“You didn’t just show up with your buddy Bill and expect him to start running with us," recalls longtime Y member, early-morning runner, and donor Terry Lundberg. “You’d be thrown out of the group if you didn’t get everyone’s approval first."
Jim Wheeler, who ran with Steve Grindy and Jeff Palmer, former Duluth YMCA CEO in the noon group, reminisces about the occasional playful moments—like running a bit faster just to quiet a chatty member of their group.
For many, the Y became more than a place to meet for a run; it has become a lifelong community.
“The Y was a social network before we had social networks,” said Terry. Terry has been a Y member for more than 42 years. “You’d meet people from all walks of life at the Y—veterans, judges, business leaders. The conversations were just as important as the exercise.”
For Steve, Terry, and Jim, the Downtown Y became more than a basecamp for their fitness goals. All became drawn to the Y’s mission of service—volunteering and donating to the Y's cause.
For Steve, his passion lies in the outdoors, particularly in the impact of YMCA Camp Miller. “I’ve seen the transformation a kid can go through in just one week at camp,” he shared. “It’s about getting kids away from electronics and into nature. That kind of development is powerful.”
Steve’s connection to the Y is deeply rooted in its mission. “The Y serves so many facets of the community,” he explained. “The efficiency and effectiveness of a donation to the Y is the best way for me to leverage my donor dollars. You can spend all day long looking at charities, but from a local standpoint, the Y, to me, is one of the best organizations that serves the community.”
For Terry, the Y’s impact started with running but now has expanded far beyond. “When I started at the Y, it was all about running,” Terry shared. “But as I spent more time here, I made connections with paddleball players, racquetball players, and basketball players, all walks of life—it got to be more of a social network.”
Some of his favorite memories involve a group of older members who would meet for quarterly lunches. “These were World War II vets with incredible stories. Every time we met, it was an oral history.”
Terry emphasized that the Y’s value lies in its community. “There’s much more to the Y than running or swimming. There are people who are involved with Downtown and the community—besides the health benefits—it morphed into somewhat of a lifetime hobby for me.”
For Jim, the Y has been a family tradition for generations. “My connection to the Y started with Camp Miller,” he said. “I first went when I was nine or 10 in the mid-1960s, but my dad had gone to camp back in the 1920s. Back then, he got to camp by taking a train to Sturgeon Lake and from there was picked up by horse and buggy.”
While Camp Miller remains close to Jim’s heart, he is also passionate about the Y’s work in food access. “That’s always been troubling to me that there are kids and families in our community who don’t have enough to eat,” he said. “I love all the programs that the Y does in Duluth and Hermantown, up in Grand Marais, and also around the world. It’s very impactful.”
As the Y continues to evolve, it remains steadfast in its mission: to empower individuals and strengthen the community. In an age where digital interactions often replace personal ones, the Y stands as a reminder that true connection comes from shared experiences, heartfelt conversations, and the simple act of being there for one another. Whether you're lacing up your shoes for a run, volunteering your time, or supporting its initiatives, the Y invites you to join in a legacy that proves every step taken together builds a stronger, more compassionate community.