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Friday is Run@Work Day!
This Friday, September 15, is the 12th Annual RRCA Run@Work Day! It has also been expanded to include the fifth annual Run@School Day in order to incorporate potential runners of all ages.
The concept is not necessarily to actually run to work, though you certainly can if you like. The whole idea behind Run@Work Day is to encourage friends and co-workers to get out and run or walk or participate in some kind of physical activity for 30 minutes during the day.
Because work (or school) is such a big part of most people’s day, helping people understand that just 30 minutes before, during, or after the work day ends is essential to helping them get active and healthy. The Road Runner’s Club of America would love to see businesses, schools, parents, and co-workers spread the word that incorporating daily exercise into your routine can have a big impact on your overall health.
Help Your Co-workers (friends, students, children) Get Active (without nagging)
While it may be a little late to start a full-fledged Run@Work program, there are still things that you can do to help your co-workers, friends, students, or children find their way to exercise. Here are five things you can do to get them started on the road to better health.
The giveaway is over but you can still expand our sport by helping your friends start a running program!
Be Supportive
Probably the most important thing you can do to help your co-workers to begin a healthy lifestyle is to be supportive. Remember that, even though you have found a way to add daily exercise to your life, it may be a new concept to those you are trying to help. Show some empathy when they tell you they are tired or sore, but make sure to let them know that passes and that they’ll feel wonderful after a short while.
Be Enthusiastic
Think of the best coach you can imagine. They are probably there, on the sidelines, clapping and yelling positive reinforcement. Be that person. Celebrate your co-worker’s accomplishments, however small. Each one is a step toward becoming a healthier, more fit, human being.
Be Knowledgeable
While you are not a coach, you still have some knowledge about starting a running program. After all, you were there once too. You learned through experience that you should start slow, buy the proper shoes, or join a running club.
Here are some resources for new runners:
14 Useful Things to Know When You Start Running
Asked and Answered: Your Top 10 Running Questions
10 Tips for Starting a Running Program
The Top 16 Running Tips for Beginners
Your co-worker will have questions. Answer the ones you can answer, lead them to the answers you don’t know, and…
Know When to Refer Out
One of the first things that trainers, coaches, and stretch therapists learn is that there are things that are beyond our scope of practice and that is when we must refer out.
It is the same for you as a running friend/co-worker. Yes, you know the simple stuff about running, you can encourage, celebrate, and be supportive. But there some things, like potential injuries, increasing mileage, or specific training plans that are beyond your scope of practice.
That is when it is time to refer out to a coach or trainer who can help your friend continue their fitness journey. At the same time, you will know that a good part of their journey so far is thanks to your support and enthusiasm. Good job!
Show Them All the Cool Fitness Stuff!
Runners frequently say that running is such a simple sport that all you need is a good pair of running shoes and you’re good to go. While that is true to a certain extent, there are a lot of cool running tools that new runners will probably enjoy. From cute running skirts or shorts, sweat-proof running tops, and colorful running shoes, to heart rate monitors, GPS watches, and all the different running apps, there is something for everyone from the fashionista to the techie.
Have you ever introduced a friend, co-worker, or significant other to running (or other fitness activity)? Did they stick with it?
Weekly Linkups
My weekly linkups! Please stop by and check out all of the great recipes, workouts, and information that all these awesome bloggers share every week!
Meatless Monday with Sarah and Deborah
Meatless Monday with Annmarie and Dixya
Tuesdays on the Run with Marcia, Erika, and Patty
Inspire Me Monday with Janice
Wild Workout Wednesday with Annmarie, Jen, and Nicole
The Plant-Based Potluck Party with Deborah
The Running Coaches’ Corner with Rachel, Suz, Lora Marie, and Me!
Friday 5 2.0 with Rachel and Lacey and Meranda
Seeing my mom run when I was younger had a huge impact on why I started running. Now I encourage her to keep running as she is close to 70 years old! She is sticking with it!
What a great giveaway from Nathan sports. Love the handheld bottle
I do love the run at school idea! Can’t wait to meet my new GOTR team in a few weeks. I have tried to get my husband excited about running but to no avail. Kind of jealous that you and your hubs share the love of running.
