Jump into a running routine
Mel Diab motioned with his hands for about 30 runners at his store to join him for a picture. The runners, clad in tights and layers of bright neon clothing against the cold February night, gathered around the ever-energetic 64-year-old Diab inside his running shoes and apparel store, Running for Kicks in Palos Heights, Ill.
After taking the picture, the group headed out for its weekly Monday night group run, traversing about 10 miles as they snake through neighborhoods. The photo was used as part of a fundraiser in May for the family of fellow runner Mark Reilly, who abruptly died in 2013. “That’s what runners do,” Diab says. “This is what it’s all about. Everybody is looking out for everybody else. And it’s something just about everybody can do. One foot in front of the other.”
Most of the regulars at Diab’s Monday night runs are part of the Yankee Runners, an Oak Forest, Ill.-based running club with members who compete in several marathons throughout the year, including in Boston and Chicago. Among the Yankee Runners who laced up that Monday night was Tracy Rosensteihl, a 48-year-old who took up running about two years ago. Since then, he’s lost more than 50 pounds, and doesn’t have to take cholesterol medication anymore. He’s also able to take a smaller dosage of medicine for his type 2 diabetes.
Rosensteihl has raised about $20,000 in support of the American Cancer Society through races and other efforts, including his first-ever full marathon in November 2013. “It’s a matter of fitness, friendships and fundraising,” Rosensteihl says. “They all relate together in running. I’ve met so many great people through the running community.”
Running has grown way beyond just a way to stay fit. Old and young, men and women, people of all walks of life are finding fellowship and run through running. And it’s still a killer workout.
A Wider Track
Across the country, running communities are growing, and the number of races is skyrocketing. From 5Ks and half-marathons, to theme runs and traditional marathons, the sport is in the middle of what New York Road Runners coach John Honerkamp describes as its “second boom.”
In the 1970s and ’80s, running was a male-dominated sport offering a narrow range of events. It was mostly guys running marathons. But today, the number of half-marathons is rising faster than any other running event, and you’ll see many more women running them, Honerkamp says. “Part of the second running boom is that both genders are more involved now compared to the first boom,” says Honerkamp, who is an eight-time top 10 finisher at the U.S. Track and Field National Championships.
One of Honerkamp’s goals is to lower the barriers that may keep curious people away from running. People think it’s too difficult, and a regular routine is almost impossible to stick with. Experienced runners training for their 10th race will still call themselves as “beginners,” he says. So Honerkamp encourages people to focus on hitting their own goals, instead of comparing themselves to Olympians or people who just run more often.
“One of our jobs is to break down those walls of, ‘I’m not a real runner,’ or, ‘I’m too slow,’” he says. “We aim to show people that runners aren’t just really fast people wearing singlets and short-shorts. We help people not feel intimidated when running with people who have all the gear, and are more experienced. “I define running as propelling yourself forward using both feet. If you’ve chased a bus, or chased the subway, or a cab, you’re a runner. Our tagline is, ‘Run for life.’ We want to get people inspired and change lives through running.”
21st-century Sport
Running attracts people for different reasons, and some tech-heads have been pulled in by a love for gadgets. Online and mobile running apps—ones that let you map your route and track your distance and time—have also kicked into the second running boom, Honerkamp says.
The NYRR, which includes about 60,000 members, developed its own customizable training program. Running hopefuls answer about 30 survey questions, and the program produces a custom program for the person’s indi- vidual abilities, experience level and motivation. Honerkamp says many people get hooked instantly because running—and many of the apps—are basically free. And they allow people to focus on beating their own best time, instead of worry about anyone else. “It’s much cheaper to run a marathon than to buy a Ferrari for a midlife crisis,” he says. “It’s about a process and a journey. If you run your best time, then really you did just as well as the top finisher in a race."
Sharing On the Road
While most running programs and apps help you chart your progress, some have even more creative ways to motivate. Jeremy Koerber, manager of Wellware Fitness Center in St. Louis, says he enjoys a feature of the Nike+ app that involves social media. Users can sync Nike+ with their Facebook account, and their running achievements get posted automatically. If a Facebook friend “likes” the status or comments, the user hears a round of applause in their headphones while running. “When you first get started running, your confidence may not be at its all-time high,” Koerber says. “But then all of a sudden, you get that applause. Even if you don’t know who that is, you now have someone supporting you. That’s why running communities are so important. The solid support system is key.”
Koerber thinks the social aspect of running also has gotten more rubber soles on the road. More people are running with their friends, or joining a jogging group to make new friends, he says, which gets them engaged, and off their couches. “Whether it’s for a 5K, half-marathon or a themed race, you will invariably start run- ning with other people,” Koerber says. “Then it’s not just about losing weight and getting in shape. Now there’s a healthy social environment.”
In addition to hosting Monday, Wednesday and Saturday runs, Running for Kicks offers ice cream socials, pizza parties and chili runs. It’s not unusual for runners to hang out after group runs, to share snacks and conversation about running and other parts of their lives, Diab says. “We believe in family-orientated running,” he says. “The pace groups will probably talk about their day at work, or what they’ll do when they get home. Or they’ll plan another run for Thursday. It’s a lot of fun.”
Diab also spearheaded the First Midwest Bank Half Marathon and the Running for Kicks Turkey Trot. More than $150,000 in six years has been raised through the half- marathon for prostate cancer research, and for children with special needs. About 11,000 cans of food were collected at the previous Turkey Trot hosted in November 2013 for a local food pantry. Diab says it’s just another of the many ways running brings communities together. “We believe in giving back to the community,” Diab says. “It’s a very positive environment.”
Get the right gear
Clothing
Warm weather: Get clothing to keep you cool and dry, such as Nike DriFit, at right, or Saucony and Mizuno Coolmax shirts. “You never want to wear cotton,” Diab says. “It just holds the sweat.”
Cold weather: Stay warm and dry by using a base layer on your upper body to wick away sweat, a second layer for insulation, and then a jacket on top to seal in warmth. Thermal tights keep legs warm, while mittens work better than gloves to keep fingers insulated, Diab says. “And you definitely want to wear a facemask that wicks sweat away and filters cold air,” he says.
Shoes
Diab says you should consider much more than brand and color when choosing the right shoes. “We don’t push one shoe company over another. Everything depends on foot structure, any issues you have like injuries, and what you are training for,” Diab says. Once they analyze your feet and training needs, he uses a Brannock Device—the foot-measurer that was once a shoe store staple—find your exact fit. “We’re old- fashioned in that respect, but they still work well,” Diab says.
Then, the customer stands up and bends their knees into a squat to make sure the shoes keep their feet stable and level. Lastly, they go outside for a short run while a staff member watches to see if the shoe helps their stride, especially if they pronate (feet roll inward) or supinate (feet roll outward). “We’d never tell a runner to buy a pair of shoes and break them in,” Diab says. “They have to feel good when you put them on.”