LIFE

Find friends, motivation at Running U.

Alene Nitzky

The Fort Collins Running Club has been in existence since 1971 and continues to grow and thrive. This past year, the club launched a new initiative, called Running U., to grow the membership and comply with its mission, which is primarily to promote running as a healthy activity in Fort Collins.

Running U. is intended to attract new and beginning runners but includes runners of all experience levels. It provides mentorship, accountability and fun group runs to encourage people to stick to their running goals. Currently 103 members are signed up for Running U., and 30 of these are new runners, just starting out.

Experienced club members are mentors who provide encouragement, feedback and tips via social media and email, and attend a multitude of group runs through the week at different times and locations. There is always someone looking for running partners to join them at different paces for trail runs, hill runs, track workouts, or long runs.

This is a great way to find running partners and meet other runners. No runner is left behind, so this is a great place for a new runner to get started. It’s a great way to motivate yourself on those days when you’re having a hard time getting out the door. On a windy, snowy, 14-degree afternoon, a group of eight runners, including some new runners, showed up at a local track for a workout.

Running U. is free to club members and consists of two sessions, the first of which will continue through Jan. 4. It reinforces the basics of running, consistency, safety, and provides feedback and support. Session 1 encourages runners to be consistent in logging three runs per week, of any distance, and to be accountable.

The second session is an extension of Session 1 and helps participants build up to running the Horsetooth Half Marathon in April, though it is not necessary to be training for this distance to participate. Hill training and gaining speed will be the focus of Session 2, in addition to reinforcing the fundamentals of running.

I can personally attest to the fact that it works. On a recent 6-degree afternoon, after procrastinating all day in my warm house, this experienced runner was shamed into it. I was on Facebook and seeing that many runners in the group were getting their runs in and posting about them, even in the bitter cold. Call it peer pressure, motivation, or whatever you want, but I got out there after reading their posts.

Club membership is $20 a year for an individual or $30 per family and includes the Tortoise & Hare series of free races and several social events throughout the year, as well as other benefits. Go to www.fortcollinsrunningclub.org for more information and to sign up for Running U.

The mission of the Fort Collins Running Club is to promote running in Fort Collins, Colorado and the surrounding communities by: providing an enjoyable and positive running atmosphere, providing competitive and participatory events for runners of all abilities and interests, and promoting the healthful benefits, both physical and mental, that running can provide.

In addition to providing supportive activities like Running U., Fort Collins Running Club benefits include: free entry to all seven Tortoise & Hare races, a 15 percent discount at Altitude Running and Runners’ Roost, a free subscription to Colorado Runner Magazine, discounts on entry to the Horsetooth Half Marathon and other local races, and an annual holiday brunch, social events, and numerous group runs.

Alene Nitzky has been running ultramarathons since 1991. Email her at sherunnoft@gmail.com.