We need to help create more runners

We need to help create more runners

To help – we need to be prepared.

It’s time that the running community banded together to do some good.  How?  We are in a unique position to positively affect many of the ills that currently affect our society.  We can take up the banner quite easily and, ifnot attack, at least nudge the obesity crisis.

We need to use our strengths to become evangelists, advocates and advisers to a new generation of endurance athletes.  We’ve got momentum.  We’ve got a beach head, but it is still a small parcel.  Our members are affluent and educated and first world.  We need to make sure that this running boom continues and cascades throughout the culture of our societies and economic strata.

How do we do it?

I have some ideas, but I’m open to more.

–          Advocate:  Let everyone know the physical and mental health benefits our members have seen.  Let them know the simplicity of motion.  Let them know how utterly attainable a healthy lifestyle is.  Tell them that they don’t have to run a marathon, they can just get up and walk and get 80% of the benefit.

–          Evangelize: Forward along the stories of our members who have lost 40-50-60-100 pounds, who have gotten off blood pressure meds, who have beaten illness and are now on the long road of health and joy.  Let them know it is attainable.

–          Provide support:  Start a ‘learn to run’ group at work or in your school.  Get the moms – they are the connecting fabric in any community.  Tell them they need to do this for their kids.  Get ‘em started walking.  Be there for them.  Let them know it’s ok to try.  It’s ok to make mistakes.  It’s a journey, not an event.

–          Provide information:  Especially for the deeply connected among us, provide the links to the online community, to the beginner training programs, to the easy stuff that will take the fear out of the motion.

I know I sound like some crazed pamphleteer, but we can in our small way make a difference.  We can influence one, five or ten new runners and in the end it may become thousands.

With the holiday season coming up, in the west, we will have an opportunity to help people. They will come out of their winter celebrations well fed and concerned about the fit of their belts and dresses.  This is our opportunity to mobilize.  This is our crack into which we need to be prepared to stick the wedge of health.

Join me my friends. Let us each prepare.  Let us make this the year, the decade the century of Pax-Endurance!

Chris,

Chris Russell lives and trains in suburban Massachusetts with his family and Border collie Buddy.  Chris is the author of “The Mid-Packer’s Lament”, and “The Mid-Packer’s Guide to the Galaxy”, short stories on running, racing, and the human comedy of the mid-pack.  Chris writes the Runnerati Blog at www.runnerati.com.  Chris’ Podcast, RunRunLive is available on iTunes and at www.runrunlive.com. Chris also writes for CoolRunning.com (Active.com) and is a member of the Squannacook River Runners and the Goon Squad.

Email me at cyktrussell at Gmail dot com

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