



JOIN US THIS SATURDAY!
Weekly walks step off every Saturday at 8 AM from the Schiller statue in Schiller Park. Choose 3- or 5-mile routes through downtown neighborhoods and parks. No minimum fitness requirements - all walking paces are supported!
Welcome to Our
Walking Club
Since 2015, the German Village Walking Club has been open to all walkers everywhere. No matter where you live—or your pace, distance, or experience—you're always welcome to walk with us. You never need to be a formal member to join a walk. So come out and give us a try! We offer 3- and 5-mile routes through Columbus' downtown parks and urban neighborhoods so you can choose a distance that works for you, and walkers of all fitness levels are supported. We meet at the Schiller statue in Schiller Park every Saturday at 8 AM (weather permitting). Many of us stick around afterwards for coffee and conversation at Winans. (We don't walk when it's lightening, icy, or sub-zero wind chills. Instead, we head directly to Winans!) You’re welcome to walk with us anytime, whether or not you’re a formal member—though we’d love to have you join officially. Membership is just $35 for the first year ($25 thereafter) and comes with some great perks. Come as you are. Whenever you can. We’re glad you’re here.
What You Can Expect
When you walk with the German Village Walking Club, you can expect consistency, variety, and community. When you walk with us, you’ll meet people who start as walking companions and quickly become friends—real friends who enjoy lingering after walks for coffee and conversation and who support one another’s health and fitness goals.
When you walk with us, you can count on us. We show up every Saturday—rain or shine—with rotating routes through urban parks and downtown neighborhoods. We offer 3- and 5-mile options, so you can choose a distance that fits your mood, your fitness, or your time.
Beyond the weekly walks, the club offers opportunities for people to formally come together for activities such as group breakfasts, volunteering to support the South Side neighborhood, cheering each other on at races, and celebrating together at our members-only holiday party. Just as often, though, connections happen informally. Folks gather for happy hours, spontaneous meetups, and seasonal events (think: arts festival in the summer and holiday lights at Christmastime). Because community doesn’t only happen on Saturday mornings.
If you sign up for the newsletter, you can expect to receive a weekly email with links to helpful information about health and fitness. That's also where we share occasional news about the accomplishments of club members.
Most of all, you can expect real people, genuine connections, and friendships that extend well beyond walking. If you’re ready to walk, we’ll be there.

We meet at the Schiller statue in German Village's Schiller Park every Saturday at 8 AM. Plenty of on-street parking surrounds the park.

Choose the distance that's right for you -- 3 or 5 miles -- depending on you're mood, fitness level, or time.

It doesn't matter if you're an accomplished race walker or you're just starting out, you'll find someone to walk with who matches your pace

We'll be there -- ready to welcome you at our next walk. We can't wait to see you!

As long as it's safe, we're walking. What does "weather permitting" mean? We don't walk if there's lightening, ice, or sub-zero windchills.



The club will be there to support you and cheer for you ... even in the worst conditions -- like during the Columbus Marathon in 2025.

