Melanie Renae Ellsworth
WMU Photojournalism Final Project
"I'm not a fan of running. Never have been, but forcing myself out of my comfort zone and into a group of random runners made me think differently. Weekly runs for 3 months allowed me to meet people I never would have otherwise. Here are a few of their stories."
Michigan Runners, There's Just Something About Them
Their feet pound the pavement, the sweat drips from their brows, but at the end of the day they are bartending, fixing cars, or planning their next master piece. These are the people of the Mid-Michigan Running Group in Lansing, Michigan.
 |
| The sun shines, the birds chirp and the group heads out for a run |
The members of this group come from all stages of life and all levels of fitness, but their desire to run and their appreciation for one another are what bring them together.
“It’s just a great group of people, very diverse,” Bob Rose, a member of the group said. “We have MSU students, medical residents, retirees, just a wide group of people.”
They started small, but as the years have progressed so too has their group. They stay organized on the website meetup.com and schedule running events that fit the likes of all of the members involved. With over 200 members that can make for some very interesting runs.
At Decker’s Coffee, on Sunday mornings you can find anywhere from a handful of runners to a whole coffee shop full looking over maps and prepping for a long weekend run. Mondays after work you can meet up with a few of them outside of the YMCA for a short 3-4 mile recovery run to get you going for the week. And then Wednesdays come around and that’s when a whole herd of runners appear at the Michigan Brewing Company (MBC) for a run, some socializing and mugs full of beer.
 |
| A large group of runners gather outside of MBC ready for a run, some fun, and some beer |
Many of these runs are on-going weekly events but there are smatterings of meet-ups throughout the week that are simply for random fun. From runs to raise money for charity to runs in celebration of birthdays the group aims to please each individual member.
 |
| The Mid-Michigan Running Group rounds a corner on part of the bike path in Lansing "We have people who have never run before. Some who are recovering from an injury and others who are training for marathons or half marathons,” Rose said. |
 |
| Runners motivating runners on a Sunday morning run |
It’s not simply the diversity of the skill levels of the runners that has allowed this group to be as successful as it has been, but it’s the diversity of the people themselves. It's the variety of people that keeps this group going and growing and lends a sense of intrigue to the group.
When he’s not running, Bob Rose is creating art for himself, for Lansing shops and of course for the interested buyer. He has been a member of the group since early on and takes pride in “leading from behind” always making sure no one runs alone.
 |
| Bob Rose catches his breath after the Sunday morning Decker's Coffee run |
 |
| Bob Rose paints a window at Decker's Coffee for Breast Cancer Awareness |
Naomi Torres is an avid runner. She takes pride in the countless marathons and half marathons that she has taken part in, but she is also a bartender and a mother. In a way you could say she works hard so she can play hard.
 |
| Naomi Torres socializes with friends at MBC before a Wednesday 'Mug Night' run |
 |
| Naomi Torres jokes around with a customer at a Bar in Holt where she works as a bartender |
Then there’s Tim Grinold, a mechanic by day, a runner by night and a charter fishing boat captain on the weekends. A member of the group since early this year, when he's not working he’s training for a Detroit Half Marathon in October.
 |
| Tim Grinold stretches out before is Monday evening run outside the downtown Lansing YMCA |
 |
| Tim Grinold works on his car during a slow day at his father's mechanic shop where he works |
These are only a few of the members of the Mid-Michigan Running Group and just a glimpse into the diversity of what makes this group so great. They are individuals. They have their own lives and their own separate responsibilities, but when the opportunity for running arises and when that need for positive social interaction takes hold they know exactly where to go. The beer at the end of a run helps too.
