Lynchburg recognized as outstanding running community

Lynchburg is leading the pack in promoting a strong and active community of runners, according to a national running organization.

The Road Runners Club of America, which has a local chapter, has picked the city as its “Outstanding Runner Friendly Community” of 2011 — a distinction that recognizes Lynchburg’s commitment to going the extra mile for its runners.

“It really came down to the fact that Lynchburg seems so very connected,” said Jean Knaack, executive director of the national Road Runners Club.

Knaack cited several testimonials praising how supportive and collaborative the community is when it comes to running. Lynchburg seems to set a “shining example” that other areas can use as a model, she said.

Lynchburg was accepted as a “Runner Friendly Community” in 2011 and beat out 16 areas to win the year’s “Outstanding” title.

The city is the second to be distinguished as an outstanding community. The first was Monterey, Calif., in 2010.

Tuesday, during a public announcement packed with around 100 people, city leaders heralded the new award as an exciting and prestigious honor.

  “We are humbled by this designation,” Mayor Joan Foster said. “This just serves as an example of what can be achieved when citizens, government and business all work together.”

 The Road Runners Club convened a national panel of judges to vet the candidates for Outstanding Runner Friendly Community. The criteria included how active a community’s running circles were; the array of races and other events available; degree of partnerships with government agencies and businesses; and mix of sidewalks, trails and other pro-running infrastructure.

Bill Gray, president of the Lynchburg Road Runners Club, said they were blown away when they found out the city was elevated to “outstanding” status. 

“This is beyond anything we expected,” he said.

Gray, 65, has only been running for four years, but said he quickly was embraced by a tight-knit network of local runners who were always ready to share advice or offer encouragement.

“It turns out there are a lot of really good people in running,” he said, adding while running didn’t come easily, the sense of accomplishment he felt as he improved propelled him.

Today, he is healthier, happier and better able to keep up with his seven grandchildren.

“Health and wellness and fitness is so important,” he reflected. “It’s important for all of us. It’s important for our city.”

The city is gearing up to launch a major wellness initiative later this year, which the Lynchburg Road Runners Club and many other area organizations will partner in.

Elena Edwards, chief operating officer for Genworth Financial, said her company experienced firsthand the benefits of promoting healthier lifestyles.

“We have seen the huge difference it has made for our employees, for their families and for the broader community,” she said. “They are seeing improvements in their health and their lives, and we are all gaining the benefit of that.”

Genworth, which is one of Lynchburg’s leading employers, applauds the community’s commitment to encouraging healthy choices, Edwards said.

Foster and other speakers Tuesday encouraged the public to stay tuned as the new multi-pronged wellness initiative is rolled out, set to begin next month. Gray said the Road Runners Club was “all in.”

“It seems, to me, we shouldn’t be looking at this as a culmination of something,” he said. “We should look at it as the beginning of something.”