Club History

Throwback Thursday- CRC at 50 🎉

We’ve got just over a week to go until this year’s Bidwell Classic! In this throwback we are heading back to 1982-83. The running craze was still in full force in Chico and CRC and Fleet Feet had an entire week full of events and speakers.

You can see the 1982 top results, those OG’s were fast!

Chico News and Review- February 1983

News

Upcoming Race- The Cedar Grove Scamper 5-17-25

Join us for our spring 4 mile race- The Cedar Grove Scamper

 

Join us for Chico Running Club’s Spring 4 Miler, the Cedar Grove Scamper. This year’s four mile race brings a twist on some of our past events with an Open Division (all ages) and a Master’s Division (age 40+). Race proceeds benefit Chico Running Club, celebrating our 50th year in 2025. Our programs include our scholarship fund and our non-profit mission to support running events and local runners in Chico and the North State.
Register here on RunSignUp

Date: Saturday May 17, 2025 @ 8am
Location: Cedar Grove Picnic Area in Bidwell Park, Chico – (Google Map)
Parking: At the Cedar Grove dirt lot, or overflow on East 8th Street

Course:
A beautiful 4 mile loop through lower Bidwell park, the course starts and ends at Cedar Grove picnic area. Surfaces are pavement and dirt trail. The course begins at South Park Drive and quickly crosses the Forest Avenue bridge to the North side of Big Chico Creek. From there it runs up Peterson Memorial drive then doubles back on the Vallombrosa dirt trail. It proceeds until turning back on South Park Drive after the Highway 99 over-crossing to return to Cedar Grove. (Course Map)

Divisions: There are two race divisions- enter either the Open Division (all ages) or the Master’s Division (ages 40+). Prizes will be given to the top finishers in each division.

Bibs and Timing: Bibs will be given to all race entrants. Bib pick-up will be day of the race only, starting at 7am. Timing will be performed by Chico Running Club.

Aid Stations:
No aid stations on the course will be available for the race. Please carry any water or food needed during the race. Water and snacks are available at the finish, park bathrooms are available at Cedar Grove. Give Aways: Please select if you would like a race T-Shirt ($15). The base registration fee does not include a shirt.

Discounted Registration: To celebrate our 50th anniversary Chico Running Club Members receive 50% off race registration. You can join the club at our website. Please don’t select member registration unless you are signed up as a member.

Refreshments: Drinks and snacks will be provided after the race. Please stay after completing the race to cheer on other participants as they cross the finish.

Volunteers: Not ready to participate? Volunteers are needed and welcome for this race. Please click on the volunteer tab in the RunSignUp menu to sign up.

Sponsors: Would you like to sponsor this event? We have T-Shirt, Refreshment, and Event Sponsor tiers.

Race Insurance: Is provided by a RunSignUp partner. Chico Running Club does not provide or administer race insurance should participants elect to purchase it. 
Register here on RunSignUp

Club History

Throwback Thursday- Celebrating 50 Years of CRC! 🕺

2025 marks the 50th year for Chico Running Club! Throughout the year we will be featuring throwbacks from the club’s past. This week it’s a clipping from the News and Review about the 1979 Bidwell Classic, as “running madness” had taken over Chico.

Founded by CRC, the Bidwell Classic used to include a full marathon Boston qualifier.

You can still register for this year’s Bidwell Classic 5k, 10k and half marathon March 1st. Almost 600 have signed up so far!

Chico News and Review- February 1979

News

Frost or Fog Group Runs

Chico Running Club is kicking off our Frost or Fog (FoF) group training runs.

We’ll meet at Five Mile Recreation parking area (Google Map) and head out on the FoF course.

The full route is 10 miles, but there is also a FoF 5k and Quarter Marathon, pick a comfortable distance. The group training runs will take place from Saturday 12/14 – Saturday 1/18, with FoF race day on 1/25/25.

The FoF course is a fun one that tests pacing, strategy, endurance, and climbing ability. Go out too fast and suffer on the uphill. Charge the hill to fast and burn up energy for the downhill.

Register for the race at RunSignUp Visit our Facebook page, Facebook group, and Strava Group for more information.

News

2025 Membership Drive

Our 2025 Membership drive is open, join the club today!

Easy Online Sign-up: We have a new membership form on our website where it’s super easy to join and pay online. This will automatically generate a club membership card, which will entitle you to all CRC benefits.

Club benefits include:
– 10% off most items at Fleet Feet Chico (just show your member card at checkout)
– Free pizza at our monthly club social meetings
– Online promo codes for running and gear discounts
– Chico Running Club Shirt (1 per new member)

Cost:
Individual memberships are just $35 per year and renew January 1st.
Family memberships are only $50, and are good for households of up to four people.
Join us!


Upcoming Race: Our next event is the free New Year’s Day 5k in Bidwell Park. You can find out more and register on RunSignUp.


Club Survey: As part of the membership drive, we have a membership survey on our website to help us improve the club and get feedback from members/local runners. Let us know what you think and what you would like the club to work on next year.


