Run, Forks, Run: Grand Forks Running Groups

Whether you’re looking for a way to stay active in the winter, wanting a fun, seasonal way to gather with friends or are simply looking for a way to fight cabin fever, skiing might be your solution! To the uninitiated, Grand Forks might not seem like “ski central” but a closer look and  a quick jaunt a little farther afield can yield great rewards as far as skiing is concerned. So grab your gaiter, tighten up your bindings, and keep your ski wax handy as we kick and glide through the winter landscape!

One of the longest operating run groups in Grand Forks, the Red River Runners, was established back in 2008 by Stacy Kusler who aimed to create a community of runners in Grand Forks. Though only one runner showed up to the first meeting, the club grew over the years and evolved into a non-profit with a seven-member board and over 100 members! This group stays plenty busy during the year. They organize two 5ks, host two summer running series, and hold an annual meeting and pancake breakfast.

The group meets every Saturday morning at Choice Fitness at 7:30am where runners are given the option to run inside on the track, or outside depending on the weather. During the summer they also host two clinic-style weekly organized runs to correspond with popular local races. The ‘Ready-Set-FarGo’ running series aims to prepare participants for the Fargo Marathon Race weekend with an eye towards newer runners who are looking to tackle the marathon or half-marathon distance for their first time. Before the run, members offer short “runner tidbits” about topics like weight training, nutrition and staying safe while running.

Another running series, hosted at Lincoln Park, involves a 45-minute run followed by 15 minutes of calisthenics. The series typically runs between June and August and acts as a training lead-up to the weekend of the Grand Forks 10, a race weekend which offers the opportunity to compete in 5k, 10k and 10-mile races.

To top it all off, the Red River Runners also put on three signature running events throughout the year. The first is the Shamrock Shuffle, a St. Patrick’s Day themed 5k which is a perfect way to work up a thirst before the Leprechaun Loop bar crawl that takes place right after the race. In addition, they organize a Turkey Trot, as well as a holiday lights run which takes runners through Lincoln Park to take in the Christmas light displays that are put up by local businesses and organizations.

This run group starts out with a three-mile jog but ends with a frothy pint and delicious pizza! The group started in 2014 as a collaboration between Richard Dafoe, the owner of See Dick Run and Rhombus Brewery. Runners would meet at the brewery, go for a three-to-five-mile run, and then return to socialize, and swap stories over “the Runner’s Pint”, a buy one, get one pint deal that members of the group were eligible for.

There have been a few bumps in the road with Rhombus Brewery shuttering and complications due to the pandemic, but the Rhombus Run Group is going as strong as ever. The group continues to meet at See Dick Run, on the corner of Kittson and Third Street every Thursday night at 7:00. “Every Thursday” is no exaggeration either. The group meets rain or shine, sleet or snow, year-round, no matter what the temperature is. Following the run, participants convene at Rhombus Guy’s Pizza, where community continues to be created over pizza and pints.

If the “year-round” is a bit intimidating, worry not, according to Dafoe “’I’m not a runner’ doesn’t exist here”, it’s a group open to anyone willing to come out and move their body and socialize. The group has been a home away from home for runners of all abilities, whether they be Boston Qualifiers or 13 minute  mile joggers. This group has seen its fair share of casual cyclists, stroller pushers, cross-country skiers and snowshoers as well.

Fitting with the theme of an all-weather, social run group, the Rhombus Runners do an annual “pub run”. They wait for the coldest Thursday evening of the year and run through downtown Grand Forks. Several bars serve as “aid stations” to warm up between half mile stretches and the frosty pints help to lubricate the conversations. This is a run group where community is the primary focus and running is the vehicle that delivers it.

Young Soles was started in August of 2024 by UND students, Anna Bernhardt and Ellen Gregoire. The two recognized that it is difficult to meet people in class and elsewhere and that a social run group could be a catalyst to meet other hardworking young people who are also looking to find and build community. The group, as the name suggests, is geared towards students and young professionals and provides a healthy and productive way to socialize off campus that prioritizes putting your feet to pavement rather than a bar rail.

The group meets on Tuesdays at 7pm on the Greenway just north of Demers Avenue (weather permitting) and typically follows UND’s schedule. The runs typically range between three to four miles in length and take place on the Greenway. The group does more than just run on the Greenway, however. They’ve also had a Halloween costume run, a Christmas lights run down Belmont and through Lincoln Park, and an ice cream run, where runners made ice cream in their backpacks while they ran.

Young Soles tends to be a faster paced group but is open to all runners. On busier evenings, there tend to be enough people to break into different pace groups so don’t be shy!

RADD, which stands for “Runners Against Destructive Decisions”, is a group that aims to prove that recovery can be fun, collaborative and joyful! RADD was started by Judge David Reich in Bismarck, ND who wanted to provide those struggling with drug and alcohol addictions with a stable and active outlet in a supportive environment.

The Grand Forks chapter was spurred on by a serendipitous meeting between two strangers turned friends, Matthew Hippen, and Max Reichert at Crisp & Green. Hippen, who worked there at the time, mentioned the fact that he was planning on starting a chapter of RADD in Grand Forks and Reichert was immediately interested. The pair have struggled with drug and alcohol addiction and were both looking for a recovery community that was positive and active.

The group has been active since 2024 and meets at noon on Sundays at Crisp & Green in the summers. The meetings typically start off with a forty-five-minute walk or run followed by  salads and fellowship. RADD is mainly comprised of walkers for now but hopes to increase its numbers to include multiple different pace groups. The group transitions to indoor walking in the winter.

RADD organizes more than just weekly runs, they have also hosted three free Holiday themed 5ks on the Greenway: Hoppin’ for Hope (Easter), the Spooky Sprint (Halloween) and the Gratitude Gallop (Thanksgiving). They also helped host the Phoenix 5k Run/Walk which is put on by Rally for Recovery and timed by Richard Dafoe of See Dick Run. Beyond facilitating 5ks, RADD has a more ambitious goal to eventually coordinate with the Fargo chapter of RADD to organize a half marathon.

This group is the most recent addition to the running scene in Grand Forks. It was started in Fall of 2025 by three students, Jack Almquist, Ally Pabek, and Leighton Steidel. The three met and became friends by attending Young Soles and decided that they wanted to form their own student organization as there was no UND run club. The goal was to provide an inclusive group on campus that welcomes runners of all abilities. The trio grew up around running and aims to spread their love of the sport and show that it can be for anyone.

By that metric the club has been a success. On nicer evenings, the club has been known to have up to 80 runners! The organization welcomes a large mix of people, everyone from people who have never run before and don’t consider themselves runners all the way to those preparing for a marathon who use the club as an opportunity to log extra miles. Once, during a run, a passerby on the way back from playing paddle ball decided to spontaneously join in on the run.

If you’re a UND student who is looking to give running a go or just become more active and meet people, the club meets at 7:00pm at the UND Wellness Center. Runs are seasonal, starting in early spring as the weather warms up and wrapping up around the end of October. The group typically has two routes, a one to one-and-a-half-mile loop for beginner runners and a two to three mile route for more advanced runners. Afterwards, group members will be able to rehydrate with electrolytes provided by LMNT or DripDrop, which are supplied at the end of the run.

Whether you’re training for a big race, looking for an active social opportunity, or just wanting to put more miles on your dusty pair of trainers, the run groups of Grand Forks can provide just such an opportunity!