The Purdue Running Club was established in August of 1998. At that time, there were only 25 members ranging in abilities from the weekend runner to the marathoner. The club was established with the purpose of providing information about races in the area, fostering relationships between everyone from the novice to the serious runner, and training for individual runners' goals.

Over the years the club has established many traditions. Some of which are: going to local restaurants for dinner, weekend wolleyball, ice skating in the winter and hosting a 5K race during Purdue Grand Prix weekend. The club has consistently sent runners to compete in the Chicago Marathon with many qualifying and running in the Boston Marathon.

The club participates in many road and trail races during the year. A dedicated group of runners consistently takes on the challenge to run stair climb races such as running to the top of the Sears Tower in Chicago or climbing up the All America Building in Indianapolis.

In the past year, the Purdue Running Club has participated in many different events, ranging from races to community enhancement act ivies. Perhaps the most prestigious US running event is the Boston Marathon, where runners must first run a qualifying time in another marathon before they are allowed to participate. In the past year the Run Club has had 6 members qualify for this event, three of them participating in the 2005 race, and 3 more planning on participating in the 2006 race. In order to attempt to qualify for this race, runners have participated in marathons at the following locations: Chicago, Louisville, San Francisco, Phoenix, Houston and Austin.

While marathoning is a great test of endurance for runners, it is not the only area of interest. Runners have participated in dozens of 5ks, 10ks and half marathons throughout the year as well. Also, there are two stair races that the club sends a team to. The first is a 37 story challenge in Indianapolis, where the Run Club teams won two of the team divisions. The other is the tallest stair race in the world, the 103 story race up the Sears Tower. Both of these events add to the diversity of events that runners participate in.

Outside of running, the club also is active in helping the community put on athletic events. This spring members of the club volunteered time to help the local Harrison High School field a high school track meet. Members completed jobs ranging from helping with the timing of the events to setting up/breaking down the hurdles before and after hurdling events. Members also volunteered time to help the Purdue Triathlon Club field their Boilermaker triathlon, as well as helping the graduate biology students field a 5k race here on campus.

Every spring, the Purdue Running Club hosts a 5k race during the Grand Prix weekend. This event is not only a fundraiser for the club, it also provides Purdue students with a healthy activity to participate during the weekend.

This October marks the first year that the Running Club has also hosted a fall 5k race. By organizing events like these the Running Club is attempting to promote and encourage a healthy lifestyle for the general student population.

2005 marks the second year that the Purdue Running Club has sent a team to the Mid-West College Club Cross Country Championships. This race is a team event hosted by the Ball State Running Club, where running clubs from around the mid-west are invited to participate. In the inaugural year, the top finishing men's team from Purdue placed third, and the women's team placed second.

The Purdue Running Club has had many great accomplishments on and off the road in the 8 years of its existence. With a record number of runners attending the daily runs throughout the 2005/2006 school year, many more great accomplishments are sure to come.