Club Spotlight: Gansett Run Club
Tell us about your club!
In July 2021, the Narragansett Brewery was just opening up in the Fox Point neighborhood. We wanted to find a way to bring the running community into a space where they could run together, laugh together, and socialize together. On the backs of 12 people on a Sunday run, the Gansett Run Club was born! Over the past 4 years, we’ve grown from a small group to Rhode Island’s largest run club, featuring brand demos from all the major shoe companies, partnerships and collaborations with running stores, and even into hosting events of our own!
Who is your club open to?
‘Gansett Run Club is open to absolutely anyone. If you’re working up towards walking a half mile at a time, training for your 20th marathon, or just looking for a place to hang out on Wednesday evenings, you can probably find what you’re looking for at ‘GRC.
When and where do you typically meet to run?
We meet every Wednesday evening at Narragansett Brewery (271 Tockwotton St, Providence, RI 02903). Our main run at 6 PM is an out and back loop starting at the brewery and heading down the East Bay Bike Path. You can go as far or short as you’d like but most people will aim for 1, 3, or 5 miles. Some of us will even meet up early for a couple of bonus miles at 5:30 PM or even 5PM.
Do you host any other non-running events?
While running is the center of what brings us together, our goal is to make this not just a run club, but a community. We regularly host free fitness workouts with local gyms and yoga studios, engage in community service events, or host cheer stations and volunteer at races.
Aside from the Grand Prix, are there any other races that your club attends/competes in as a team?
Not yet. Historically we’ve been focused on enjoying the community building that has been happening one Wednesday at a time. We’ve had a significant presence at many community races, and are looking forward to more team based racing soon. Stay tuned to see if there will be a ‘GRC team in the 2026 USATF New England Grand Prix.
Does your club offer any coaching or assistance with training plan development?
We don’t have an official “coach,” but we do have several running coaches who run with us. We also collaborate regularly with Heartbreak Hill Running Co, who provides free training and run support for Boston, Chicago, and any other marathons around that same time frame.
Does your club support any philanthropic efforts?
We believe that to be a community, we have to give back to our community. We have hosted donation drives, free fitness event collaborations, cheer stations, and various fundraisers for events. We’ll routinely collaborate with community events – volunteering via plogging, road race support, and numerous other efforts. Most recently, we hosted a Blue Jean Mile with NAMI-Rhode Island at Providence College, in conjunction with our friends at Run Newport and Wave Runners Run Crew – and we raised $8000 to help support mental health initiatives in Rhode Island! Our goal is to not only make running accessible to all, but to make ourselves the best neighbors we can. Follow our Instagram and e-mail list as we’ll routinely highlight our runners’ fundraising efforts.
Is there anything else you’d like to share about your club?
Gansett Run Club is more than just a running group. We’re a community rooted in good vibes, inclusivity, and a shared love for movement. Whether you’re training for a marathon or showing up for your first group run, you’ll find support, high fives, and probably a post-run beer waiting for you. We’re committed to making running accessible, social, and fun for everyone in the Providence area and beyond. Come for the miles. Stay for the people.
If someone is interested in joining your club, what is the best way to reach you?
Instagram @GansettRunClub
Facebook group – ‘Gansett Run Club
E-mail list – follow link tree to sign up https://tr.ee/HTPkHnzVYN
