"We don’t just run together.  We talk, we care about each other’s lives and well-being and we work together to better our community.”

This might have been said by any member of the Ann Arbor Track Club whose mission is to ‘promote fitness, friendship and fun for all ages through running, walking and track & field activities.’

But Chrissie Costakis, Social Events Coordinator of MRun, the University of Michigan club for runners, further describes her organization as “absolutely wonderful.  When I came in as a freshman, MRun welcomed me with open arms and provided a safe, healthy home away from home.”

Similar sentiments are heard regularly of the AATC.

How fortunate the city of Ann Arbor is to have not one but two community based running organizations of such caliber.

Mitch Garner and Scott Wagner, respective AATC and MRun presidents, are actively exploring opportunities for the two clubs to work together.

Garner maintains, “One of my goals as President is to reach out to different segments of our running community, including college students.  It is important that we support groups like the University of Michigan Running Club because their members are the future of running, and someday they will be the leaders of grass roots organizations like the Ann Arbor Track Club”

Recently, the AATC Board of Directors awarded a $1,500 grant to MRun.

Wagner reports that the funds have been allocated to cover administrative costs for three charity events, Race Across Michigan, myTeamTriumph and Relay for Life, which MRun regularly supports.  Scott believes that a partnership between the two clubs could afford great benefits “in the community service area.”

“MRun has a great deal of passion for using running as a tool to inspire change in our community, and the strong running community and deep resources of the AATC should help us take these fantastic events to the next level.”

Outreach and fundraising are two areas in which Wagner has identified a need for assistance, and specifically for myTeamTriumph, an athletic ride-along program created for people who otherwise would not be able to participate in endurance events, he reveals, “I hope if our two clubs work together, we can establish a southeast Michigan chapter and really help this cause gain some traction in our area of the state.”

Though Garner maintains, “The notion of a partnership between the AATC and MRun is nebulous at this time,” the clubs are in regular contact and continuing talks of creating a jointly hosted road race.

Additionally, MRun members are welcome and encouraged to take part in AATC hosted races as runners or volunteers.

Wagner conveys that a number of MRun’s members participated in last year’s AATC hosted track meets as well as the Dexter-Ann Arbor Run and Cross Country Classic.

“We greatly enjoyed running, hope to attend again this year and intend on participating in Dexter-Ann Arbor with myTeamTriumph.”

Michelle Lapin, a social chair for MRun, exudes, “It would be great to do some workouts as well so our clubs can get to know each other!” and further adds, “I look forward to more years with the AATC and helping to continue and strengthen our partnership!”

Costakis stresses how appreciative MRun is of the AATC’s help thus far.

Our country’s 40th president, Ronald Reagan once said, “There is no such thing as limits to growth, because there are no limits to the human capacity for intelligence, imagination, and wonder.”

What an exciting notion for the future of MRun and the AATC.

Wagner and Garner can be reached individually at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

And for more information on MRun and their charitable events, please visit their respective websites on http://mrun.clubrunning.org, http://mrun.clubrunning.org/ram.html, http://www.myteamtriumph.com/, http://www.cancer.org/