So spring is here, as well as everything that comes with it – warmer temps, rain, pollen, rain, short sleeves, rain, pollen…  While we can do with a little less of some along the way, it usually means more activity, getting outdoors and having some fun!  Know something else that comes with spring?  Runnerdude’s RunTheBoro

What is This RunTheBoro Thing?  Good question, thanks for asking.  RunTheBoro, now in its 4th year (the brainchild of Thad McLaurin, aka RunnerDude), is a series of FREE group runs every Saturday in May and June, starting this year on May 4th (and May the Fourth be with you).  Each Saturday at 7 am, a group of your closest friends and soon to be running buddies take off in groups, or gaggles, of runners with Pace Leaders from 8 mins/mile to walking.  There are two routes, the feature 8-10 mile route, a shorter 4-5 mile route.  The Pace Leaders take you on the route through various historically significant and often new to you neighborhoods throughout Greens”boro”.  Directions are provided for the runs, as well as water at halfway and finish.  Want to have more fun? Remember it’s not a race.  Sign up and read the weekly newsletter to learn about the path of history you will complete that coming Saturday.  Last year’s final run had over 330 people!  In addition, some cool SWAG can be earned for repeated attendance, as well as shirt/magnets and more available for purchase to commemorate your experience.  Donations are also accepted for the Greenway Water Fund.  If you’ve ever seen those coolers on the A&Y Greenway, that’s because of RunnerDude and the Greenway Fund!

So Why Should You Participate? We could run through the health specifics regarding walking/running and improved cardiovascular function, etc etc etc, but most of us know that exercise is usually a good thing for health.  How about the why RunTheBoro vs. a walk down your street, as told in quotable quotes? 

“Variety is the spice of life” – some guy in some poem in the 1700s.  I like to think he was talking to us that run/walk day after day the same route in our neighborhood.  RunTheBoro is a great opportunity to get out and see areas of our city that we might have never been.  Maybe we drove through it once but we were in a car and late for work and didn’t even see that cool house where an episode of Hoarders was filmed.

“The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members.” – Coretta Scott King.  With 200-300 plus members hanging out together, you are bound to find a new friend or old friend in the pod of 15-30 that you run/walk with that day.  Personally, I have found a great running coach/friend and some really good friends along the way.  The compassion of those in the running community is stellar – come out and you’ll see. 

“Why the heck not?” -quote it!

So in summary – variety, community, why the heck not?  If you like to walk/run, are free on a Saturday (or all Saturdays) in May and June, come on out.  Check the RunTheBoro website for start locations, sign up for the newsletter and come out and experience greatness with the rest of us.  You never know who you’ll see/meet. 

Greensboro Physical Therapy is proud to be a small part of helping make this shindig happen.