Michigan Running Club

A new website for MRun

April 2016

In the spring of my freshman year at the University of Michigan, I decided to run for the position of Webmaster for the Michigan Running Club (MRun). Much to my delight, I won the election (I was running unopposed).

A Fresh Start

I knew that my first big project would be to completely revamp the existing MRun website. At the time, it was a very simple, blog-looking site that didn’t accurately reflect the vibrant and active community that makes up the club. I wanted to create a more modern and engaging online presence that would serve as a hub for our members and a recruiting tool for new runners.

Technical Evolution

To achieve this, I decided to lean into the Bootstrap framework, which was the industry standard for responsive design at the time. I spent hours working within the existing PHP framework that the club had in place, integrating a new design that was both functional and visually appealing.

I added a few modern web features that were popular at the time, including:

• Custom Loading Animation: To make the site unique among other running clubs.
• Dynamic Carousel: For us to showcase club photos.

Since I finished my term as Webmaster, I’ve been thrilled to see that the site has continued to evolve. Subsequent Webmasters have added even more powerful features, like a dedicated merchandise store, a comprehensive database of running routes, and a more robust news update system. This project was a great lesson in building something that can continue to grow and adapt long after I’m gone.