Happy Global Running Day!

If you been around for a while, you might have seen these posts come around in June, because today is Global Running Day. If you don’t know what it is, here’s the official description:

“Global Running Day is a worldwide celebration of running that encourages everyone to get moving. It doesn’t matter how fast you run or how far you go—what’s important is that you take part, and how you do it is up to you. Run a lap around your block, take your dog for a long walk, or call your friends for a pick-up game in the park. The important thing is that you have fun being active—and you inspire others to join you.” 

This is a pretty good initiative, if you ask me, so I try to pledge some miles every year (and you know I love to talk about running every other day of the year as well).

Our local FleetFeet is hosting a Global Running Day event today, which I would love to attend, but I work late and won’t make it in time. Instead, I pledge to run some miles in honor of Global 

Running Day tomorrow and I joined the NYRR Virtual Race and you can still join, too. Here’s some more info.

Join thousands of people around the world in celebrating your shared love of running as part of Global Running Day! Run the free one-mile NYRR Virtual Global Running Day 1M Powered by Strava race anywhere, anytime between June 1 and June 9 to partake in the worldwide celebration of running that encourages everyone to get moving.

Capture and share photos from wherever you’re running and connect with people around the world that share your passion for the sport using the hashtags #NYRRVirtualRacing and #GlobalRunningDay. You can take the pledge to run as part of Global Running Day on June 5 at globalrunningday.org.

Finishers will be entered for an opportunity to win a round-trip flight on United Airlines to fly (and run!) anywhere in the world and hotel accommodations during their trip! Read the official rules. 

Proceeds support NYRR’s mission to help and inspire people through running, and benefit NYRR’s youth and community programs, so you can feel good about completing the race while doing some good as well.  

The first year I joined the Global Running Day celebrations, I joined a link up organized by Kristen at Jonesin’ for a Run and I just saw that she reposted the questions that she posted a few years ago, so I am joining her again today in sharing them again.

Why do you run?

Because most of the time, it puts a huge smile on my face. Do I love every mile of every run? No. But I never regret lacing up my shoes and getting out there.

How do you plan to celebrate Global Running Day?

Today is my rest day, so I will get back to running tomorrow, but I rode my bike to work today. Does that count?

 How many miles have you run so far this year? Do you have a mileage goal for the year?

I’ve run 232 miles (373 km) this year.  I don’t have a specific mileage goal other than I want to run more than last year (where I ran a total of 680 miles/1094 km).

What big events do you have on the race calendar so far this year?

I’ll be running the SF Half Marathon in July again (my 4th year!) and I am planning to do another local half later in the fall (although I haven’t signed up yet). I might throw in a couple of shorter distances, but I usually keep my race calendar light.

Before I leave for a run I must have:

stretched, drank water, and had a small snack.

Do you track your runs? If so what do you use?

I track my runs using my Garmin Forerunner 235. I wear it every day and love that I can also record other activities (like bike rides and walks). It’s connected to a gazillion apps as well (I can never decide to go with just one) and I just love all the data. (I am a nerd.)

Who is your favorite running partner?

I generally run alone (probably about 95% of the time) with music or podcasts for entertainment, but of course I also love running with friends (most of my running friends live far away though). I’ll give a shoutout to my mom here, because while she isn’t a runner per se, she’s picked up walking as part of her regular exercise routine and it was so much fun to join her on some of her long walks recently.

What races have you run so far this year?

I haven’t run any races this year. I was going to run a local half marathon in April, but then I was traveling that weekend and couldn’t. 

If you have to give someone one piece of advice about running, what would it be?

Run easy. Not every run has to be hard. Let your body just move and enjoy it.

Describe your relationship with running in one word:  happy.

How are you celebrating Global Running Day?