National Running Day scheduled for June
National Running Day, on Wednesday, June 3, is an initiative for many of the major organizations within the running industry to join forces to promote running as a healthy, easy, accessible exercise. Across the country, the day will celebrate the benefits of running as part of a healthy and active lifestyle aimed at combating some of today’s most pressing health issues. Running organizations in major cities around the country will be hosting activities, including professional athlete appearances, free running events, group runs and clinics. The running organizations collaborating for this initiative include: Atlanta Track Club, Boston Athletic Association, Chevron Houston Marathon, Chicago Area Runners Association, The Competitor Group, Little Rock Marathon, Marine Corps Marathon, New York Road Runners, Oregon Track Club, Running USA, Twin Cities Marathon, Inc., and USA Track & Field. This initiative aims to: Strengthen a nationwide grassroots movement to get people running. Encourage Americans of all ages and fitness levels to get out and run. As more school physical education programs disappear every day, get kids interested in running as a part of an everyday healthy lifestyle. Inspire children of all ages by exposing them to professional runners who know better than anyone the benefits of running. Participation is simple: Go for a run, and invite a friend to join you. Wear your running shoes. Join the National Running Day Facebook group, “I Will Run on National Running Day,” and invite your friends as well. Attend an event or group run in your area. If one isn’t already scheduled, organize a simple one yourself. Facts: Americans are increasingly at risk for diseases that can significantly diminish the quality, productivity, and length of their lives. Currently, obesity-related illnesses cause some 300,000 deaths a year. Inactivity and poor diet will soon overtake smoking as the leading cause of preventable death in the United States. Only one in four kids gets at least 30 minutes of physical activity each day. Kids’ and teens’ obesity rates have doubled in the past 20 years. Overweight youth ages 10 to 15 have an 80% chance of becoming obese adults by age 25. Health-care expenses and productivity losses related to obesity problems cost Americans more than $100 billion annually. Exerciseand running, in particular, is one solution to combating these health issues. According to the American Sports Data 2007 Superstudy of Sports Participation, 39.5 million people in the United States ran or jogged at least once, and 11.7 million ran more than 100 days/year. In 2008, according to Running USA, there were 9.2 million finishers in road races (ranging in distance from the 5K to the Marathon), a 4 percent increase from the 8.8 million finishers in 2007. Here are a few additional points to consider: During these times, we all could use a good run. We encourage all forms of exercise, but running is easily accessible and perfectly targeted at some of the biggest health issues we’re facing like childhood obesity, heart disease and stress. Whether its five minutes, 15 minutes or 45 minutes, every little bit of time spent running counts. Running is fun.