Chris Lampen-Crowell is no stranger to UU Community Church as he is
the son of long-time members Ron and Nancy Crowell. He is married to
Mary Lampen-Crowell. They have three children and three grandchildren.
In 1985 Chris and his original partner, Bruce Johnson, opened Gazelle
Sports with the help of family and friends. Gazelle Sports has grown to 6
locations plus an online business, with a new location in downtown Grand
Rapids opening this spring. Gazelle employs over 200 people.
Chris is proud to have created, organized, and led hundreds of healthy fun
events and programs such as the John Daley Memorial One/One Run, the
Greater Kalamazoo Girls on the Run, and the Kalamazoo Marathon. In 2020, he co-founded the Running Industry Diversity Coalition.
An avid runner during his years at Loy Norrix Highschool and Western Michigan University, Chris continues to run, as well as walk, bike, kayak, and workout for physical, mental, and spiritual health.
In October 2020, Chris Crowell co-founded the Running Industry Diversity Coalition (RIDC) to address systemic racism in the running industry and found himself entering an Ultramarathon of Racial Justice as RIDC began centering diversity, equity, and inclusion in the industry and dismantling systemic racism in … read more.
