World Run Day

By Bill McDermott, World Run Day

As featured in the September 2007 Newsletter

World Run Day, November 11, 2007, is an annual day for running celebrated worldwide. Started in 1999 as a small Internet-based running event, the event asked runners world-wide to join together, city-by-city, to celebrate running. About 100 interested runners joined in different parts of the world. Last year, nearly 5,000 runners celebrated the event. By running on the day (in a race, on your own training route, or even a treadmill), you are automatically interconnected with a network of runners honoring the day. It was designed to celebrate and promote the health benefits of running.

Each runner that registers for the event is mailed an official World Run Day event T-shirt, has their name listed on the event's web site, and has the option to post pictures and videos of their event. Many participants are individual runners; however groups can range from 5-25 runners. Several Canadian runners made a picnic of the day; while some Polish runners staged the event in multiple locations throughout their country. With much more planning a large event takes the stage for World Run Day.

In the year 2000, a Minnesota woman organized a November 11 World Run Day event hoping for 200 runners. With the cooperation of Mother Nature that year, a mild day (65 degrees) brought out 850 runners!

The current World Run Day Web site (www.runday.com) has results from each year and is filled with pictures submitted by passionate runners worldwide.

As a tradition, many World Run Day participants have also provide donations to their own local neighborhood charities. The idea of running-for-charity was well-received by the international community. The pop star Sting lent his support to London's World Run Day in 2003 and all proceeds went to his Rainforest Foundation. Over 1,200 runners participated in the 2003 London World Run Day event. In 2006, World Run Day partnered with the UN's Fight Hunger division based in Italy. The event helped feed over 100,000 hungry children.

World Run Day founder Bill McDermott was named a "Champion" by the UN's Fight Hunger division last year and continues to promote the annual event. This year, he plans to argue for World Run Day's formal international acceptance by creating an online petition planned for submission to the United Nations in November. His rationale for the worldwide proclamation for running: "In 2,000 years we've never had an international day for running; additionally there has never been an international day for charity. World Run Day is an event that can serve both - an Earth Day-type event for runners to promote health and fitness, and a platform where charities will be promoted at the local community level."