MPS began as a running group formed with customers of the Fleet Feet Sports store, opened by Doug Ward in May 1991. The group was first known as the "Fleet Feet Runners" and began with Saturday morning runs from the store located in the Fremont Hub. The routine work-out was running a loop from the store that included a lap around lake Elizabeth and back. After the run, Doug would provide Exceed to drink and runners would hang out, talk about running, and look at running gear. The first members were Rick Cavil, Regis Amann, Irv Kaplan, Larry Hiebert, Deanna Stemm, Gil Moreno, Steve Aguirre, Dale Bodtker and more. Doug planned special events from the store by bus to San Francisco runs, i.e., Bridge to Bridge Run and Run to the Far Side. Other events included talks in the store by local doctors, podiatrists and equipment vendors.

When the store closed at the end of February 1993, the running group suggested, "let's keep this thing going." So, they changed their name to the "Tri-City Running Club" and moved the Saturday morning meeting place to Fremont Central Park and Alameda Creek. Additionally, they began advertising the club's activities in "The Schedule". Doug Ward was recognized as the President and Rick Cavil as the Vice-President of the club, however, there was no official election. Then they planned new club runs and excursions, such as, the "Run to Sunol", which included a pot-luck breakfast in the park, the Rio Resolution Run in Carmel on New Year's Day, and a Wednesday evening track work-out at Newark Memorial High School. Doug took on the task of writing a quarterly newsletter that informed members about club activities. Soon thereafter, they acquired Suju's coffee as a sponsor and has club T-Shirts made up for club members to purchase. Suju's became a hang-out for refreshments after work-outs and still is.

After a few years, the club found it was often being confused with the Tri-City Triathlon Club. So, in November 1995, they changed their name again to the "Mission Peak Striders," reflecting the landmark they enjoyed running to and looking up at on most of their runs. As the club grew in membership, they began to encourage walkers to join in, many of which were connected to the running members. Occasionally, they would schedule guest speakers for the club meetings at Suju's Coffee in the evenings. The club also helped by volunteering at local events such as the Washington Township Run, HERS Breast Cancer Keep Abreast Run/Walk and the Fremont 10K Run.

As the club moved into the electronic age, a web-site was created by Gordon travis with help from Rick Cavil, and weekly E-mails are authored by Fernando Padilla. Also, a Wednesday evening workout was organized by Regis Arman at the James Logan High School track. As the club continues to gain new members, they remained an informal club with officers in name only and no elections. Dedicated members just did what has to be done. Members continue to pay a small annual dues to help out with club expenses. More annual events were added, such as participation in the annual Christmas Relays at San Francisco's Lake Merced and "The Relay" from Calistoga to Santo Cruz. Marathon training is always a focus for the club members who support each other to achieve great race times and personal PR's in the grueling 26.2 mile event. Gordon and Rita Gillmouth added to the clubs offerings by hosting periodic socials that included a run up Morrison Canyon Rd, and recognition of member's lifetime running mileage with a handsome, personalized plaque.

On June 2, 2007, the club approved a new slate of officers. Fernando Padilla became President; Regis Amann, Vice-President; and Gordon Gillmouth, Treasurer.

A bit of history of MPS first President: Doug Ward

Doug Ward, the president and founding member of the Mission Peak Striders, started running in 1979 after a friend from Seattle came to visit him. His friend who is an avid runner asked him if he would like to join him during one of his runs. The two went running and ever since then Doug has been hooked on running.

In the early 1980’s Doug was a member of the Kimber tennis club in Fremont. A group of 8 to 10 runners would meet to do training runs each week. He joined the group and they soon became known as the "Kimber Runners". As Doug learned from the group and his enjoyment of running grew, he decided to open up a Fleet Feet running store at the Fremont Hub. Now know as the Fleet Feet runners, the running group competed in local races and put on running events.

Unfortunately, in the early 1990’s the Fleet Feet running store closed it’s doors but the running club continued. The club was called the Tri-city runners but the name was changed to the Mission Peak Striders in 1996 because a triathlon club already was using the Tri-city name.

Doug likes to run because of the social and physical fitness benefits. "When I’m running I tend to focus better and work better," Doug remarked. Running has taken Doug to many places he feels that he would never have gone otherwise. He has run in Germany and has run marathons in Boston and in New York. "It’s a great hobby and I love the psychological lift I get from running."

Doug’s most memorable run is the Avenue of the Giants Marathon in 1983 where he set a PR of 2:49. He was trying to qualify for the Boston marathon which was 2:50 at that time. "It was a magical race for me. I ran the first mile in 5:55 and I thought I would be in trouble. But at the 20 mile mark when I met my friend Tom Flanagan, who is a talented 3:10 marathoner, he had trouble keeping up with me. I had a great day and a great race." In addition to the Avenue of the Giants Marathon, Doug has run over 30 marathons including Boston, New York, and Honolulu. The Bridge to Bridge race in San Francisco is the race he feels he has run most out of all races.

Bill Rodgers is Doug’s most admired runner. He feels Bill’s running career is your classic rags to riches story. Doug mentions that Bill was a smoker, not a very healthy person before running, had a failed business and marriage but he managed to turn his life around to become one of the best runners of all time. Billy Mills is another runner that Doug most admires. Billy was the 10K Olympic champion in the 1968 Mexico Olympics. "No one expected Billy to win but he did even though he was 4th on the Olympic team as an alternate" recalls Doug. Doug met Billy in Sacramento in a race exposition several years ago. 

Doug feels that anybody who picks up the sport of running should run with a group, get a good pair of shoes and just stay with it. "When I started running I would look at other runners and think how do they run like that? I’ll never be able to run as fast or as long as they do. But as time went on and I stuck with it I became just as good as they are." Doug plans to run his next marathon in 3:35 to qualify for the Boston Marathon as a 55 year old. We know with the tenacity and the passion for running that he’ll be on the starting line of Boston Marathon come springtime. See you on the trails and roads Doug!