2025: Our 50th Anniversary: We are excited for the coming year and the celebration of CRC’s 50th anniversary. The club was founded by a group of Chico runners in 1975, and over the years founded the Almond Bowl and Bidwell Classic. These two races are major events in town and have raised thousands of dollars for local high school running programs at Chico High and Pleasant Valley.


Latest News: 2024 was a year of new club members, new board members, new events, and new energy as we build the next chapter of CRC. Here are some highlights from the past year:

-We have an all new website with updated calendar of local events
-New email newsletter: join our mailing list here
-New CRC Gear Store with new shirt designs (see above)
-Started our new Tuesday night Pub Run, which will restart in the spring
-We’re starting Saturday group run trainings in December for the upcoming Frost or Fog race
-Started a new Saturday group run WhatsApp chat group
-We teamed up with Chico Striders to sponsor the Run Strong Scholarship
-We have a new sponsorship program- please share with any local business who would like to team with us.
-Launched our new Strava Group this year

We’re looking forward to fun and festive 2025.

Events, Races

Don’t Miss the New Year’s Day 5k!

2024 New Year’s Eve & New Year’s Day 2025 5k

Join us for a Chico Running Club tradition our New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day 5k!
REGISTER HERE FOR NEW YEAR’S DAY 5k

New Year’s Eve 2024 5k
When: 5:30pm
Where: Wildwood Park, Chico (Google Map)
What: Fun run to Horseshoe Lake and Back
Details: Say goodbye to the old year with a fun social run into upper park. It’s dark out there, so bring a headlamp or flashlight to light your way.

New Year’s Day 2025 5k
When: 9:00am
Where: Bidwell Park, Sycamore Field (Google Map)
What: New Year’s 5k on the official City of Chico Bidwell Park Course
Details: Start the New Year right with CRC’s New Year’s Day 5k run, with our race timing clock running for those of you who want a challenge on the first day of the year! This is a free event, bibs will not be assigned. It’s a Chico tradition! 🙂
Donations: This is a free event and open to everyone. Donations are welcome!
You can donate to the club at our Donation Page.
We’ll have refreshments- coffee, hot chocolate, donuts and CRC gear for purchase.

Prizes will be given to the top finishers.
REGISTER HERE FOR NEW YEAR’S DAY 5k

News

More Trails Open in Upper Bidwell Park!

Big thanks to all the volunteers and Chico Velo Trailworks for getting these trails opened up following the Park Fire.

From Chico Enterprise Record:
The city said the following trails and areas will remain closed to hikers, cyclists, joggers and all others until further notice:
• Upper Park Road beyond B Trail
• Yahi Trail east of Parking Lot P
• Guardian Trail east of Pine Trail
• Annie Bidwell Trail east of Bloody Pin Trail
• Legacy Trail
• Ten Mile House Road
• Old Chico Canyon Road east of 10-Mile House Road

The city warns in the release that anyone found in the closed area are subject to fines and citations.

News

Can’t Decide on a Shoe?

Sometimes the shoe store can be an overwhelming place. With so many brands and so many styles to choose from, it can be hard to find the right shoe.

Of course, there are a ton of resources online for shoe reviews, but one of the best is Run Repeat. Founded by a runner and former running store owner, the site does comprehensive independent tests and reviews on a wide variety of running shoes. So the next time you can’t decide on the right shoe head over and nerd out on their detailed shoe breakdowns.

News

Chico Striders Run Strong Scholarship

Chico running club is thrilled to partner with Chico Striders Youth Running Club again this year to co-sponsor the second annual Run Strong Scholarship. Each year the Striders identify a deserving local athlete for this scholarship. The scholarship is awarded to the student athlete that has demonstrated commitment, courage, and charisma in both their academic and athletic career.

In 2023 a $1,000 scholarship was awarded to Chloe Alchin, Strider and Pleasant Valley High School graduate who has continued her running career at Cal Poly Pomona and studying Animal Sciences.

In 2024 a $1,000 scholarship was awarded to Austin Hein an accomplished runner at Pleasant Valley High School, who will be attending Cal State Stanislaus and continuing his running career on the collegiate level.

News

New Tuesday Night CRC Pub Runs

It’s an exciting time in Chico with new running groups and events happening in town!

With that in mind, Chico Running Club is hosting a new Tuesday night pub run.
We’ll start at The Allies Pub (426 Broadway St Ste 130, behind Stoble Coffee) the first and third Tuesdays of the month starting July 2024.
Suggested routes will be forthcoming and will head into the park.
Distance will be 5M or 5K or choose your own distance. All paces are welcome!

We will have a few opening remarks and aim to kick off the run a few minutes after 6pm.
Join us for a fun run and a cold beverage on the shaded patio of The Allies Pub!

We look forward to seeing you there! Cheers! 🍻

👟This mid-week run is meant to complement our regular Saturday morning group run in Bidwell Park:
https://chicorunningclub.org/group-runs/

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