As many municipalities struggle to more effectively integrate fitness into their curriculums and programs, an annual one-day event like National Running Day - slated for Wednesday, June 6 - can help jump-start positive change.
"Unlike other sports, running requires little to no equipment and can take place almost anywhere," says Mary Wittenberg, president and chief executive officer of New York Road Runners, one of the nation's leading community running organizations, with established youth programming in nearly 7,000 schools and community centers in New York City and around the country. "It is an ideal activity for people who want to stay fit or get in shape, relieve stress and, most of all, have fun. What started as a grassroots initiative just a few years ago has now blossomed into a worldwide day of fun and movement. We had a blast last year."
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Beginning in 2009, NYRR has declared the first Wednesday in June as National Running Day to celebrate the sport and all of its benefits, as well as unite runners of all ages and abilities, and attract new participants to the sport. The organization's NRD website allows users to view or post any running events planned for a given community, as well as share motivational ideas and submit "I run …" declarations. Last year, such submissions included "I run ... because it's cheaper than therapy," "I run … to spend time with my dad" and "I run … so my husband still has to chase me." Plus, more than 150 NRD-related events were logged on the site in 2011, according to NYRR spokesperson Laura Paulus, who expects that number to increase for 2012's National Running Day.
In addition to NYRR's involvement, the collaborative celebration will involve several running organizations throughout the United States, including the Atlanta Track Club, the Bank of America Chicago Marathon, the Boston Athletic Association, the Chevron Houston Marathon, the Marine Corps Marathon, the Oregon Track Club, Twin Cities in Motion, Running USA and USA Track & Field.
"The whole concept behind National Running Day is that it be driven by community events, start at a grassroots level and spread by word of mouth. All of our partners will be working together to put on events in their own communities," says Paulus, who suggests facility and program operators post their own "I run …" statements on NRD's website, share their favorite running routes and/or partner with a local running organization to plan their own event. NYRR also provides an online collection of resources to help stage everything from fun runs to cross country and track meets. "We specifically want to reach runners, non-running friends of runners, parents, coaches, and P.E. teachers in communities all over the country to get the message out that June 6 will be a day to run and have fun."
Additionally, National Running Day has gone global. A.S.O of France will set up runs through that country, and past events have been organized in both Mexico and the Philippines.