Weekly Routes
Our weekly routes rotate among five favorite 5-mile walks through parks and neighborhoods. The route for the upcoming Saturday will be marked with flashing >>. A 3-mile alternative is always available and will be explained at the Schiller statue before we start. Click on any route below to view a map.
Upcoming walk route is indicated below by:
What People Say
EVERY STORY IS DIFFERENT. THE COMMON THREAD IS COMMUNITY.
What's your reason?
KATIE R.
I wanted to find a group of people who are active, like being outdoors and giving to the community. I did a Google search and the GVWC popped up. During my first visit in October 2025, I was made to feel so welcome, everyone was so kind. The winter gloves/hats/scarves collection in December to benefit a local community organization is the type of activity that I enjoy participating in. This walking club is exactly the kind of social group I've been looking for.
LYNNE B.
I joined GVWC in 2017 when I moved to German Village and had recently separated from my husband. I was new to Columbus and lonely. I loved walking and wanted to make new friends. GVWC became an extended family. I have made great friends, learned more about Columbus, done some great volunteer work, survived an epidemic and a divorce, all with the support of GVWC. I find myself inviting people to join us regularly, hoping they will find what they are looking for as I have. I am thankful to Larry, our founder, for what he has built and nurtured.
DAVID & JANET R.
In 2017, Janet and I traded familiarity for excitement, packing up to Columbus to start a bold new chapter in our lives. But reality hit hard—new jobs drained our energy, networking events felt like sales pitches, and genuine friendships stayed just out of reach. That's when Otto Beatty, a good friend from business circles, kept nudging us to join the German Village Walking Club at Schiller Park. We begrudgingly showed up, and everything shifted. The group welcomed us as if we were old friends. We wandered through brick-lined streets, past storybook homes and blooming gardens, trading stories and forming lifelong friends! Though we moved out of state in 2025, we'll forever cherish the German Village Walking Club for transforming our daunting move to Columbus into an eight-year love affair we hated to leave. For anyone seeking new friends or a sense of belonging in unfamiliar surroundings, this is the club to join! Forever GVWC Members!
LISA M.
I will never forget running into you and other GVWC members on the bike path at Audubon Park in the summer of 2024. It was a time of great transition for me and my husband and we were just getting to know our new neighborhood. Your kindness and generosity and welcoming words really made a difference for me. I'll be forever grateful.
Contact Us
New here or just curious? We’re happy to answer questions—reach out anytime and sign up for our newsletter to stay connected.
614-314-7798

Funny Story!
The GVWC's
inauspicious
start.
The Full Story Here
GVWC Founder
LarryWalksFast
Become a Member

