50 Years Strong
and Still Running
Learn more about the organization, values, and history of Winner's Circle Running Club.
Board of Directors
WCRC / RRCA Values Statement
We are committed as an organization to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We believe in providing equal opportunities for everyone to participate in and contribute to the sport of running - where all are safe, welcome, and have a sense of belonging. The success of our organization and our sport is enhanced by the leadership and involvement of people of diverse backgrounds, experiences, and identities. We pledge to create an atmosphere where everyone feels heard and where each member has the opportunity to contribute to the club's success. We believe that every person should feel supported in our collective journey towards health, wellness, and personal improvement.
Club History
The Founding (1971–1973)
Engineer brothers Roger, Ron, and Jerry Duford began placing coin-op foosball tables in dorms and bars. Needing a permanent base, they converted their family's Route 110 homestead into a game room by 1973, remodeling the garage in ten weeks. Jerry's wife Rudy named it "The Winner's Circle."
Expansion and Landmark Moments
A 1977 encounter with Bruins star Johnny Bucyk sparked a lasting friendship, including hosting a player's bachelor party. Jerry's 1985 expansion added an atrium, video room, and "Skybox," shaping today's building. In 1991–93, the venue ran Massachusetts' only experimental Keno installation, drawing statewide curiosity.
A giant projection TV drew sports fans, with rooftop antenna tricks catching blacked-out Patriots games. Lacking a license, patrons BYOB'd until the brothers bought a beer/wine license for $1,500 in 1975, upgrading to full liquor rights in 1977. Food service began with pizza and hot dogs.
Growth, TV, and Liquor Licensing
Community Legacy: The Running Club
After Jerry's rough 1973 road race debut, informal group runs from The Winner's Circle grew into a tradition. Their 1978 road race led to the incorporated Winner's Circle Running Club, now 450 members strong, still based at the original building and raising hundreds of thousands for charity.
Click here to learn more about the history of the Winner's Circle Running Club and its founders!
