Good running boomlet statistics

Today's local paper featured an article about the many learn-to-run programs that exist in my area. Some of them, like the Women's Beginning Running Program sponsored each year by the North Carolina Roadrunners Club, are for new runners who want to tackle that first running goal. Several local running stores and organizations have programs like these, often using some type of "walk to run" program. Another type of running program sponsored here gives experienced and intermediate runners the chance to build up their mileage under supervision and with experienced coaching, like stretching yourself from consistent 5Ks to half-marathons or marathons.

Included in the article were some interesting factoids about the current running boomlet we're experiencing, including the notion that the boomlet is indeed driven by the "walk to run" concept of including regular walking as part of a running training program:

- the number of runners in the United States has increased 57 percent over the last 10 years
- the number of runners in the United States is estimated to be about 35.9 million
- in 2008, running was reported to be the nation's fastest-growing form of exercise, according to the National Sporting Goods Association

Whether you're an advocate or critic of "walk to run" programs, you have to agree that any kind of training program that encourages more people to exercise, coaches them towards greater challenges, and provides a social support organization for their running is A Good Thing.