Road Runners Club of America Welcomes Five Runner Friendly Communities

September 12, 2024

Arlington, VA /ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ – The Road Runners Club of America (RRCA) is pleased welcome the newly designated Runner Friendly Communities® for summer 2024:

• Dublin, Ohio
• Lubbock, Texas
• Santa Fe, New Mexico
• Sleepy Hollow, New York
• Wilmington, North Carolina

Runner Friendly Communities have shown that they meet the program’s criteria, which includes community infrastructure along with support from local businesses and government.  A Runner Friendly Community has a safe network of pedestrian-friendly sidewalks, multi-use trails, paths, share lanes, and more.  In addition, the communities work in collaboration with public and private organizations to support and promote running as a sport and healthy activity.

“Making a community runner friendly requires not only buy-in from multiple groups, but also a spirit of collaboration,” said Jean Knaack, RRCA CEO.  “We are pleased to see such diversity in the kinds of cities in towns recognized in this round of Runner Friendly Communities. It’s a reminder that no matter the location or size, any community can prioritize creating a culture of healthy living for its residents.”

Every five years, a Runner Friendly Community must work with the RRCA to ensure it continues to meet our criteria for the designation. The following communities have successfully renewed their Runner Friendly Community designation:

• Dayton, Ohio
• Fort Collins, Colorado
• Grapevine, Texas
• Houston, Texas
• Tucson, Arizona

The goal of the RRCA’s Runner Friendly Community program is to shine a national spotlight on communities that standout as runner-friendly and provide incentives and ideas for communities to work towards becoming runner-friendly communities. Runner Friendly Communities can increase the quality of life; improve physical activity for residents; and provide for increased economic impact for the community.

About RRCA: The Road Runners Club of America (RRCA) is the oldest and largest national association of running organizations and runners dedicated to growing the sport since 1958. The RRCA champions the development of community-based running clubs and events that serve runners of all ages and abilities in pursuit of health and competition. The RRCA’s vision is to Empower Everyone to Run. To learn more, visit: www.RRCA.org

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Contact: Andy Smith

programs@RRCA.org

703-525-3890