Athlo Blog

Jack Quinn’s Irish Pub in Colorado Springs is becoming more well known for its running club than its Guiness and Irish folk music.  Last month marked the second anniversary of the club and they had a record attendance: 715 runners.  To put this in perspective, I was a member of the running club when it first began and usually 30 to 50 people would show up each week.  The run is on Tuesday evening, year round, rain or shine.  

To see the club grow to the point where the it now has multiple starting times on Tuesday night is incredible.  Members run a nice 5K route along downtown and the Front Range trail in Colorado Springs.  After the run, Jack Quinn’s Irish Pub serves free spaghetti and salad.  They make their money back and then some by offering beer specials and having hundreds of thirsty runners at the Pub on a night they would not otherwise be there.  Although I could not tell from the running club website, I think their policy of giving out free T-shirts to members who show up five times is still in effect.  Since the club runs all year, it should not be too hard for residents of Colorado Springs to get one.

Although similar clubs in Denver and Boulder have not had the success of the Jack Quinn’s club, I think any town in America with a bar and a good group of people who want to become or stay healthy (and drink beer) could start their own running club.  My hometown of Quincy, IL has some frigid winters so year round running is probably out of the question, but I know of a nice little Irish Pub downtown that I will be pitching this same idea to next spring.