Belleville Runner's Club...What exactly is it??

[runforrestrun]

can anyone tell me what exactly the Belleville Runners Club IS?  When you look it up on Red Ball's website there is absolutely nothing about joining, or when they run, or who they are!  I remember YEARS ago when I was new in town, looking for a running club, and was  a member at the Harbour Club I asked about joining and I was told that it was basically just a group of professionals (mostly men?) who met every Wed. morning at +5:30 a.m. to run.  Well I was a new mom so 5:30 a.m. was not an option. But over the years I've wondered just exactly what kind of "club" are they, when no one seems to join?  Why do they call themselves the Belleville Runner's Club and hold the races they do when they don't encourage membership or adverstise how their club works?

Just wonderin...

[Sandy]

Hi RFR, the BRC was a club many years ago but members found it hard with a variety of schedules to do anything organized.  We have been very lucky that all these years Eric of Redball Radio and some dedicated volunteers have kept the BRC going in name and in spirit and host a number of fabulous races throughout the year.

If you are looking for some organized group runs the Quinte FunRunners have runs at two locations.  We meet in Trenton Tuesday nights at Tri & Run Sports at 5:45pm for about an hour, Sat mornings at 9am for the same and Sundays in a variety of locations...watch this forum for details.

It may be more suitable for you to meet the Wednesday night group who meet in Belleville at the East end Tim Horton at the plaza at 6pm for about an hour.

There is no cost to run with the group but if you would like to call yourself a "member" of the Quinte FunRunners all you need to do is buy a running shirt (lon or short sleeve) or jacket.

The people that come and run with us are easy going, likable individuals of varying speeds and abilities who like the support and camraderie that the group provides. 

[Kate]

Sandy ... I'd be proud to call myself a Quinte FunRunner. 
Do (you) have to order the jackets?
(I will be in the store Saturday with my niece visiting from Ottawa ... she's just getting back into running and I want to introduce her to the best running store in the world!)

[Sandy]

Thanks Kate!  Yes we do.  They are great (beside what they say) as they are light, breathable and surprisingly warm against the wind.

[Kate]

I will talk to you about (the jackets) on Saturday!
Thanks

[runforrestrun]

thanks for the reply.  Unfortunately Wed. nights do not work for me because of my job.  I was hoping to find a group that ran regularly on Sat. or Sun. morning in Belleville, as I can't justify driving 15 min. to run for 30 min.  I'd be driving half an hour total...and with kids and work and hubby it just wouldn't be an efficient use of time.  I'm better off to just run out my door and get a 3 mile run done in 30 min.  However when the kids are gone and time is not such a precious commodity maybe driving to Trenton will be worth it.  Just can't do it now.   Thanks again.

[Sandy]

Watch the forum because after PEC on Oct 3 there will be a group that meets in Belleville Sunday mornings for a long run.  They will probably do the run as loops so you could join in for as long as you like.

[Kate]

REALLY?? 

Although I would like to join the group on the trails in October in preparation for the Fat Ass a month later.  Then maybe a Sunday morning Belleville (long run Sunday) running group!

[Sandy]

The Sunday group will be training for goofy so should be out and about until January.

[runforrestrun]

and perhaps even after January?  It would be really nice to see a group start for Sunday morning runs all year long.  Here's hoping...

[Sandy]

If you start it they will come! Unfortunately Patti who will be doing the Belleville running is our half instructor and will begin a new clinic from the store late January.

[Kate]

Here's my thinking (hoping) ...

A long run Sunday group will start here in Belleville and hopefully have enough regulars that even after Patti bails on us (sorry Patti), we can continue to keep it up!

 

[Sandy]

I think that would be great.  Once it starts hopefully everyone will want to keep the habit.

[Jane]

Isn't that how we started in Trenton?  Well we did have our little group that we started out with where we walked for a half hour and then did weights and stretching with Sandy.  But after that ended, we had a small number of people who were regulars and then gradually more and more people started coming.  It helps if you can get a good core of people out, and even if you aren't all the same speed, if you can break into a couple of different speed groups.  The rest will just fill in.  I remember we blossomed from two people some nights to up to about twenty. 

But if you rely on someone to start up the group, it may never happen.  So all you need is one or two people to start, hopefully around the same speed, post on here and go from there.  When we first started, we didn't have the benefit of a website, and just used to call around the make sure that someone else was going to show up.  Has anyone ever tried getting a group together in Belleville through the YMCA? 

[Kate]

Maybe I need to see if anyone in the Wednesday night group in Belleville is interested in a Sunday morning group as well!  But ... I think this will be facilitated through Patti (I hope) once PEC has been run.

And you are right, Jane.  The more runners the better.  That helps balance out different speeds, but also ensures enough people show up when runners have to be away for whatever reason.