Running Clubs make fitness fun

by Webmaster Ray on February 28th, 2010

logotrb Thanks to Claire, Jerry and Rachel, who did most of the organizing for this banquet. And thank you to David Albaugh for sharing with us about The Wellness Community of Delaware!

How many here were club members as far back as the ‘80s? [7 hands]

Pike Creek Valley Running Club was started in 1982 to “educate runners to help them avoid some of the mistakes” the founders had made as new runners.

The club grew quickly and held monthly meetings on running techniques, training, equipment and injury prevention. They started our 2 biggest events that very first year- Delaware Distance Classic 15K and this Awards Banquet, helping build a strong running community in the area.

In recent years, active membership bas been declining, but there’s still a heck of a lot of runners and joggers out there who could benefit from your knowledge and experience to have more fun (and more beer) while attaining their personal fitness goals!

One just showed up in my driveway yesterday… Read the short article in Crossroads about Lee Mickles, who is getting his whole company involved in running and fitness. He needs us!

Club Bylaws
Our Bylaws (which are extremely exciting to read at our website) state the club’s objective is to promote and encourage running [in Delaware] and to educate the public in it’s physical and mental benefits.

More members make us stronger, with more experience, more money for promotion, and more running partners for us and for all those beginner runners who train by themselves or get all of their exercise on a treadmill.

Club Progress
logorrcatx Over the last couple years of Jerry’s presidency, our board of directors has made progress in laying the foundation for a bigger, better club:

We updated the bylaws
We joined RRCA (Roadrunners Club of America) to improve our insurance and non-profit status
We expanded our awesome website
We created a club brochure and a cool banner
We created the greenest club T-shirt in history, along with new racing singlets
For the past 2 years, we’ve given free club membership renewal to those who ran on our team in at least 4 Mid-Atlantic USATF Series races
We hold a weekly group run – rain or shine or blizzard
We started weekend group runs
We started a Facebook discussion group
We held a fabulous wine dinner fundraiser
We added to our member benefits list with additional discounts
And recently, we bought some beer glasses [as awards]

But now it’s time to really pick up the pace!

Reasons to be a running club member
We have to show those lonely joggers and beginner runners that they’d be crazy not to join!

Why train alone when you can run with Trish or Kelly and grab a bite to eat afterwards?
Why drive to races alone when you can carpool with Rich or Dean?
Why pay full price when you can get the club discount at Delaware Running Company, New Balance stores, or Massage For Athletes?
Why not be part of our USATF teams and run stride for stride with David James or Carole Feole for all of 50 yards before they drop you?
Why not get free registration to McCorq’s 5K, including all the pizza and beer you can responsibly handle?
Why not plan a weekend trip to Nashville for a race, sightseeing and enjoyment with some of your best buddies?

claire2z
Not just for competitive athletes
Novice runners or joggers hold the mistaken belief that a running club is only for competitive athletes like Josh or Deb. They don’t realize that we’re here precisely to help them.

We’ll see if we can make them as tough as John Schultz!

Our club needs to become more active in welcoming new runners and providing activities to meet their needs.

How Ray found the club
When Dave’s “Half Marathon Training Group” was started, I was a new runner and was ecstatic to have Jack Horowitz and the group to run with every week!

wellness120 We could:

Invite more people to group runs (even if they walk)
Host more informal and formal races
Consider holding periodic forums and invite guest speakers and demonstrations
Build partnerships like we’re starting with The Wellness Community
Reach out to people who don’t know about us despite all of Ralph McKinney’s flyers
Get involved with programs that make a difference in the community. For example, Back On My Feet helps homeless people become runners to improve their fitness, focus and self-esteem. Rumors are that they’re starting a program here in Wilmington.

Get Involved
We need everyone here, including Becky herself, to help the club fulfill it’s mission.

If you have ideas for events or programs, share them with a board member.
2. If you can offer some time or talent (or food), great! Host a weekend run or volunteer at DDC or Delaware Marathon. We need 1 or 2 Facebook Group administrators right now.
Everyone can spread the word about our club and recruit new members. Grab a few brochures from me or steer people to our website.
If nothing else, attend our events (Boston Sendoff will be announced soon). Contact Rich or Dean about joining USATF and running with our small but mighty team… Rich has a fearless crew taking on Ugly Mudder in the morning!

We have about 100 households in the club.
There’s no reason we can’t have 200 or 300.
More members = a better club and fulfillment of our purpose.

Let’s find more people to run with us and have fun with us!