Our History
FITNESS. FAITH. FUN.
How It Began
In the summer of 1998, a close friend approached me with a simple request: would I teach his daughter how to run? He shared that she was a naturally fast runner, often outrunning her brothers (he was right—she went on to be a great athlete and earned a track scholarship to UNC Asheville). He was searching for a coach and knew that I had competed in track and field at Brevard Junior College and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. During our conversation, he asked why there were no camps or clinics specifically designed to teach kids how to run. While there were plenty of camps for other sports—baseball, basketball, wrestling, football, tennis, and more—running seemed to be missing.
That conversation sparked the idea that would eventually become Runner’s Camp. With access to track facilities at the local high school and middle school, as well as two track coaches from our church, North Wake Church in Wake Forest, we quickly turned the idea into reality. In just six weeks, we launched our very first camp. Our mission for Runner’s Camp was clear: share our faith, teach kids the basics of running, jumping, and throwing (the foundations of track and field), and have fun getting fit and competing in the sport.
Rob Craig
Executive Director
Runner’s Camp International
“We created The Runner’s Camp for the purpose of inspiring children to pursue faith, fun, and fitness.”
~ Rob
HOW WE GOT HERE
27 Years of Service
At our first camp that summer, we hosted 43 kids, and their response was overwhelming. The kids loved it and they were genuinely disappointed when the week ended. In the years that followed, the camp in Wake Forest continued to grow, expanding to as many as three camps in one summer. From these humble beginnings, Runner’s Camp has expanded to multiple locations in Wake Forest and across the country—including North Carolina, Indiana, Maryland, Virginia, Arizona, and Florida—as well as international locations in Uganda, Portugal, Morocco, Kenya, and Canada. Over the past 27 years, we estimate that about 10,000 kids have participated in Runner’s Camps. Today, Runner’s Camp has evolved into Runner’s Camp International, overseeing camps every summer in the U.S. and worldwide. We are planning for more than 10 camps in the summer of 2027.
If you had visited that first camp in 1998, you’d find that much has remained the same—faith, fun, and fitness are still at the heart of everything we do. We hope you’ll join us this year and experience the excitement for yourself.
Our Impact
Runner’s Camp Has Had the Chance To Serve By Offering…
10
ANNUAL Camps
20K+
PEOPLE
6
Countries
27