Mission Statement

The Red Mule Runners Running Club has two basic purposes and objectives: promoting the sport of running, and financially supporting area youth in the sport.

As a running club, we strive to improve the health and physical fitness amongst our membership while setting a good example of health and fitness to the general public. We hope to be able to convince others that staying fit by running is not just a fad, a habit, or a temporary fling to lose weight, but running could and should be a way of life. Goals don’t always have to be insurmountable obstacles but should be obtainable and reachable plateaus, while learning to run within ourselves. The competitive spirit in all of us doesn’t have to rein supreme, just the joy of the run and the sharing of fellowship with other runners is reward enough.

The future of anything successful lies within its youth. The Red Mule Runners feel strongly in the high school runners of Hernando County and contribute financially in three basic areas. First, each fall, the club sponsors a high school invitational meet where area high school cross country teams compete. Boys and girls from all corners of the state of Florida make this invitational meet a success every year. So successful is this race that we now have to limit the number of school entries. Second, in the spring the club offers two scholarships, one boy and one girl, to any graduating high school senior from an accredited high school in Hernando County, pursuing a post high school education. Guidelines must be met and the amount may vary based on available funds. Third, high school club members in good standing that attend summer running camps are eligible for partial reimbursements based on available funds.

As a non-profit organization, the more funds that are raised, the more we can distribute to the high school runners in our area. At the present time we hold two competitive races each year. A 5K race is held each Labor Day week-end and the coveted 10K Flatlanders Challenge is held at the end of January. Proceeds from these two fund raisers helps to support the club and the local high school talent.

The Red Mule Runners also strive to be community minded by supporting the American Cancer Society in their annual Relay for Life fund raiser and other local non-profit groups and organizations.

We welcome everyone with these same ideals to join us for some sweat and some fun.