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June 2025 Run-Down

  • Writer: Michelle Leduc
    Michelle Leduc
  • Jul 1
  • 6 min read

June was a big month for the Russell Run Club. From chasing sunrises and sunsets at our first track ultra to seeing group runs and track workouts grow, it’s been inspiring to watch our community show up, support each other, and aim big.

In this month’s Run-Down, you’ll find stories from the Chase the Sun event, a look behind the scenes at how Track Thursdays came to life, and plenty of ways to get involved—whether you’d like to volunteer, join a training group, or share your own running story.

Scroll down for photos, race recaps, volunteer opportunities, and all the details on where to find us next. We hope to see you out there soon!


Eleven of the Chase the Sun runners at sunrise
Eleven of the Chase the Sun runners at sunrise

In This Issue

Chase the Sun

Upcoming Events


If you want to get all the updates in real-time, follow us on Social Media or sign up for weekly emails.

Join the Russell Run Club Community Facebook Group to see what’s happening with our Members.

Chase the Sun


We did it! Hundreds of kilometres were run on the Russell High School track on Saturday, June 14, 2025 at the Chase the Sun track ultra. We lucked out on an amazing sunrise, sunset and perfect weather in between. Nineteen runners toed the start line and ran loops at varying time.  We were seeing every distance from 10 to 104 km.  Check out these stories bout the event.  


The Race Director: Michelle

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I decided to host a track ultra. But what unfolded was one of the most inspiring days I’ve ever been part of.

From first light to sunset, runners and volunteers showed what this community is all about.


I put together the full story here:

The Participant: Erika

104 km. 15 hours and 26 minutes on the track-


I was nervous going into this.

Nervous to say a goal out loud.

Nervous to aim for something as big as 100 km.

I had never run past 50 km before…and I had never spent any serious time running loops on a track. Saying that goal felt bold…maybe even unrealistic. But I said it anyway.


For the first 5 hours, I focused on running 7 km each hour. After each 7 km, I’d take a short break to refuel, reapply sunscreen, and reset…then get right back out there. I felt steady and in control.


After 5 hours, I kept the 7 km/hour target, but shifted to a 5-minute run / 2-minute walk rhythm. That pattern helped me stay consistent even as fatigue started to build. My fueling stayed on track, and I kept moving…hour by hour.


The final 15 km…brutal.

I hit that WHAT am I doing headspace. I walked more. I wrestled with everything. But somewhere in those last 8 km, I found a second wind and pushed through.


I crossed the line at 104 km.


Not just proud of the distance but proud that I committed to something that scared me, said it out loud, and followed through all the way.


A little lesson from Coach Michelle about "just showing up"


Track Thursday: I nearly gave up.


More days than not, I’d come up with a workout, pack up all my equipment and signs, and drive out to the high school early to beat the soccer crowd—only to have one, maybe two, or, if I was lucky, three people show up. Some days, I’d spend an hour setting up and waiting, only to pack it all away again. I was embarrassed and frustrated about the effort and time I had poured into something the Club said they wanted. But actions speak louder.

Still, I reminded myself of what I always preach about training and building a community: consistency is key. Just keep showing up. That’s how we built the Group Run. So I kept posting the workouts. I kept improving the way I shared them and adding information to help people train smarter. I have a notebook to track everyone’s results so that those who showed up can see their progress. I shared photos, advertised on social media—doing everything I could to create the image of Track Thursday as I dreamed it could be, rather than what it was in that moment.


Today, the workout didn’t go exactly as planned, but I was happy about it. The width of the track couldn’t handle twelve runners at once. I couldn’t record everyone’s splits because my app required me to flip between too many names, and they were crossing the start and finish faster than my fingers could keep up. So instead, I stood on the top step of the track, taking photos and videos. I watched them push hard, curse my name, and just enjoy moving together.


In the end, they gathered, laughed, and supported each other. The warm-up started late, most of the time, because everyone was busy chatting about their week. Cooldown rarely happens because they’re already planning the weekend’s training.

This—this is the dream of what I want this program to be.

Maybe it was an anomaly—everyone’s schedules just happened to align. Maybe it’s the start of a trend. Either way, it was a reminder: just keep showing up.

Meet Me on Main Street

Do you want to learn more about the Club, Programs or Events?  Come by our booth at the Township of Russell’s Meet Me on Main Street event on Tuesday, July 15, 2025 from 5 to 8 PM.


What Was the Russell Run Club Up to This Month?



Upcoming Events

Group Training Schedule


We have training opportunities up to 5 days a week:


Want to join us? Please RSVP HERE, shoot us a message or email (info@russellrunclub.ca)

Share Your Stories

Races are more than just numbers—they’re full of highs, lows, grit, and unexpected moments. Help us build a resource for the RRC community (and beyond!) by sharing your experience.

The form below is broken into simple sections to help you tell your story without overthinking it. No pressure to be poetic—just be real.


Race or Training Recaps

Races and runs are full of highs, lows, and unexpected moments. Help us inspire the RRC community by sharing yours—no need to be poetic, just be real.


Prefer to write your own? Upload your report directly—we’ll follow up if we need anything. Training runs count too!


Member Highlights

Whether you hit a big goal or just had a run that meant something, we’d love to feature it in our newsletter, blog, or social media.


Volunteer Opportunities

Youth Programs – Instructors

Our youth programs are growing quickly, and we need more helping hands to keep the quality high.

We’re looking for volunteers who are:

  • Reliable and ready to help at practices and events

  • Positive and encouraging

  • Passionate about running or supporting young athletes

Coaching isn’t just about running—it’s about inspiring kids, building confidence, and making the sport fun.

💡 High school students—volunteer hours count!

Interested? Reach out and join us in building something special.


Group Run Coordinator

As our group runs expand, we’re looking for a Group Run Coordinator to help oversee the program and support our volunteer run leads. If you’re organized, encouraging, and love creating a welcoming running community, this could be a great fit.



Group Run Leads

Not ready to coordinate but still want to help? We’re also looking for more Group Run Leads to guide occasional runs, welcome new members, and share your love of running.

No application needed—just email michelle@russellrunclub.ca if you’re interested.

If you want to get all the updates real time, follow us on Social Media or sign up for weekly emails.

Join the Russell Run Club Community Facebook Group to see what’s happening with our Members.






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