Tag: running groups

Is Your Running Crew A Boy Band?
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Am I the only one who loves boy bands? The coordinating outfits. The smooth harmonies. The sweet dance moves. I bet you can even finish this line: “Tell me whyyyy…” (You’re welcome for the earworm!)

Even if you are “too cool” to listen to these singing, dancing angels on Earth, you probably know that there is a boy band formula. You can’t have a group full of “bad boys” or a whole bunch of “hot ones.” Variety is the spice of life, and really of any group of individuals that gets together for a common goal. Think about your running buddies! They all have distinct personalities, but here you all are, doing the same thing at the same time. Harmonizing! After all, isn’t running really one big choreographed dance of sorts? So the question is: which boy band member are you and which ones are your running buddies? Read on! Read more >>

It Really Is Just About the Running (or, I Would Never Hit That)
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This was originally published in 2016 by Pimento.

Most competitive women runners train with men at least some of the time. If you took running out of the equation, there would be no argument from me that spending hours sweating half-naked with heterosexual members of the opposite sex is at best odd, or at worst, inappropriate.

Hey honey, I’m getting up at 4:30 tomorrow morning to hang out and talk with Bill, Fred, and Tom for three hours.

That would be weird, but for some reason when it comes to running we think of it as completely normal.

But what about all of our running buddies’ significant others, especially those who don’t run? How do they feel about their partners spending so much time with other women and then texting them at all hours of the day and night? Do they have anything to worry about from their men’s female running friends?

To the wives and girlfriends of my male running buddies, I say this: it really is only about the running (and even if it wasn’t, no offense, but I wouldn’t hit that, anyway). Read more >>

Is Your Community Runner Friendly?
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Recently, Cilantro pleaded with her town’s government to make her town more runner-friendly – even just sidewalks would be an improvement! If you had a chance to build the ultimate runner-friendly community, what would it have?

  • Off-road paved trails?
  • Natural trails in the woods?
  • Marked routes with distances?
  • Bathrooms?
  • Drinking fountains?
  • Sidewalks?
  • Lighting?
  • Call boxes?
  • A great running club?
  • A lot of races?

The Road Runners Club of America (RRCA) has a Runner-Friendly Community designation for communities that these meet criteria and others in three areas: infrastructure, community support and government support.

Infrastructure refers to: network of sidewalks, multi-use trails, paths, share lanes, etc.; pedestrian networks which allow a person to complete 3-10 miles of distance, either continuously in one direction or through a loop course; a running track that is maintained, well lit, and open to the public; water fountains along a trail or pedestrian network; bathrooms; available parking near a trail or path system; trails/paths maintained year-round with snow removal in winter; and emergency phones on pedestrian networks and pedestrian networks well-lit after dark.

Community Support means the area is home to one or more nonprofit RRCA running clubs whose mission is to promote running as healthy exercise and a sport; nonprofit running club is working in collaboration with both public and private organizations to support and promote running throughout the community; has a specialty running store along with other runner friendly businesses.

Government Support: officials work closely with the local running community to secure race permits for safe and desirable racecourses with a reasonable permit pricing structure; race permits issued for preferred course locations and dates; local government should not impose excessive liability insurance requirements on the running community; law enforcement is a positive partner in event planning as opposed to a roadblock; law enforcement proactively supports pedestrian rights, address complaints about pedestrian safety including monitoring dangerous intersections; no to low reports of crime on pedestrian networks with runner/pedestrian safety measures in place and areas patrolled regularly by law enforcement; community actively promotes physical fitness, including running, as part of a healthy lifestyle.

The RRCA names Runner-Friendly Communities every year. The designation doesn’t mean that these communities are running nirvanas, but they are doing pretty well.

Indianapolis, my hometown, was named the RRCA Outstanding Runner-Friendly Community of the Year for 2016. It was a great opportunity for the community to be recognized at the RRCA convention in Detroit and then for Indy Runners to present the award to the Mayor of Indianapolis (who is a runner) at a club run in the early summer.

