The Heartbreak Hill Striders formed in 1999 as a group of runners who all live in the vicinity of Newton and Wellesley found it more convenient to train in the suburbs rather than workout with Boston-based running clubs.

With the famous Heartbreak Hill so close to where these members live, and to where most of us were training, it was decided to name the club as an homage to the iconic Heartbreak Hill of Boston Marathon lore.

Heartbreak Hill gained its moniker from a dramatic moment in the 1936 Boston Marathon. Defending champion Johnny Kelley was in the lead around mile 20 of the marathon when he caught up to Ellison “Tarzan” Brown and patted him on the back. Boston Globe reporter Jerry Nason wrote that Brown “broke Kelley’s heart” by regaining the lead on the final hill and winning the race.

To those who know the course, Heartbreak Hill is really a stretch of three hills between miles 17.5 and 21.5 along Commonwealth Avenue in Newton. Heartbreak, the third of the three hills, is not the steepest, but it is the longest.

Since our founding, the Striders have been fortunate to have had the same coach, Jim Carroll, guiding and inspiring us. Jim’s encyclopedic knowledge of the sport continues to impress us, and his memory of individual Strider member race results plays an invaluable role in the personalized advice he provides. Jim is also a 35-time runner of the Boston Marathon so his intimate knowledge of the famed course is nearly unmatched.

The Striders are also proud to have many original members still running with us, which is a testament to the friendships we have formed and the camaraderie we share. Original members such as Mike Amster, Jim and Caroline Carroll, Jack and Maureen Devine, Don Hogardt, Mike McLaughlin, Brian Miller, Denise Nolan, Marlene O'Donnell, Carol Pepin, and Mike Ullman gladly share their prodigious running and race experience, allowing all members to benefit from their knowledge.

One of the premier benefits of membership is that the Striders receive a limited number of Boston Marathon Invitational Entries each year from the Boston Athletic Association. These highly coveted Entries are provided to clubs who give back to the local running community and provide volunteers to help support the BAA’s other running events. Strider members earn points toward receiving an Entry by volunteering during the year and a selection process is determined by the number of entries we receive each year. As great a benefit as that is, it’s also great to just volunteer and give back to the running community!

The Striders have a board of directors but gladly welcome all members to attend our monthly meetings and offer suggestions on club activities. We are an open and inclusive club!

The Striders celebrated its 25th year in 2024 with a picnic attended by many past and present members and an eye-opening, mouth-watering cake celebrating 25 Years of Running Strong. Here’s to the next 25 years!