RCU Charity Classic

Running can be a solitary sport. You don’t need teammates or coaches. You don’t need opponents. Other than shoes – and, these days, probably an iPod – you don’t need gear. All you need is the willingness to pound your feet on the pavement.

Mike Olson used to be one of these solo runners. He rose at 4:45am and pushed himself for miles. As he got more involved in the sport, however, he met more runners, and eventually joined the Indianhead Track Club, which for 45 years has fostered physical fitness and fellowship in the region. “It’s kind of changed my running, and changed my life,” Olson says. “My best friends now are the people I train with.”

For Olson and others who run as a group activity, personal connections and accountability are key. At one point, Olson motivated the younger runners he trained with; now they have surpassed Olson and provide him with motivation. “It’s not an individual sport,” he says. “If you connect with the right people, they’ll make you better. They’ll make you faster. They’ll make you enjoy the sport that much more.”

The Indianhead Track Club, which has about 200 members, is a volunteer, nonprofit group that sponsors seasonal races (the Spring Fever 10K, the Tortoise and Hare, the Carson Park 5K and 10-mile, and the Frigid 8 and Thermal 3) as well as helps with numerous runs, including the RCU Charity Classic, the Buckshot, and the Eau Claire Marathon. The club also organizes several weekly workout groups.

While some members are elite runners, Olson says the group is welcoming to newcomers of all skill levels. He notes that the “track club” name doesn’t indicate all members are whippet-thin elite athletes: “It’s not a majority of people who are really fast,” he says. “It’s a group of people who really love running.”

Depending on their stage in life, some would-be runners need more motivation than others. For women – particularly women with young children – encouragement is offered by Moms on the Run, a Minnesota-based business with franchises around the Upper Midwest, including the Chippewa Valley. As a mother of four, Sarah McCutcheon knows it’s hard to find time to exercise (or do anything else for oneself) when there are little kids in your life. “Our main motto is fitness, fun, and friendship,” says McCutcheon, who is co-head coach and co-owner of the local franchise with Shelly Peters. Attendance is taken at Moms on the Run classes, which usually meet two or three times a week for 18 weeks, and women fill out nutritional calendars as a way of keeping each other accountable. “You get that feeling of belonging somewhere and knowing you’re truly missed if you’re not there,” McCutcheon says.

McCutcheon says she gets a better workout running with friends than alone. While every hill and incline are challenging while running solo, “With a group sometimes I feel like I blink my eyes and it’s over.” She emphasizes that women interested in trying the program shouldn’t be intimidated: Participants often have never run before or haven’t exercised in years because of the demands of motherhood. “It’s so important to get out of the house and build your self esteem and feel good about your body again, and breathe that fresh air,” she says.

To learn more about the Indianhead Track Club, visit indianheadtc.org. For more on Moms on the Run, go to momsontherun.com/wisconsin/ and select your city.

HIT THE ROAD RUNNING

Area fun runs and races coming up in June and July.

Lutefiskman Triathlon Jun. 14, 7:30am • Stoddard Park, 13418 Park Ave, Osseo • $25 person • All ages • 715-577-1763 • www.CityOfOsseo.com

Thin Mint Sprint Jun. 14, 8-11am • Pine Pavilion, Carson Park, Carson Park Dr., Eau Claire

Spartan 5K Run/Walk Jun. 14, 10am • 1319 Larson St., Bloomer • $10 youth; $20 adult • Ages 8+ • 715-933-4026 • www.m.runnersworld.com

UV Splash: The Night’s Brightest 5K Jun. 20, 9:30pm • Northern Wisconsin State Fairgrounds, 225 Edward St., Chippewa Falls • See contact info for costs • 715-839-8877

Lake Eau Claire Clear Water Triathlon and Picnic Jun. 21, Check Venue For Hours • C & G Hide Away Bar, E19986 Cty. Rd. ND, Augusta (Hwy 27 north out of Augusta, WI, right on County Road ND) • Kids under 12: $15 (adult partner pays $25), 12 and over: $25 per individual • Register by Jun. 16 for pre-registration pricing. Prices increase $5 after Jun. 16. • www.lakeeauclaire.org

Lion’s Pride 5K Jun. 22, 8am • Keller Park, Fall Creek • $20 • All ages • 715.877.3334 • www.active.com

The 2nd Annual Mad<3 Dash 5K Run/Walk Jun. 25, 5pm • Pine Pavilion, Carson Park, Carson Park Dr., Eau Claire • $5 donation/person, $10 donation/family of three or more • all ages

RCU Charity Classic Jun. 28, 8am • Royal Credit Union, 200 Riverfront Terrace, Eau Claire • $20, $10 kids

Fit City Kids’ Triathlon Jun. 28, 8am-noon • Wabasha Public Pool, 900 Hiawatha Dr, Wabasha • $25 seniors/kids under 15, $20 other • fitcitykidstriathlon.org

The Water Street Mile & 5K Run/Walk Jul. 12, 8:30am • Menomonie Street Dental 1020 Menomonie St., Eau Claire• (715) 839-4909 • www.lephillipsseniorcenter.com