Living in a Runner-Friendly Community, I enjoy:

  • Having a great local running community, with training programs and resources
  • Choosing from a variety of races nearly every week
  • Running on pavement, gravel, grass, natural trails, or a track
  • Having the ability to run hills or flat courses off road
  • Being able to run any distance on a connected network
  • Access to group and individual/private coaching
  • Opportunities for free or paid cross-training

What can you do to make your community runner-friendly? Is it ready for recognition?

 

On the 2nd Day of Christmas, Running Gave To Me: Instant Community
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With some of the other volunteers at the Twilight Ultra in 2014. Photo credit: Ben Swee

Running is a funny thing. It’s kind of like eating. You can do something that’s purely functional, doling out the exact nutrients you need to survive or the exercise you need to stay mechanically fit. Or you can do that thing as a social activity, in a manner that feeds your heart and your soul.

And that’s how I found myself manning the special-needs-bag-check of an ultra on a humid April night, high-fiving sweaty runners on their fourth or fifth or 12th punishing 10km loop back and forth along a beach path, and horsing around with a plant sprayer the size of my head.

This was one of the annual overnight ultra races put on by local Singapore running group Running Guild: as many 10k loops as you can manage, or wanted to manage, in 16 hours. As I chatted with the other volunteers, common themes kept popping up over and over. “I’ve done Running Guild races before and I love them so I wanted to give back.” “We know what runners need.” “I wanted to support (runners).”

The refrain sounded familiar. Here’s why. Read more >>

On the 6th Day of Christmas Running Gave to Me: a Great Group o’ Runners
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The hat.
The hat.

It all started with a hat.

Have you ever noticed a cute little sign as you’re leaving your local running shop? What goes through your mind?  “Awesome!  I’ll be there!” or do you think “Yuck, I hate new people.” Or perhaps you think “I’m afraid to go, what if there is no one in the group that I run with?” Or, “Who needs more friends?”

To many people, like me, reading that little sign and joining a group has changed their lives. When a new local running store opened up in my neighborhood, I read the sign, which lead to the hat.

Read more >>

10 Reasons I Can’t Live Without My Running Buddies
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Friends!!
Friends!!

Running is often touted as an individual sport, and while it’s true that on race day it feels like each runner is an individual competitor, challenging her own physical and mental limits, I’ve learned in the last nine years that running with other people not only makes me a better runner, but it makes running a more fulfilling, healthy, well-rounded part of my life.

I highly recommend training with other people. I know that it is sometimes difficult to find others who share your pace and your schedule, but it is worth the effort of searching! If you don’t already have a running community like Ginkgo’s beloved Columbus Moms RUN This Town, I recommend checking out local running clubs (they often have group runs & workouts you can participate in), asking about group runs at your local running specialty store, and making connections with people who finish around you at local races! Cinnamon and Lemongrass also have written more about finding and running with an organized group!

If you’re still on the fence, here are just ten of the many convincing reasons I can’t live without my running buddies! Read more >>

Moms RUN This Town Might Just Be the Running Group for You
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If this is what you look like for your typical run, then MRTT might just be the group you've been looking for! Flickr Commons image by notmargaret
If this is what you look like for your typical run, then MRTT might just be the group you’ve been looking for! Flickr Commons image by notmargaret

When I had my first son last June, I coincidentally noticed a Facebook Group called ‘Moms RUN This Town‘ on my sidebar. Because I was curious and trying to meet as many new moms as possible as I wiped the sleep from my eyes and the spit up from my shoulders and clicked on the link. I’m so glad I did, because I now have a group to run with pretty much any day of the week at my typical 8:30 training pace at the butt crack of dawn when I can best squeeze it in. Instead of trying to run alone at 4:30 a.m. (when the baby is still sleeping, the husband is still sleeping and before all chaos breaks lose), I now have a posse that keeps me safe, complete with headlamps, motherly empathy if I have to skip out at the last minute due to lack of sleep, and fun conversation.

And today, I am going to tell you why Moms RUN This Town is a great group for all women runners, mothers and non-mothers alike! Read more >>

The Politics of Group Running
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Are group runs for everyone?
Are group runs for everyone?

