Rob Bare describes Greg Munnion as a “difference-maker.”
“He is built different than the average 25-year-old person that we see,” said Bare.
At a young age, Munnion is already making a difference in the Lebanon County community that he has called home for all of his life. It comes in the form of 717RunClub, a group that Munnion founded to get people up and running.
“It’s amazing, that adrenaline that you get and I want to try to bring that to as many people and I can,” said Munnion.
Bare, a member of the club, added: “I think it’s awesome what Greg has done. He wants to give back to the community, what running has given him.”
Munnion’s idea for the running club came after he himself competed in a half-marathon in Philadelphia in 2022.
“I experienced that community,” he said. “I am running a half marathon on my own with thousands of people. I have strangers on the side of the street cheering me on like they have known me my whole life. They don’t even know who I am but they are cheering and clapping for me and rooting for me and it’s a different experience. It gives you chills, that race day environment.
“There are plenty of run clubs out in Lancaster, Harrisburg, Reading, Philadelphia, and I feel like we were kind of lacking that in Lebanon so I am really glad that I am able to … bring that to newer people.”
717RunClub began in April 2024. The group meets at 9 a.m. Sundays at the Root Beer Barrel at the Cornwall trailhead of the Lebanon Valley Rail Trail. Runners of all different experience levels are invited to join the group.
“We have a lot of beginners (who are) part of the club and we have people who are experienced too,” said Munnion. “It ranges from all different kinds of people and that’s one of my main goals … your first time ever running or you’ve run multiple marathons, we have all different kinds of people.”
“It’s just the positivity, the camaraderie,” said Bare. “Everyone is going around high-fiving each other, everybody is fist-bumping each other. … It’s just a great group of people and Greg hopes to grow the grow the club as we go through the summer months and then, of course, into the fall.”
For Munnion, 717RunClub is not only an outlet to be active but to also support a community that helped him overcome tough circumstances in his youth.
“I wasn’t a very fortunate kid,” said Munnion. “I came from a home of addiction.”
Growing up around addiction was tough for Munnion but his life improved when he moved in with his father around the start of ninth grade.
As a high schooler, Munnion was a three-sport athlete at Cedar Crest. He competed in football, basketball, and track and field.
“I really got into sports in high school,” he said.
That sense of competition and teamwork has continued as part of 717RunClub where Munnion is hopeful that the group can be a place for youngsters, who like him, may be in unfortunate circumstances and need a way out from a bad situation.
“Maybe some kids see the (717RunClub) community and they come and run with us and that gets them away from somebody else who’s bad for them,” he said.
“I’ve had a lot of good people on my side growing up and it’s been a blessing and it’s really helped me out and get (me) to where I’m at today. So now my goal is to try to give to people what people have given to me growing up.”
“Greg is just one of those guys, that I just love the fact that he has turned out to be who he is and a guy that wants to help out in so many ways,” said Bare.
While simply getting a run accomplished is the goal of 717RunClub, it does so much more for its participants.
Like the time the club came together, headed by Munnion, to help a member get a new pair of running shoes.
Or when a member ran three to four miles for the first time in years.
Or when the group helped Bare reach 49,000 career miles as he gets closer to his goal of running 50,000.
“That positive energy, it’s so contagious to everyone that I just love spreading that,” said Munnion. “I always think of that little kid growing up … lost, no guidance, some nights where I was 5-6 years old and was by myself at home or whatever memories I can remember. … That motivates me now to try to give back these people.”
For more information about the running group, find 717RunClub on Facebook and/or Instagram.
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