By EVA DUNN-FROEBIG
One of the best things I did when I started one of my first jobs out of college was to start running with my co-workers during my lunch hour. I was the only woman in my office and at least 10 years younger than everyone else, but running made me feel like I had something in common with my office mates. Although running with my co-workers couldn’t quite replace the loneliness I felt for my college cross-country teammates, it did create camaraderie between us. At one point we did an out-of-town relay race over a weekend, bringing us even closer together.
I was lucky to have an employer who recognized the importance of running in the workplace even if changing into running clothes, running, stretching and showering meant longer lunch hours and eating at my desk. Running in the middle of the day rejuvenated my body and mind and helped create a team-like atmosphere at work. We were lucky to have a shower in the office, too!
Employers are discovering the other benefits of encouraging running, walking, and other forms of exercising in the workplace: lower healthcare costs, less sick days, and energized employees.
Run Wild Missoula will celebrate and encourage running in the workplace on Run@Work Day on Friday, September 16 at noon with several organized group runs throughout Missoula. Run@Work Day was created by the Road Runners Club of America (RRCA), a national running organization, six years ago to promote physical activity and healthy living around the country.
The goal of Run@Work Day is to encourage adults to get 30-minutes of exercise each day, in accordance with the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, either before work, during lunch, or immediately following work. Run@Work Day also encourages companies to help employees schedule time for physical activity. Incorporating exercise into one’s daily routine can markedly improve one’s overall physical health.
The following group runs are planned in Missoula for Friday, September 16 at noon. Unless specified all of the runs/walks will be approximately three miles long.
• Front Entrance to Federal Building, 340 N. Pattee St.
Run Leader: Chris Everett, 544-6994 or chris@runwildmissoula.org
• Front lawn of County Courthouse
Run Leader: Jennifer Elliot, jennifere@itstartswithme.com
• Bear sculpture at Oval at the University of Montana
Run Leader: Jen Sauer, 243-4878 or jennifer.sauer@umontana.edu
• Rehab Parking Lot, Community Medical Center, 1, 2 & 3 mile courses, water &
refreshments available
Run Leader: Mike Wilson, 327-4137 or mwilson@communitymed.org
• Ecology Project International, 315 South 4th St. East
Run Leader: Erin Nuzzo, erin@ecologyproject.org
A survey conducted by the Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation in January 2011 found that 85 percent of small companies (10-99 employees) and 76 percent of larger employers (100-2,500) indicated an interest in developing running and walking clubs. Run@Work Day is a great opportunity to highlight how local running clubs and events can work with area businesses to meet their needs for developing running and walking programs for their employees.
If you are interested in hosting a group run on Run@Work Day please contact Eva Dunn-Froebig at eva@runwildmissoula.org.
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Eva Dunn-Froebig is the executive director of Run Wild Missoula and has been running since the seventh grade. She moved to Missoula 12 years ago from upstate New York to attend the University of Montana’s Journalism School graduate program. Eva never dreamed that she would have a running-related job and feels lucky to be a participant in Missoula’s vibrant running community.