About the Club
Why Whitewater Run Club exists, who we serve, and what we're working toward.
Who we are
Whitewater Run Club (WRC, also WWRC) is a community running club based in Whitewater, Wisconsin. We’re registered with USA Track & Field (USATF). This means the following:
- All coaches, volunteers and club administrators are SafeSport Compliant.
- SafeSport Compliance requirements include having a current Individual USATF Membership, successfully passing a background screen, and successful completion of the SafeSport Course.
- These individuals must remain compliant at all times, or the club’s USATF membership will be deactivated.
We serve the greater Whitewater area. This includes the surrounding communities of Jefferson, Fort Atkinson, Palmyra, East Troy, Delavan, and Lake Geneva. However, if you love running and are willing to participate then you are welcome!
Why we exist
There is a long stretch of Wisconsin between the strong club running scenes in Madison and Milwaukee. Whitewater sits right in that gap. Kids interested in cross country usually don’t get structured running until they reach middle or high school — and a lot of them never start because the on-ramp isn’t there.
For adults, the picture isn’t much better. The University of Wisconsin–Whitewater runs strong athletics programs, but if you’re a community runner (not a student-athlete), there isn’t a regular, paced, or coached weekly group within easy driving distance.
WRC seeks to fill both gaps.
Our priorities — in order
- Build the youth pipeline first. Get kids ages 8–14 running in a structured, age-appropriate, coached environment. Feed local high school cross country programs. Give kids who don’t make varsity rosters a place to keep running.
- Support high school runners year-round. Off-season base, summer mileage, supplemental training that complements (does not compete with) their school coach.
- Build the larger running community. Regularly, weekly group runs, race calendars, training plans, and social events for the running adults of the region.
- Promote free, public running events. Develop and promote free running events open to the public to grow a love of running in our communtiy and improve community fitness.
- Educate the public on running fitness. Provide free running education to the public to help our community runners develop safely and in a healthy manner to keep their love of running strong.
- Become a sustainable nonprofit. Register as a Wisconsin nonprofit and apply for 501(c)(3) status so we can raise money for youth scholarships, gear, race entry support, and coaching stipends.
Our status today
| Item | Status |
|---|---|
| USATF Club Membership | ✅ Active |
| Road Runners Club of America (RRCA) Membership | ⏳ In planning |
| Wisconsin Nonstock Corporation | ⏳ In planning |
| IRS 501(c)(3) recognition | ⏳ Application planned post-incorporation |
| SafeSport-certified youth coaches | ✅ Yes; USATF required |
| Weekly Meetups | ⏳ In planning; WMS track temporarily closed |
What we do
- Free Weekly meetups typically on Sundays at 3:00 PM at a place determined by club members
- Youth running programs structured around the cross country season calendar
- Training plans from Screens To 5Ks (walk-to-run beginner program) through full marathon (Norwegian Singles framework)
- Race travel to USATF-sanctioned and other Wisconsin races
Where we run
Whitewater is surrounded by some of the best running terrain in southern Wisconsin: the Kettle Moraine State Forest (Southern Unit), the Glacial Drumlin State Trail, Cravath Lake Park, and Whitewater Creek. Plus the UW–Whitewater campus loops and the middle school track for workouts (WMS track temporarily closed). See our Routes page for trailheads, distances, and difficulty.
Run with us
If you’re interested in any of this — for yourself or your child — start with Join the Club. It takes about 90 seconds and tells us how to send you the right information.