that volunteering at club events presents an additional burden to marginalized and vulnerable groups.
- We believe that running and fitness activities should occur in a welcoming environment to all, be geographically diverse, and be financially affordable. We strive to identify physically accessible environments.
Our Community
- We are committed to equity, inclusivity, and anti‐discrimination. We embrace communities of all ages, ethnicities, gender identities, languages, national origins, races, religions, sexual orientations, and socio‐economic status. We aspire to identify opportunities for members with disabilities.
- We strive to make all components of membership reflect the communities within Montgomery County, one of the most diverse counties in the nation.
- We recognize the Indigenous and formerly enslaved peoples who were displaced from or trafficked to this land. In addition, we acknowledge the land on which we run by showing our gratitude and respect for the trails and roads.
Our Members
- We value all members for their unique perspectives and gifts, and aspire to earn their trust by listening, engaging, and appreciating their contributions.
- We encourage respectful dialogue among and within the interconnected communities and partners to ensure that all members can safely pursue the joy of running.
- Although members have different goals, we celebrate each other’s achievements and learn from one another’s experiences.
View MCRRC’s Strategic Direction document (updated May 2020).
Club Leadership
Heather joined MCRRC in 2000 and fell in love with the low-key races – great value, always a challenge, and a sure-fire way to find motivation, since there’s always a race to look forward to on the calendar. She also enjoys track nights and the occasional pub run. She directs the Spin in the Woods race in the spring, coaches the Summer Half-Marathon Program, and recently had fun running with a Ragnar team.
When she’s not running, Heather is a freelance writer and editor, a foster for the Montgomery County Animal Shelter, and an amateur naturalist. Email her if you want to adopt a guinea pig or need something copyedited.
Brian started running in 2007 as a way to get in shape. He quickly fell in love with everything about it – especially the community aspect. Brian has been a member of MCRRC since moving to Montgomery County in 2013, and most often you can find him at the Wednesday night track workouts, Ken-Gar Sunday’s as the long run coordinator, pub runs, or at one of the many MCRRC road or cross-country races – running or volunteering. He is also a member of the club’s competitive racing team, trying to balance his love of racing with training properly for distances from 1 mile to the marathon.
Eric discovered MCRRC in 2011 after running his first Parks Half Marathon. He became a member after learning of the incredible value – particularly the many low-key races – but found the deepest value of membership to be in the great people he has met. Eric has helped expand the Club’s social media presence alongside a great team of volunteers and remains an active advocate for spreading the word about MCRRC’s offerings online. A regular park runner and racer, Riley’s Rumble is his favorite Club event. Eric can often be found uploading activities or giving out kudos on Strava.
Michael is grateful for the opportunity to serve MCRRC as its Treasurer. Inspired by the club’s 40+ year legacy in the running community, he hopes to leverage his professional experience as a CPA and public company controller to help the club continue its successes for many more years to come.
Michael believes that running is at its best when it’s fun and social. He is a big fan of short and fast intervals, so you will most likely find him running on the track, especially on Wednesday nights.
Jane began running as a baby lawyer at a government agency. She fell in love with the sport and has been a member of MCRRC since 2011. Her first experience with the club was with the Winter Half Marathon Program. Since then, she has run with Speed Development, the First Time Marathon Program, the former Spring Intro to Trails, Winter Trails, the former Advanced Winter Marathon Training (AMT), and the Experienced Marathon Program (XMP). Jane is an RRCA-certified running coach and when she is not running around Montgomery County, she is working as an attorney in the asset management industry. Jane lives in Chevy Chase with her husband, sons Jonah and Noah, daughter Ella, and her canine buddy, Rudi.
A native of Montgomery County and a 2nd-generation Washingtonian, Deb began running in 1985 for fun and entered her first 10K (the Turkey Chase) in 1991. A few years later, she bet a co-worker that she could complete a marathon, which she did in 1998 – the Marine Corp Marathon. After a hiatus from running in 2004 to get married and start a family, Deb was certified to instruct spin classes before returning to running in the 2011 Turkey Chase. After falling in love with running all over again, she decided to train for the Rock n’ Roll Half-Marathon in DC. Following a dare from her husband to train for another marathon, Deb found MCRRC and the First Time Marathon Program. Since then, she has trained with FTM, XMP, Speed Development, the Winter Half and full Marathon programs. Deb has completed 25 marathons including 10 Marine Corps Marathons, is both a USTAF and RRCA Level-1 Certified Coach. Deb enjoys the social aspects of running and loves that the club draws in members from all over the country and from all walks of life. When not running and listening to others’ stories, Deb is a mortgage lender and spends her time chasing after her husband, teenaged daughters, and crazy Labrador retrievers.
Bruce has called Montgomery County home for over 25 years and has been consistently running for about 20 years. He was a ‘lone wolf runner’ until he joined MCRRC’s Speed Development Program in 2018. Participation in that program led to other programs, club races, life-long friendships, and helped develop a lifestyle that’s centered on running and fitness. He says he loves running in DC summers, but that’s very likely to be untrue. He’s married with two grown children who live in the area. When not running, he enjoys working with clients in a real estate brokerage that he operates with his wife.
Monika joined MCRRC in 2017 after looking for a turkey trot that didn’t take place on Thanksgiving and finding the Turkey Burnoff. Since then, she has come to appreciate the strong and welcoming community of runners that MCRRC fosters through low-key races, training programs, and drop-in runs. Through her time in the club, Monika has participated in the Experienced Marathon Program, Speed Development, and is a co-captain of the competitive racing team. Monika lives in Silver Spring with her partner Pete, their two dogs, and a cat. You can most often find her at low-key races or the Third Hill Pub Run.
Sharon joined MCRRC in 2006, when just running half mile loops over and over again around her neighborhood started feeling stale. MCRRC presented itself as an opportunity to explore more through cross-country races and organized weekly runs, both of which Sharon loved. In 2008, Sharon joined her first club training program—the Summer Half Marathon Program, right before moving away from the area for grad school. Summer Half really cemented the beauty of community and running packs. Sharon never lost touch with the club, volunteering many summers as a pace coach for the 5k or 8k training programs. Of course, once she returned to the area in 2016, she immediately started participating again in programs and races. Aside from catching Sharon doing carefully planned out adventure runs on every single vacation she takes, you can find her at the Ken-Gar Sunday runs and at the Tuesday pub runs.
Matt has been a MCRRC member since 2006 when he did a 5K training program and caught the running bug. Since that he has done many of the club’s training programs including Speed Development (12x), Summer Half Marathon (5x), and Fall 5K among others. Besides being an active program participant, he has been on the Run Performance Lab staff, a pace coach, a frequent volunteer at club races and for the last 6 years has been Co-Race Director (along with his wife Ann Ferrero) for the Country Road Run. When he isn’t running, Matt runs a consulting business and can be found outside birding. He lives in Rockville with Ann and three cats. He can be frequently found running towards the back of the pack or chatting after club events.