I’m not much of a joiner, myself, but I appreciate the heck out of running clubs. Without them, who would organize the races?
Last week saw some big news on the local running club scene: the PR Moose Milers have merged with the Gate City Striders   Here’s the press release: GCS-Merger-PRelease-R1 (3).doc.
Mainly, the bigger, combined club hopes to field a stronger team for the regional USATF events and other races, Striders President Skip Cleaver said.
“For the regular membership, the slower, mid-pack or medium runners, there will be no impact at all, except they will have team members competing at a much higher level,” Cleaver said. “That is a morale issue, as well as a pride issue.”
GCS will still host their signature events, including the Applefest half-marathon, Fitness U program and Pack Monadnock Moutain Race, and I was especially happy to hear that the Moose Milers contingent will keep running trail races in Mine Falls Park. I’ve yet to do one, and it’d be a shame to miss racing on my home trails.