If someone were to ask me, I would probably describe myself as a solitary runner.  I get inordinately happy when I have a chance to run out of the house unencumbered and be alone with my thoughts, the pounding footfalls and rhythmic breathing.  I even have no problem with going down to the track alone and stomping out intervals. I don’t need other people to drag me along and I will not hesitate to go to a race alone and complete the task without saying a word to anyone.

However, when I sat down to write this post and thought back on my running life, I realised that most of my best running experiences came from running in a group.  I had to wonder why it was that I liked to define myself as a lone ranger rather than the companionable type? Why have I resisted being part of a gang and embarked on hours of secret training, holding my running log close to my chest?

Politics. While sometimes group runs lead to nirvana, others can leave you questioning humanity.
Read more >>

A Quick and Salty Guide to Running in Chicago
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Going to Chicago for the weekend? In the middle of marathon training? Like cities where people drink… a lot? Great. You’ve made it to the right place.  Chicago is known for its deep dish pizza, friendly Midwestern people  and 15 professional sports teams. Though as runners we know it as the city that hosts The Chicago Marathon. Since its inception in 1905, the race has been one of the major world marathon growing to about forty-thousand runners last year. But you don’t need to run in the marathon to enjoy running to Chicago!

Chicago Lakefront
Chicago Lakefront (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

If you’re heading to Windy City and need a little rundown on the running scene, this post is for you! Read more >>

Celebrate the Holidays, Runner-Style!
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Running in Christmas socks
It’s the most wonderful time of year – for a run! (Photo credit: RVWithTito)

I know, I know, it’s just barely December.  However, this time of year can be so full of holiday hustle and bustle that you need to plan ahead!  Hopefully amongst all of the potlucks and parties, you can carve out some time to celebrate the season with your running friends. Here are a few ideas for ways to establish some new traditions – and make memories along the way!

Read more >>

Running with Friends: How to Handle a Difference in Pace
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Two friends
She’s your best buddy, but is she your best training partner? (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

It’s no secret that we here at Salty Running love running.  It’s our outlet, our stress reliever and our passion.  We have dedicated ourselves to balancing our love of running with our careers, family life and relationships, which can be a big challenge. So, when we find that one  friend who shares our same love of running,  it just becomes more meaningful.  Running with friends offer many advantages, and here are just a few:

  • Motivation for getting out of bed to run in the dark or bad weather.
  • No judgement when discussing all those tmi issues.
  • Someone who understands why you’d rather spend hundreds on race registrations and travel instead of a pair of designer shoes.

Running friendships are a wonderful thing, and if you decide to train together, the training cycle can be that much easier and fun.  But what if you’re faster or she’s faster? What if you find yourself holding back or struggling to keep up? What if you want to ramp up the training to get faster, but she doesn’t? How do you handle this?
Read more >>

5 Types of Running Guys
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Friday 5If you’ve been running long enough you’ve encountered a situation where you’re the only lady among a group of runners. That means you’re running with guys, perhaps a lot of them. On the face of it, it sounds like no big deal, right? We go to school with guys, work with guys and live with guys. We’re always around lots and lots of guys. But running is different than the classroom, the boardroom, the kitchen, and even the bedroom.

Below are 5 types of running guys who just might show up at your next running group date. You might never encounter one of them, but we thought you might like a friendly warning of what’s out there. And if you have come across one, please share your experience in the comments so we can enjoy a good laugh at his expense! Running with guys: it can be tricky (and hilarious)! Read more >>

5 Ways to Build Your Running Community
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Some call it a team; I call it a support group.

Last week after my post about running with depression I was overwhelmed with responses from men and women alike, and across the board I heard the same thing: I’ve been there too.

I know that somewhere out there lots of runners feel like I sometimes do; they might be embarrassed about depression or they might feel that no one wants to hear about their problems.  Even if you’re not depressed, maybe you just don’t have many people who share your interest in running.  Maybe you just want someone to be there, to spend some time together and share a nice long run.  I’m here to tell you that there are lots of people out there who understand and who relate to you, and they’ll pace you as long as you want. You just have to find them. Read more >>