Chain of Rocks 6k Team Feature: Big River Racing

We have 10 teams signed up for the inaugural Chain of Rocks 6k on Sunday, March 27th, 2022! Each week we will feature a different team. The beauty of the St. Louis running community is there are several clubs and teams you can be a part of. We are grateful for these organization’s support in our first year event. Today we highlight the Big River Racing Team!

How did the Big River Racing team come to fruition?

The Big River Racing team was founded in 2006 by Matt Helbig and Ben Rosario.

Big River Racing is about running in its purest form. We encompass racing and pushing one’s limits, accepting anyone who shares our passion for running. The team is a dedicated group of like-minded individuals who train, race and socialize with the goal of improving the St. Louis running community through advocacy, openness and volunteerism. The team exists to support runners from post-collegiate athletes to those relatively new to the sport and anyone in between.

What's the criteria for becoming a member of the Big River Racing?

Any runner who is interested in training (and socializing) with a group and seeks to improve on their running performance is welcome to join the Big River Racing Team. We welcome runners of all abilities from the back of the pack to those pushing the pace up front. Some of the team members will be post-collegiate runners and/or training at a higher level. For team members who have hit specific qualifying times within the last year, Big River will give out additional support and benefits.Visit https://bigriverracing.com/about/joining-the-team/for more information.

What makes the St. Louis running community so special?

The running community in general is supportive, welcoming, and encouraging. In St. Louis, we are blessed with amazing places to run such as Forest Park, Creve Coeur Lake, the Great Rivers Greenways, and the Katy Trail. You’ll frequently see familiar faces on your training runs and at races. There are various running clubs, training groups, and racing teams in St. Louis, but there is an overarching atmosphere of mutual support and respect, regardless of what logo might be on an individual’s clothing. If you’re in need of a pick me up, simply go for a run in a park or on a trail, and the people you pass will inevitably help brighten your day.

You can visit www.bigriverracing.com to learn more and to read the blog posts highlighting recent team activity.