With the Hometown fair approaching this weekend, we decided to take a look at one running group that’s been around longer than Manhattan Beach’s annual 10k at the fair.

Mike Allmon and John “Mitch” Gillis founded the Wall-nuts in 1976 in preparation for the city’ first Hometown Fair 10k. The two were neighbors, and they lived by the corner of Valley and Walnut. They decided to start running together, so they decided to meet at Mitch’s house at 9am on Sundays. The two’s routine began to attract other Walnut residents, and each week, new members joined.

They kept the tradition going, and after a year of running as a group, they decided that they wanted to take it to the next level. While on their weekly route, the runners saw the Walnut street sign, and it had a running shoe on it, so they decided that it was their fate to be called the Wall-nuts. Ever since Mike and Mitch’s first run together, the Wall-nuts haven’t missed a single  Sunday on the trail – rain or shine.

Their group has expanded to about 25 regular members, and each member has their very own Wall-nut gear, with a logo designed by a local architect at the time, Dave McCallister. They represent the Wall-nuts in their custom shirts, tanks, shorts, and hats every Sunday morning.

If  you’re interested in joining, check out the Wall-nuts’ route, or meet them at 9am at the corner of N Valley Drive and Walnut Ave in Manhattan Beach, CA 90266.