Beginnings
In summer of 2003, a running store named Bipod opened in Edwardsville, IL. One August Saturday morning, the first store run started up, and thus many friendships began.
Though not a formal group, the Bipod runners were an established core of Edward
sville area athletes.
2007
An end and new beginning
An end and new beginning
Unfortunately, Bipod fell under the financial strains that did away with many small businesses during this time.
Bipod employee Rich Luers approached many of the members of the Bipod group with this idea: let's start a running club. Assisting in the venture, Melanie Suess (a fan of alliteration) suggested the club name that won out, and tagged her friend Josh Schipkowski to create a logo.
Part of the new club were Bipod employees Scott Shaw, who would go on to start and manage the running department at The Cyclery bike shop in Edwardsville, and Betsy Dodds who would soon join him as another running expert at that same store. Lindsay Shaw, Phyllis Kunz, and Chris Dockery all will join among others, and hold officer positions in the years to follow.
Thus, the Metro Milers were born, with Rich Luers as club President.
A little race championed by that same fellow debuted in 2007 you may have heard of, the Route 66 10K.
2012
Change of the Guard
Always one with big plans, Rich Luers begins creating what he's always wanted: his own race management company. Concerned that being President of the club (as he's been since it's beginning) will be a conflict of interest, Rich tells then Vice President Mel(anie) Suess one night over beers that he plans to step down, and that she should take over.
As they got into their respective cars, Rich coughs "Mel's President Metro Milers."
2015
New Look!
The Metro Milers decide that, to coincide with an updated website, it was time to simplify and update the club logo to work better with various social platforms and club identity.
