What’s fueling this growth? Quite simply it is the inclusion of walkers, run/walkers and Nordic walkers in road races. There has been a second running boom, fueled by what I refer to as “The Average Joe.” Road race average times are decreasing every year and, anecdotally, this is because there are more run/walker’s and walker’s entering races.
Anyone who saw the movie “Dodge Ball” can relate. Average Joe’s is the club where people join and don’t take things too seriously but feel good about belonging and staying healthy. GloboGym is the high-tech club where people train with reckless abandon, are part of the buffed elite and attempt to buy out Average Joe’s so they can expand.
Many times when I am approached at Maine Running Company, the first thing a customer says is “I’m really not a runner” or “I just need a pair of shoes to run and walk in a few days a week” or “This is my first Beach to Beacon and I just want to finish.” (They’re all Average Joes)
My response is generally, “so you’re like almost everyone else that comes in here?” Not that we don’t get the serious veteran runner, but I’m always intrigued with the beginners or lifestyle runner or walker that makes running or walking a part of their weekly workout routine. Their desire to improve is just as great and the passion and commitment is sometimes even greater.
We host a Beach to Beacon training group called “Reach The Beacon” every Thursday night through August. Our group mainly consists of a 101 group and a 201 group. Don’t get me wrong, there are some very good Average Joes in our group. But there’s nothing like the 101 group consisting of beginners who need structure, support and to feel good about succeeding in their goal to finish and improve.
Last year, Robin Wescott of Windham came in because his doctor recommended that he start to improve his health. I suggested he join our group when he could barely run/walk a mile. By the end of the summer, Rob not only finished The Beach to Beacon, but continued on and ran the Maine half-marathon. He’s back and has continued to run 25–35 miles a week.
When he sent me an email to indicate he was returning to the group, he mentioned “John, I ran 53.10 for a 10K last week, four minutes faster than my time at B2B last year … guess this is a good starting point?” Wow! The excitement he felt in his progress was so evident I suddenly realized that, hey, maybe we aren’t Average Joes, maybe, just maybe, we’re all runners.
John Rogers is the owner of Maine Running Company on Forest Ave. in Portland. Send questions or comments to him at jr@runwalkcompany.com or check out the store’s website at www.mainerunning.com.