Longmont Running Club

The Longmont Running Club (LRC) is a casual, friendly, and loosely organized group of runners in the Longmont, Colorado area (including from Boulder, Niwot, and Berthoud) ranging from beginners to seasoned ultramarathoners, and everything in-between. Some run for fitness and some enjoy racing. Regardless of motivation or ability, the common thread tying the group together is an enthusiasm for running, participating in a running community, and having fun.

How long have you been around?

Since 2001.

How many members do you have?

The mailing list as of August 2009 has 83 members, of which an estimated 20 or so are inactive/non-responsive.

Who can join LRC?

Anyone in the Longmont area is welcome to participate in our runs and join the mailing list. We're wary of spammers who try to trash our list, so we do look closely at requests from out of the area. If you're moving to Longmont and want to get a head start on running here, you are welcome to join up but please do your best to distinguish yourself from a spammer when you sign up.

How do I join?

Simply sign up for the mailing list. You actually don't even have to do that -- just come out and run on Saturdays. By not signing up, however, you'll miss out on other LRC announcements, which is important especially when the Saturday run occasionally moves to an alternate location.

How much does it cost to join?

Admission is free; there is no cost. That was easy! We actually had a Treasurer for a few years and tried collecting voluntary dues, mostly to buy supplies for an annual picnic, but the few dollars we accumulated just ended up in the sock drawer and as far as we know, they are still there.

Who is in charge of the LRC?

Nobody, really. We used to have a more formal structure with elected "officers" but these days it's just a few volunteers who maintain the mailing list.

Is the LRC affiliated with the City of Longmont?

No and in fact, we're not affiliated with any other organization or sponsor, either. At one time, the City had a weekly running program at the Longmont Recreation Center (LRC) called "LRC Runners" which was, as you might guess,a little confusing. We're not sure that class still exists but if it does, there is no relationship between the two groups other than they both contain runners!

So what does the LRC do?

We mostly run. The traditional flagship LRC event is the conversational Saturday morning run at Golden Ponds in Longmont. You'll also see other runs posted on the mailing list throughout the year, such as an annual (and legendary) Mesa Trail run above Boulder, and various runs in other parts of town. All such runs are suggested and led by group members, such as yourself! There are also occasional social events although these have been somewhat rare lately.

I have a goal to complete the Bolder Boulder next year. Does the LRC have a beginning program for runners?

We don't have any formal training programs or classes. But we can say that more than a few runners have successfully completed the Bolder Boulder after having run with the group for a while, including those starting as absolute beginners. And you can't beat the free friendly advice from those in LRC that are experienced with preparing for that race, and others!

So how can I participate as a LRC member?

Most importantly, come out and run!

Tell your friends about us

Help support Longmont running events by volunteering at a local race, or at a K12 school cross country/track meet

Smile and say Hi to your fellow LRC runners when you see them on the trail, at the grocery store, or on the bus to the Bolder Boulder

What is the (yahoogroups) LRC mailing list used for?

Mostly it is used to announce runs. Other acceptable uses include:

Coordinating car-pooling to events, or race meetups

Finding a training partner for a specific event, distance, or regular run

Announcing an LRC-related social event.

Relaying local running conditions, including trail closures.

Race reports are welcome.

Looking/begging for team members for a relay event

Local race announcements, in the radius of 20 miles from Longmont. Use your best judgment. We get requests to post race announcements from places like Denver, Conifer, Ft. Collins, and Breckenridge. If we honored them all, the mailing list would quickly become flooded. There are many online resources and calendars for finding Front Range running events.

Calls for race event volunteers.

Your PR (personal record) or goal story. If you just accomplished a milestone, share your story and help motivate others. No goal is too small or insignificant.

Longmont running issues, in general.

These are not acceptable topics:

Political views, observations, or endorsements.

Commercial advertisements, including real-estate for sale or rent.

Personal attacks or unfriendly remarks of any magnitude.

Mailing List? That's so 1990's. Why isn't the LRC using any of the modern social-media technologies?

Well, there is a LRC Facebook group. If it gains some traction, perhaps it can be used for time-sensitive, throw-away topics like "Who's running this Saturday"?

Where and When is the LRC Saturday morning run?

The run starts at 8:30 AM at Golden Ponds Park in Longmont which is just west of the intersection of Third Avenue and Hover Street. Some arrive 10 or 15 minutes earlier to stretch. Look for a group of runners starting to collect in the parking lot area. After the run, many participants hang around for 10-20 minutes, for stretching and socializing.

Be careful not to get Golden Ponds confused with the neighboring Rogers Grove Park on the east side of Hover!

Do I need to sign up?

No, it's pure drop-in. Show up and run!

Whoops, I was late to Golden Ponds and missed the group

Run the course anyway and you'll eventually see us out there.

What's the course?

The course is a flat 5.5 mile out-and-back route along the St. Vrain Greenway that goes east to the Sun Dial (near South Pratt Parkway) and returns.

You can see a map of the course here.

What's the running surface like?

Take your pick: the Greenway is paved and also has a packed dirt trail next to it, for about 98% of the run.

