Run Club Menlo Park (RCMP)

Run Club Menlo Park is a running program for kids 7*-14 years old. While our program is non-competitive and we have runners of all levels from first-time beginners to advanced level runners, we are a serious running program for all girls and boys.

*Please see our About RCMP page for more info on younger runners: Click Here.

The First Rule of Run Club: Have Fun! The way to keep kids running is to keep running fun. While we are having fun running, we also teach serious running techniques such as pace, form, endurance, and speed. We weave running games into our workouts (Clue Relay, Sharks & Minnows, Chaos Tag, and more) and include a social-emotional lesson/theme at many practices. This past season, we covered topics such as Compromise, Cooperation, Gratitude, Burden vs. Opportunity, and many more. Is it really that fun? On average over the past three seasons, 89% of runners have returned to run the next season.

For Spring Season, we train for 8 weeks (twice a week) and complete two 5K races and one 3K trail race. Run Club Menlo Park is also an official USA Track & Field youth running club and there are opportunities through the club to participate in local, regional, and even national competitions (we took 12 runners to Junior Olympics in Indiana last fall). In Fall and Spring seasons, we raced in Hayward (XC), Pleasanton (XC), Rancho Cordova (XC), Cottonwood (XC), Fresno (XC), Indiana (XC), Stanford (5K), Brisbane (5K), Stockton (Track), Modesto (Track), Oakland (Track), and Menlo Park (XC & 5K & 3K Trail).

Season and Program Details

RCMP has two seasons, one in the Fall and one in the Spring. Fall Season starts at the end of August and Spring Season starts in mid-March. Practices are held at the Encinal Elementary school track & field.

Runners attend two practices a week (some advanced runners attend three). We practice on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesday, and Fridays - 3:15-4:45 immediately after the Encinal school day ends. Kids choose which two days they will attend. See the About RCMP page for full details on how to best choose which two days to attend. Hillview, Laurel, Oak Knoll, and other schools students may arrive by 3:30.

Program Includes:
• 16 Practices (8 weeks) Including Lesson Materials
• Occasional Practice Goodies (e.g. lap counters/bracelets/stickers)
• Working on 3K XC Trail Run (Race Fees Included) 5/4/25
• Season End 5K (Schoohouse Rocks - Race Fees included) 5/18/25
• My Heart Counts 5K on 4/27 race fees are NOT included - you will register if attending.
• Snack & Drink at end of Each Practice
• End of Season T-Shirt
• Coaching Hours at Races
• May Include USATF Cross-Country/Track Racing Opportunities
• May Also Include USATF Competition Entry Fees
• Thanks to Fleet Feet Menlo Park - Running shoe discounts and welcome kit
• Does NOT include USATF Youth Membership (~$40) (may not be needed)

Cost: $600 (RCMP is the least expensive MPCSD after-school program - see our About RCMP page for details: Click Here)

Head Coach: Scott Paterson - Assistant Coach: Kristi Berg

Coach Scott is the Founder and Head Coach of RCMP, is a parent of a 15 year old girl at Menlo-Atherton high school (JV girls volleyball team), and has been a Menlo Park resident since 1996.

Coach Scott was a New York State High School Cross-Country Champion (1984) and has set numerous cross-country high school course records across New England including the famed Boston Franklin Park Course record (1985). He was recruited by Vin Lananna (2016 US Olympic Track & Field Head Coach & current President of USA Track & Field) to run for Dartmouth College (NCAA Division I) and ran varsity cross-country and track with a 4:14 best time for the mile and 52:19 for 10 miles (1986-90). Coach Scott is a United States Track & Field certified Cross-Country Specialist running coach and is also Safe-Sport certified by the US Center for SafeSport.

Scott is also the Founder & CEO of Poverty2Prosperity.org, a non-profit that has funded over 50,000+ zero-percent interest loans to the working poor around the world since 2008 with a 99% repayment rate.

Coach Kristi has been the assistant coach since 2022 and has run 55 marathons (including 5 Boston Marathons) and over 100 half-marathons. Kristi has coached runners for over 10 years with Road Runners Club of America, Siena Youth Center for Boys & Girls, and now with USA Track & Field. Coach Kristi is also a certified Cross-Country Specialist running coach and Safe-Sport certified.

What Parents Say About Run Club

My daughters (7th Graders) have run with Coach Scott for the past 8 seasons and went from non-runners to experienced runners who learned about pacing, stretching, training, form, breathing, and teamwork. Best of all, this is a low-key, non-competitive environment where participants improve together, make new friends, and learn how to be better friends through the season, or seasons! This is such a fun activity that supports health, independence, and community.
-Sarah W.

Coach Scott has an unbelievable gift for getting girls excited about running. My daughter had never run before and now loves running and especially competing and can't wait to do Run Club again in the Spring. He seems to know just how much to push them to make it challenging but also so much fun. He also has an amazing ability to make every girl feel important and valued. His dedication and just love for the sport is so obvious to everyone. I am so grateful to have found this club and experience for my daughter; I only wish we had known about it sooner. Scott is a truly special human being and coach and I am so grateful my daughter had a chance to learn from him.
-5th Grader Parent

I love the "Be a Good Friend" practice theme. We initially joined Run Club due to the social emotional component and health benefits of running. We stayed for the amazing coaching. I am so glad you have kept to your roots of training the whole athlete, including the spirit and mind!
-Rebecca M.

Coach Scott makes running fun for the girls, incorporating social-emotional learning while challenging them, making each girl feel they're an important part of the club. I recommend Run Club to all parents I talk with - even (and maybe especially for) the girls that think they don’t like running!
-Danita G.

You’ve really done something wonderful to ignite Sophia's interest and joy in running. It’s such an amazing thing to witness.
-Nick M.

Social-Emotional Theme at Practices

Practice #14 Fall 2021: Gratitude | Practice #3 Spring 2022: Friendship

[Click Photos To Enlarge]

After each set of intervals/laps, the runners would also write down something for which they are grateful or ask a teammate a question to learn more about them.

Get a Glimpse of Our Season and Accomplishments

To get a glimpse of our running program and accomplishments, check out this short but very joyful 4.5 minute video!

Nate Lipscomb Memorial Scholarships (Financial Aid)

Thanks to the Nate Lipscomb Memorial Scholarship fund, Run Club is able to provide financial aid to those runners who otherwise could not afford to participate in this program. Runners with financial needs can still run and race to their full potential as the scholarship funds extend to cover their travel costs should they qualify for regional and even national competitions.

Thanks to this fund, we are also able to express our deep gratitude for our MPCSD teachers and administration by providing an automatic 50% scholarship for their children who participate in the program. Run Club Menlo Park supports our teachers and administration!

Nate Lipscomb, who passed away in 2022 of a sudden heart attack, was a Menlo Park resident since 2007, father of two MPCSD students (Jackson & Mateo), and husband (Rosie). Nate was also an accomplished lawyer at YouTube who was widely respected. Nate took care of his family and those around him with dedication, love, humor, and respect - many of the same themes and values we teach at Run Club practices. Nate leaves a legacy of deep caring for everyone around him and through this scholarship fund for many future runners including his son, Mateo, who currently runs for Run Club's very first boys team.

We Are A 501(c)(3) Non-Profit

We are a federally recognized tax-exempt 501(c)(3) non-profit California corporation. We also accept donations which help us fund our running program. Donations are tax-deductible.