Good news! You don’t have to be a paid member to walk with us. Everyone is welcome to show up any Saturday for our 3- or 5-mile walks, and many folks stick around afterward to socialize at Winans. Anyone can sign up for our newsletter to stay connected, and if you decide to become a paid member, you’ll score a GVWC Club T-shirt, a $15 gift card to Columbus Running Company, and an invitation to our annual members-only party. Think of membership as a way to support the club and enjoy a few extra perks.
Send checks for registration ($35) and annual renewal ($25), made payable to "German Village Walking Club," to:
ATTN: German Village Walking Club
41 W. Frankfort St., Columbus, OH 43206
Send Us Your Photos
WHERE IN THE WORLD HAS YOUR WALKING TAKEN YOU?
![]() dave and janet | ![]() 20171021_080445 | ![]() steph-hugging-granddaughter |
|---|---|---|
![]() christie and otto | ![]() Perry Chad Monica Miles Kids | ![]() Our motto |
![]() Joint walk w/ NAWC | ![]() The club | ![]() Valters 11-18-23 |
![]() Walkers | ![]() coffee cup | ![]() Cindy at the Senior Games |
![]() Friends and fun | ![]() It's a cold group 2-19-22 | ![]() In Israel |
![]() Dr. Shilpa and the Mount Carmel Tent | ![]() Friends at a holiday party | ![]() Grania - GVWC is the place to be |
![]() Walking with the AAMWW | ![]() Purple outside Winans | ![]() Joyce is a champ! |
![]() Ken walked El Camino | ![]() Vern | ![]() Dee and group |
![]() We walk year-round | ![]() Dee and Kristen | ![]() Karin and her mom |
![]() GVWC at AA walk | ![]() Chris | ![]() Shilpa speaks before our walk |
![]() Neal and Joyce | ![]() Ken at El Camino | ![]() Dale and Terri |
![]() Nancy and Jeff | ![]() Good advice | ![]() Diedre jumping |
![]() Walking | ![]() Walking in the summer | ![]() Michael 40 |
![]() GVWC walked through a pandemic | ![]() Dr Steph @ the Flying Pig | ![]() Dr. Steph and Linda at the Queen Bee in 2018 |
![]() LarryWalksFast and Mrs. WalksFast | ![]() John speaks to the crowd | ![]() 20181215_095428 |
![]() Gathering at the statue 2-23-19 | ![]() First Day Back 7-11-20 | ![]() More good advice |
![]() Drew doing pull-ups | ![]() Sometimes we have guest speakers | ![]() MIke pacing the Columbus Half 2010 |
![]() LWF and Dee | ![]() GVWC at Reeb 4-24-18 | ![]() OHIO |
![]() Winans Experience | ![]() Drew Doug Kels no NAWC | ![]() valter as easter bunny |
![]() john and chad and christina | ![]() grroup at statue | ![]() Winans |
![]() outside winans | ![]() aam5k1 | ![]() GVWC 1 |
![]() Holiday Lights Group | ![]() Columbus Commons Last Group | ![]() scioto mile 3 |
![]() Whole gang | ![]() Sheryl Brooke Emerald City | ![]() AAMWWI GVWC Passion Team |
![]() group Reeb May 23 2017 | ![]() _edited | ![]() GVWC Servers |
![]() Jim and Chef Eduardo | ![]() Dr. Steph Col Half 2016 2 | ![]() Taking a break before the crowd |
![]() Chris the Pastry Lady | ![]() lss raffle 1 | ![]() happy greek |
![]() group 1 | ![]() happy greek group 2 | ![]() Campbell Team |
![]() Em Smas Gab Finish | ![]() Mile 25.5 Chicago | ![]() deb karin 4 miler NA |
![]() finish hot | ![]() th (2) | ![]() Shilpa addressing crowd |
![]() Shilpa addressing crowd 2 | ![]() Shilpa addressing crowd 3 | ![]() start schiller |
![]() Dr. Steph Col Half 2016 1 | ![]() past 8 | ![]() goofy walkers |
![]() Walk the Talk - Gloria Mo Darla Chuck | ![]() Community Walk Start | ![]() LWF push-ups on Audubon Scioto trail |
![]() The Girls | ![]() LWF | ![]() janel2 |
![]() Group Winans | ![]() GGMT team | ![]() drew and em col 2025 |
![]() Roberta2 | ![]() Columbus Fall Pic of River 11-1-25 | ![]() frank stoy |
![]() Jolyn and Mindy | ![]() otto NYC | ![]() Otto Bullseye |
![]() john speak | ![]() Jim tree 2 | ![]() Jim tree 3 |
![]() transparent new CRC logo | ![]() Jim tree 1 | ![]() external-file_edited |
![]() janel 1 | ![]() lss aja after completing 4 Halfs | ![]() linda col 2025 |
![]() Feb 2025 GVWC Party | ![]() Larry and Shilpa | ![]() drew and kelsey turkey trot |
![]() dave and janet pisa | ![]() Mindy | ![]() LSS AJA Mainly Marathons |
![]() Eleanor Linda Steph Glass City May 2024 | ![]() Group Picture April 2024 | ![]() Em and Lou |
![]() otto hiking | ![]() wintery Feb 2024 | ![]() 10-12-21 |
![]() Crowd eating | ![]() Rod Bullseye | ![]() steph col 2025 |
![]() Vicki Bullseye | ![]() joyce and cindy | ![]() Dave being Dave |
![]() Al Marathon Finisher | ![]() external-file_edited | ![]() IMG-3594 |
![]() 2-18-24 Hearty Crowd | ![]() Schiller Maine | ![]() Family Doing Portland Half |
![]() Linda and Steph | ![]() _edited | ![]() D-A-K Pig |
![]() Ari at the Pig | ![]() Cindy Boston | ![]() BS and GVWC |
![]() Jamie bullseye | ![]() 6-14-22 | ![]() ari in newsletter |
![]() CHristie | ![]() otto | ![]() vicky |
![]() Resized_20230115_074217 (1) | ![]() snow crowd 1-13-18 | ![]() IMG_5459 |
![]() cold walkers | ![]() dressing for the part | ![]() main group2 |
![]() baby plus YPs | ![]() joyce | ![]() extra mile |
![]() IMG_2681 (1) | ![]() Resized_20221106_164318 | ![]() janel 1 |
![]() IMG_6593 | ![]() 20221106_165758 | ![]() drew relay across america |
![]() D Group. | ![]() AA Walk | ![]() _edited |
![]() 6-2-20 | ![]() Jori2 | ![]() Yellow Springs |
![]() dr step linda aep 10K | ![]() joyce2 | ![]() D and the Gang |
![]() Cindy Senior Games | ![]() GVWC loosens up | ![]() steph and linda 2 |
![]() Shilpa addressing crowd |




















































































































































































