Industry Groups Announce National Running Day

National Running Day, a coast-to-coast celebration of running and a collaboration with top U.S. running organizations to promote running as a healthy and accessible form of exercise, will take place on Wednesday, June 3, it was announced today by Running USA. In cities across the country, runners will participate in group runs, wear National Running Day customizable bibs, pledge their miles to charity, and more.

"National Running Day is a time to celebrate healthy, active living together as a community. Running USA, along with our members, are excited to celebrate a fun and inspiring day with runners across the country," said Running USA CEO Rich Harshbarger.

National Running Day allows longtime and beginner runners alike to celebrate the sport and build connection and community between fellow runners of all ages and abilities, as well as attracts new participants. Whether runners join a group run for the hundredth or first time, spread the running bug to a friend, sign up for a race, or set a new goal, the day is meant to celebrate the reasons and people that make a running a special part of their lives.

In New York City, New York Road Runners (NYRR) is inviting runners of all ages and abilities from across the five boroughs of NYC to participate in group runs and walks and stop by water stations for giveaways. NYRR's flagship National Running Day event is the Mighty Milers Fun Run, in which nearly 2,000 NYC students participate in a year-end celebration of running that includes runs, relay races, games, and more. 

In Minneapolis and St. Paul, the Running Room, in partnership with Twin Cities In Motion, will host free group runs out of their local retail locations with refreshments and prize giveaways.

In Houston, the Houston Marathon Committee will host a social media photo contest, and runners are encouraged to share photos from their run on the Chevron Houston Marathon's Facebook page under their official National Running Day post, with the potential to win prizes.

In Chicago, the Chicago Area Runners Association (CARA) will hosting three official National Running Day fun runs throughout the day. 

In Atlanta and Hawaii, the Atlanta Track Club and Big Island Running Company are pairing up to start and finish the day; Atlanta Track Club will host runs at midnight and 6:00 a.m. (Eastern Time), while Big Island Running Company's group run will begin at 11:30 p.m. (Hawaii-Aleutian Standard Time). 

Nationally, the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series will offer a special registration savings across all events and have launched a fun campaign for 'Why Running Rocks.' 

Additionally, Women's Running will offer a special 6-month magazine subscription offer for just $5.

Runners of all ranks can visit www.runningday.org to:

• Find group runs and other events across the country, or create their own, by visiting the National Running Day website here

• Connect with National Running Day on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to be a part of all the celebrations and giveaways

• "Donate" their run or walk through Charity Miles and support important causes

• Customize a National Running Day "I Run ..." logo and bib, download a free Fun Run Guide, and more

About National Running Day: National Running Day, held annually on the first Wednesday in June, is a day when runners everywhere declare their passion for running. It is a coast-to-coast celebration of a sport and activity that's simple, inexpensive, and fun. It's the perfect way for longtime runners to reaffirm their love of running and for beginners to kick off a lifetime of life-changing commitment. National Running Day is a collaborative effort of the foremost running organizations in the United States, including the Atlanta Track Club, the Boston Athletic Association, the Chevron Houston Marathon, the Chicago Area Runners Association, Competitor Group, Inc., the Little Rock Marathon, the Marine Corps Marathon, New York Road Runners, the Oregon Track Club, Running USA, the Twin Cities In Motion and USA Track & Field. 

About Running USA: Running USA is a tax-exempt, not-for-profit organization devoted to improving the status and experience of distance running and racing in the United States through collective marketing and promotions, information and communications within the industry and to the national media, services to events and industry members, and the development of American world class stars. It seeks the advancement of the sport and the provision of value to each of its members' events and businesses. For more information, visit RunningUSA.org.