Spring Break
Lake Run Club members get fit in Bloomington-Normal
Tony Andracki, Daily Vidette Staff
Issue date: 3/19/08 Section: Features
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Lake Run Club is an organization for anybody to just get out and run - whether it be races or just for fun.
"Slow, fast, medium; it doesn't matter. Everybody's welcome," Kevin McCarthy, Lake Run Club vice president, said. "We have people of all different abilities. We have retirees, moms, junior high students…It's easy to fit in here. It's just a lot of fun. It's a place where you could go to lose weight or get in shape."
According to President Jana Kiefer, the Lake Run Club was formed in 1981 when a couple of people got together each week to run around Lake Bloomington. Now there are approximately 1000 members, though that number is ever-changing.
"The number fluctuates from month to month," Kiefer said. "We get new members and lose old members."
According to Kiefer, members of the club run city streets safely and visibly in numbers.
The Lake Run Club sets up and assists in races year-round.
"We provide finish-line services for about 23 races throughout the area each year," Kiefer said.
According to Kiefer, they have machines to record the time for each runner and they compile results for each race they provide finish-line services for. However, the Lake Run Club doesn't try to turn a profit.
"We're totally run by volunteers. Nobody gets a paycheck," Kiefer said. "Nearly every race has a charitable cause they are donating to and the race is being held to fund a charity."
Lake Run Club sponsors five different races in town - the St. Pat's 5K, the Lake Run, Park 2 Park, Dog Days 5K and Dawson Lake 5K.
"After expenses, we donate a significant portion to a local charity," Kiefer said of the money they receive from these five races.
On top of the races, there are also group runs on Thursdays at 5:30 p.m. and several programs for runners of all different skill levels, according to Kiefer.
The beginning skill level, called "Catch the Wave," is currently in progress.
"It's for anyone who wants to learn how to run or get back into [running]," Kiefer said of the 10 week program. "The goal is for new runners to run the Lake Run 4.37 mile race-which is May 3 this year."
The intermediate program for runners of Lake Run Club is called "Ride the Wave."
"It's for people who can run five or six miles at a time," Kiefer said. "The goal is to run the outer loop - which is 7.5 miles or 12K -at the Lake Run on May 3."
Lake Run Club also offers a marathon training program.
"A lot of people [in this program] choose the Chicago marathon as their goal," Kiefer said. "The program takes them all the way up to 20-22 miles….We provide support while they train - such as Gatorade and water - at various points for these runs along Constitution Trail."
Lake Run Club also offers a program in the summer for kids ranging from toddlers to 12-year-olds, according to Kiefer.
"It gets kids out to the Wesleyan track on Friday nights with their parents for a little exercise," Kiefer said.
Lake Run Club and its events and programs not only help people to lose weight or get in shape, but it also provides a social outlet for its members.
"We all have pretty common interests. We like to be outside, we like to be physically active," McCarthy said. "It's a pretty fun group. There is usually some sort of social event after most of the races. It's a chance to talk to people about past accomplishments and what is coming up as well as meeting the families [of the members]."
"It's a good group," Kiefer said. "We do a lot of fun stuff. It's a great way to meet people with the same goals you have - to be outside and enjoy running."
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