CELEBRATION TIME!! National Running Day is Wednesday, June 5

Wednesday, June 5 is a holiday. No banks will close, mail will still be delivered, and if your trash is normally picked up on a Wednesday, you won't experience an interruption in service. No banquet is planned, and probably no presents will be exchanged. What is it, exactly, that we are celebrating, then? Well, if you didn't know, the first Wednesday in June is National Running Day, and has been for going on five years now. 

In 2009, some of the nation's top running groups came together and started National Running Day. These groups included the Atlanta Track Club, Twin Cities In Motion, Bank of America Chicago Marathon, the Boston Athletic Association, Chicago Area Runners Association, Competitor Group, Chevron Houston Marathon Little Rock Marathon, Marine Corps Marathon, New York Road Runners, Oregon Track Club, Running USA, and USA Track & Field. The specific purpose of the day is to get people inspired to go running in many different ways such as becoming committing to a new training plan or just by heading out on to run with a group of friends who share the same passion.

If this is the first you are hearing about it, don't feel bad -- I myself didn't know until I spotted a flyer a month or so ago inviting people to register for I RUN ... National Running Day 4.09 Mile. Initially, I was just excited that there was going to be a run on a Wednesday night, one of my usual days off from work. Then, curiosity got the better of me and I wanted to know just why there is a National Running Day and when it began. What are the traditions? Do we leave our running shoes outside our doors the night before and hope that we wake to them filled with Shot Bloks and GU? Do we leave Honey Stinger Waffles and coconut water out for a svelte St. Nick (Nick Symmonds, perhaps) who runs from house to house, eschewing the aid of magic reindeer? 

While you COULD choose to do any of those things, National Running Day is an event that encourages community unity through running as well as just providing a day when runners can express their passion for the sport. Group runs are planned across the country, as are some events where runners help out charities. There are more than 200 runs and events planned in cities across the United States and Canada in 2013. 

Locally, the Toledo Roadrunners Club is holding the I RUN ... National Running Day 4.09 Mile race/run/walk Wednesday night. The event will be at Fossil Park in Sylvania (5675 Centennial Road), with registration opening at 5:30 and the race/run/walk kicking off at 6:45.  If you haven't pre-registered, the race-day fee is $10 (and sorry, but you've missed out on the shirt).  The course is described at an accurate 4.09 mile course within Fossil and Sylvan Prairie parks, with miles marked and one water stop. Awards will be given to the overall and masters males and females. The 1st 250 finishers will receive an "I RUN ... National Running Day Finisher -- REMEMBER BOSTON" car magnet. Any money made by the race will be sent as a donation to onefundboston.org. Sports drink, water, and fruit will be available at the end.  This sounds like a great way to come out and celebrate your love of running while making and hanging with friends in the process. I know I'm really looking forward to it. 

How cool is it that runners have their own holiday? You don't hear of Happy Football Players Day, or Merry Lacrosse Week -- that would just be weird. But it seems totally fitting that runners have their own holiday -- we are kind of a wacky, weird collection of people, and I think we deserve to be celebrated and to celebrate our sport, our passion, our way of life. If you can't make it to the local event, there are still ways you can keep the spirit of the holiday alive. The National Running Day web site suggests: 

1. Declare your passion: People run for millions of reasons and we want to know yours! Head to www.runningday.org and let the nation know why you run, be it raising money for charity, keeping your waistline in check, or getting to that bagel at the 5K finish line.
2. Bring a “runway” to work: Swap your loafers and heels for sneakers and you’ll be dressed to the nines for National Running Day. Your feet will thank you for it, and it will be that much easier to step out for a short jog during lunch or on your way home from work.
3. Morph your friends into running fiends: Friends don’t let friends just walk on National Running Day! Invite a pal or two — the more the merrier — to hit the road with you. They’ll be hooked in no time!
4. Change “Happy Hour” to “Running Hour”: Shake things up by adding a run to your post-work plans. Head out at 5 p.m. with some co-workers and relax over miles instead of cocktails.
5. Strike new ground: Seize the day and take the road you’ve never traveled. Who knows? You might find a new favorite running path to spice up your summer.
6. Give the gift of running: Donate to organizations that use running to make a difference in people’s lives like Back on my Feet or Achilles International. backonmyfeet.org   achillesinternational.org
7. Making running run in the family: They have your eyes, but what about your endurance? Leave the bikes and baseball bats in the garage and run around the neighborhood with the kids. Keep things interesting with a short race to see who is the fastest.
8. Choose a running resolution: Kick off a new fitness goal on National Running Day. It can be anything, including adding five minutes to your next run, running a new distance or signing up for a road race.
9. Take advantage of the great outdoors: Running outside beats spending all your time on the treadmill. Step out the front door and away from the gym to take in a bit of nature during your afternoon run.
10. Treat yourself like a champion: Set yourself up for success by indulging in your favorite post-run snack, sporting your lucky T-shirt or helping your feet to a new pair of sneakers.

New York Road Runners CEO Mary Wittenberg also notes that, “This year, runners told us they wanted to use National Running Day as a way to show support for the victims of the Boston bombings, so we’ve made special ribbons and bibs for events across the country. Runners can also donate to The One Fund Boston through the National Running Day website.”

So have fun and celebrate being a runner during National Running Day! Log those miles, smile those smiles. And remember: National Donut Day falls just two days later (always the first Friday in June), so run enough to make some room to celebrate that as well!  

Have fun out there, fellow runners!  -- Sole Sister V.