Take Advantage Of Cool Weather On National Running Day In Montco

Why do you run? National Running Day encourages runners, from veterans to beginners, to share their sport.

Runners in Montgomery County and around the country laced up their shoes, some crusted with sweat and dirt, others fresh and white, and hit the streets and the trails in celebration of the event Wednesday.

The goal of National Running Day is for runners to share their passion for the world not just by going for a run, like they may do every day, but by encouraging others to be more active, as well.

Thousands of participants have posted their runs on a Facebook page created for the day, and events are being hosted at running stores and clubs around the country.

At Philadelphia Runner in Philadelphia, runners planned a “run to Rita’s Water Ice” at 3 p.m.

Other running stores throughout the region have weekly group runs scheduled for Wednesday nights anyway, and look to increase turnout with promotion from the day.

While world-famous events like the Penn Relays draw worldwide attention to the competitive nature of the sport, and enormous charity runs raise awareness for important causes, National Running Day is about no more, and no less, than just running.

Competitor Group offered a special one day $20 discount for registration for any of its Rock ’n’ Roll marathon or half marathon events. The offer is only good on Wednesday.

The Philadelphia Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon, previously the Philadelphia Distance Run, a major event with tens of thousands of participants each year, is scheduled for October 31, 2015. Registration is now open.

Running stores in the area that host runs and running-related events include:

All Kinds of Fast - Phoenixville (group runs Wednesday night, 6 p.m.)

Valley Forge Running Company - Collegeville

North Wales Running Company - North Wales (group runs Tuesday and Thursday nights, 6:30 p.m.)

Jenkintown Running Company - Jenkintown

Bryn Mawr Running Company - Bryn Mawr, Media, Emmaus

Fairmount Running Company - Philadelphia

Philadelphia Runner - Philadelphia

For those not participating in group events, there are numerous trails and ideal places for running in Montgomery County, including the Schuylkill River Trail, Perkiomen River Trail, Evansburg State Park, Norristown Farm Park, and many more.

For a full list of posted events in Montgomery County and to see what other runners in the area are doing, check the Facebook page.

And if you’re participating in National Running Day today, don’t forget to let us know in the comments below.