The Upstate Running Club officially kicked off in June of 2020. It started the way a lot of good running things start, a few local leaders realizing we all wanted the same thing: more community, more consistency, and a place where anybody in the Upstate could belong.

Important Club Links

• Club Membership Page

• Club Store Page

• Race Discounts on ALL Events

• Club Member Benefits

• Strava Club - Kudos Korner

• Run Club Schedule

• Facebook Group

• Facebook Page

Race Series Pages 

• Upstate Trail Series

• Upstate Road Series

• Upstate Brew Series

• Upstate Youth Series

• Upstate Giving Series

• Upstate Ultra Series

Since then, URC has grown into chapters across Anderson, Greenville, Spartanburg, Easley, and Greenwood, and the mission has stayed simple even as we’ve gotten bigger: promote running and overall wellness in the Upstate through group runs, meaningful partnerships, and races that don’t feel like they’re priced for superheroes only.

If you’ve joined us anytime over the last few years, you’ve probably felt it. The Tuesday night crew that knows your name. The long run that turns into coffee. The volunteers who show up early, stay late, and somehow still manage to cheer the loudest. The youth athletes learning what it means to work, to race, to improve, and to support each other. That’s the heartbeat of this thing.

And now, stepping into 2026, we’re in one of those “new chapter” moments. Not because we’re leaving behind what made URC special, but because we’re building a stronger framework around it so it lasts. More structure. More leadership. More opportunity for members to plug in and actually shape what the club becomes next.

Here’s what we’re trying to accomplish in 2026.

First, we want to make URC feel more connected, even across different cities. Chapters matter, but so does the feeling that you’re part of one bigger team. Whether you run in Anderson, Greenville, Spartanburg, or anywhere in between, we want it to feel like the same family with different front porches.

Second, we’re doubling down on the idea that running is for everyone, and I mean everyone. This sport isn’t reserved for the fast and fearless. It’s for the working mom squeezing in miles before sunrise. It’s for the walker finding momentum again. It’s for the couch-to-5K runner who’s equal parts nervous and excited. It’s for the night nurse, the weekend warrior, the gear nerd, the introvert who shows up quietly, and the extrovert who high-fives strangers at mile one.

It’s for the course marshal, the back-of-the-packer, and yes, the Boston qualifier too.

The spectrum of runners is wide, and URC exists to make sure there’s a place for every single one of them.

Third, we’re continuing to invest in youth development. Our youth programs aren’t just “nice to have.” They’re part of the long game. We’re helping young athletes build confidence, discipline, and a sense of belonging, and we’re doing it with coaches, mentors, and volunteers who genuinely care.

And fourth, we want to keep building a club that gives back. In 2026, it’s not just about logging miles and collecting medals. It’s about being a positive force in the Upstate, supporting local partners, showing up for causes that matter, and using this running community for something bigger than ourselves.

So if you’re a current member, thank you. Seriously. Whether you’ve been here since the early days or you just joined last week, you’re part of what makes this work.

And if you’re listening to this and thinking, “I want in,” it’s easy. Jump over to UpstateRaceSeries.com and you’ll find the club membership page, a list of local races, and the different ways you can get involved, whether that’s as a runner, a volunteer, a sponsor, or the person who simply shows up and becomes part of the story.

Because that’s what this is.

It’s not just a club. It’s a community, stitched together one run at a time.