Fun Runs Attract Club Members

Running clubs can invite prospective members to meet more experienced runners.  Remove the obstacle of novices expecting that a club is only for serious runners!  Have them meet members in a low key event to see that everyone is welcome.  Here are some samples of recent Pike Creek Valley Running Club events.

PCVRC Newark Reservoir 5K Fun Run 

Fun Run registration

In June, Pike Creek Valley Running Club tried something new to great success!  The club had a 5K fun run at the Newark Reservoir Park. Everyone enjoyed the experience and the board will attempt to have more group runs like this.  Twenty-four people participated and about twenty went to Timothy’s Restaurant, right across White Clay Creek from the reservoir. So one way or the other everyone had a “great time”. 

We even gave awards to top Open and Masters Male & Female.  It was a can of energy drink.  PCVRC had not held many fun run events in years, so current members were just as excited as the prospects, who were immediately impressed!

Crabowitz 5K Fun Run
Two members of PCVRC graciously invited 40 runners to their place for a 5K race “in honor of” another member.  The Thursday evening run was followed by all-you-can-eat crabs and pizza, piled high on the long table stretching the length of their driveway.

Crabs & Pizza after 5K fun run

It was a wonderful event, with the start/finish area just 5 steps from the end of the dinner table. Naturally, the guest of honor was late, so he got to make a grand entrance as the crowd started getting unruly.

Apparently, the neighbors had been warned and had barricaded themselves in their homes as runners filled the streets on the way to the trail. It was a spectacular course if you like hills. The out-and-back sections allowed exchanges of pleasantries between runners. It’s unknown how many of us took advantage of the marked shortcut or decided to shorten the course here or there. But is is known that we didn’t lose anyone in the woods and everyone looked forward to the feast after the race.

The table had already been “set” with piles of crabs and as the evening progressed, Rich kept removing scraps and replacing them with more crabs. Pizza and beer filled out the menu (and our stomachs). Some of us remained there until after sunset.

Weekly Group Runs
Each Wednesday and Thursday, our club holds a group run at a local park with a convenient 1.75 mile loop.  Anyone is welcome to run or jog as many laps as they wish.  We always gather both before and after running.  On Thursdays, we then choose a local restaurant for dinner and cold beverages.  The socializing is so much fun that it’s easy for newcomers to be motivated into running with us again.

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