I’m lucky because my job is super active–I got 12,000 steps at work alone last night! But I know the feeling–it can be REALLY hard when you have a desk job to get and stay motivated and active even for yourself!
I’ve encouraged some friends and family to run and most are still doing it. My wife is one of them, she has completed 2 marathons, plenty of halfs and many shorter races!
I have encouraged a few coworkers to run! Two have completed a few 5k races. It’s exciting to get others involved in running.
When I used to work in an office, i went outside at lunch daily either to walk or run. Slowly other people were like hey umm I don’t want to sit at my desk and they started to join me. It was fun to have it happen naturally just by them wanting to enjoy some sunshine!
So I’m on a crazy running streak and it has inspired at least 2 people to try out runstreaking too. Both of those people are over 60 days run streaking and they both have said that the thought of not running every day seems weird now. I’m SO freakin’ proud of that!
Yes and it was so incredible to see them get healthy and fit!
I LOVE Nathan stuff (and actually have most of the gear you mentioned) – what a great giveaway!
A few of us may actually be running at work on Friday (I’m hoping for the green light from the surgeon tomorrow), and one is a gal who is a relatively new runner. She’s been to some races with me, and has started doing half marathons.
I was so excited and proud when my old partner at work decided to take up running! She asked me for tips and I probably talked her ear off haha. But now she has multiple halves and one full marathon under her belt and just got her boyfriend into running!
I’m trying to get my mom to get into walking, but it’s a tough sell sometimes! Hopefully I can get her to join me on the treadmill soon.
I may have inspired people who have run before to pick it back up but I don’t think anyone I know has started running for the first time because I’ve encouraged them.
I encouraged my twin sister to run and yes she still does this daily and usually more than i do. We do the fitbit challenge almost daily and she’s always kicking my butt.
This sounds great! I am still in recovery mode…but I could go for an easy run or walk 👍
I inspired my wife to start running when we first got together, and now she out runs me ALL THE TIME…… Maybe inspiring her wasn’t such a good idea after all. Lol
I got my coworker to join me for runs before work! We are still running! 🙂
I have encouraged my nieces more to get out with me. I don’t talk with too many at work. Sorry
Not running specifically, but I have encouraged a friend in the same apartment building as me to workout more by going with her to our apartment’s fitness facility.
Once people find out I’m a runner, they’re always making comments to me like “I could never run” or “I hate running”. I try to be encouraging (certainly I’m always positive about running!)
I encouraged my husband and we go for runs nightly now!!
I have encouraged friends, but not co-workers, to run.
I inspired our oldest son to take up running. He hasn’t raced with me in a while (busy with life) but he does still run. I also have inspired a co-worker to walk in the local 5ks. Maybe she’ll get bitten by the running bug? We’ll see!
I am just getting back into running after a somewhat difficult pregnancy/childbirth. Very thankful for support and encouragement from both virtual and IRL pals 🙂
I’m always talking about running, so I have a friend who’s decided to get on board! We did our first 5k together a while ago, and she’s still going strong =)
I have two running buddies that started out running with me. Most recently, my teenage son decided to start running. He is a natural and shares my love for pre-dawn runs. We ran his first half marathon in the spring. My older running friend started as my running partner almost 8 years ago. She has moved on to volunteer with her school’s newly launched Girls on the Run program. Now she is the one passing on the love of the sport.
I have tried to get my mother intro running or at least jogging and have invited to go with me many times..she did for a while but she has since stopped. It hurt her knees too much. Now she just walks but she does so a lot.
what a great giveaway opportunity! this would be a great treat for my fall running!! I just finished week 2 of my 15K training 😀
I have encourage my co-worker to run.
I have encouraged a couple friends to join me but the most I could get was one friend walking with me in the early mornings in the summer on weekends around the local park.
I have encouraged my friends to run and we often go hiking and jogging together!
I got a friend running and I thought she liked it we did it while the kids were in school. Then winter hit and she fell in a slump. Sadly, I could not get her out again she always had something to do.