Why Golden Ponds and the Greenway?

Prior surveys indicated that LRC members wanted a close, predictable Saturday run so that they could get to other weekend activities. In addition to being free of vehicle traffic and well-suited for beginners, the Greenway also offers a soft surface and restroom facilities/water fountains.

How about running Saturdays at my favorite location?

LRC is not locked on the Golden Ponds location for every Saturday. For example, the Saturday run occasionally happens at McIntosh Lake. If you've got a favorite 5-mile course in town that can accommodate various running skill levels, feel free to suggest it.

How far do you run?

5.5 miles. You don't have to go that far.

How long does the run last?

Depending on your pace and if you go the full 5.5 mile distance, you can expect to be back at Golden Ponds in 50 or so minutes.

How fast do you run ?

This is easily the most common frequently asked question about the LRC Saturday run.

First, keep in mind that some like to run faster and some slower. The pace of a given runner depends on a lot of factors including current fitness level, injury status, and what they did on Friday night. Some carry watches, some don't. If a pace just has to be nailed down for the portion of Saturday LRC runners that stay together as a group, the best estimate would be in the 9 to 9.5 minute mile neighborhood, after a slower warmup as the run leaves Golden Ponds. Your mileage and pace will vary, and that's ok!

That's too fast for me!

No problem. Start the warm-up with the group and run your own pace. Some choose to alternate running and walking. Whatever suits your style.

That's too slow for me!

Great, we've had many faster runners who sprint ahead of the group and finish earlier. We'll see you at the end.

That's too far for me!

This shouldn't be an issue, either. Some runners start the warm-up with us for about a quarter of mile but just continue around the Ponds for about a one-mile lap instead of heading east. Others simply turn around when they've reached half of their limit. Want to run two miles? Go out a mile with the group and then turn around. Increase your distance a little each week and you'll eventually be running 5 miles with the group.

That's not enough distance for me!

If you want more miles from this run, you have many options. You can get in a ten-miler by continuing to run east to the door of the Rec. Center and then turning around. Some put in additional miles before the run and then join the group for the 8:30 start.

Any facilities at the course?

There's a restroom and water fountain at the Golden Ponds start, and the same at Isaak Walton Park (at miles 1.8 and 3.6 of the run). During the winter months, the water fountains are definitely shut off so bring your own fluids if you need them.

I came out to Golden Ponds but nobody was there. Where were you?

Sorry about that! This could happen for any number of reasons, including: ski trips, holidays, injuries, family activities, and perceived bad weather. Turnout on race days is also low. If this happens to you, go ahead and run anyway! That's why you came out, right?

Can I bring my dog(s), my running stroller, kids on bikes, or my iPod?

You can run with whatever support you're comfortable running with, in a group setting. Keep in mind that the Greenway is a shared multi-use trail, so you'll be running next to pedestrians, cyclists, baby strollers, dog walkers, and roller bladers. Dogs do have to be on a leash per City ordinance.

What happens to the run when there is bad weather?

First, there are very few days of the year where weather will stop you from running in Longmont. Except for the dirt portion of the starting and ending 0.25 mile of the Saturday course, the City does a great job in keeping the Greenway relatively clear of snow and ice. Some actually enjoy running on soft snow. Everybody has their own limits as to how much cold, wind, rain, heat, or snow that they can handle while running. But, in the past, there's usually been a hardy group that braves most types of weather being thrown at them.

Any good trails/running routes in Longmont?

There are many close by (and far too many to list), and this also depends on what you are looking for. For classic hillier and rockier trail runs, check out Hall Ranch and Heil Ranch to the west. For smoother and flatter soft surfaces suitable for long-distance training, there are miles of dirt roads/trails surrounding Longmont, including to the north (Vermillion Road area), southwest (Boulder Reservoir to Nelson Road), east (Union Reservoir area and Weld County), and south (Niwot trail system and White Rocks / Teller Farms). For running in town, many use the Greenway (and branch on/off as necesary), McIntosh Lake, and Pella Crossing. Best advice is to talk with other LRC runners about their favorite running areas.

Does Longmont have a running store?

Unfortunately, no. The closest we have are a few sporting goods super-stores.

What races are run in Longmont?

These are the big five but keep in mind that new ones may crop up. And of course, there are many other races in the surrounding cities of Boulder, Lyons, Lafayette, Berthoud, Erie, Loveland, Niwot, Nederland, Louisville, etc.

Mud Hen 5K (City of Longmont). Held on a closed, near-loop course around McIntosh Lake, usually at the end of April. The City of Longmont's newest race.

Sunrise Stampede 10K/2Mi (Lions Club). Always run on the Saturday two weeks after the Bolder Boulder, in early June. Lollipop course, starting and ending at Longmont High School. Longmont's second oldest race.

Rogers River Run 5K (City of Longmont). Held in mid-July as one of the events of the City's Rhythm on the River festival. Closed course along the Greenway, much of it the same as our Saturday morning run

XC Challenge (Longmont Twin Peaks Rotary). Longmont's newest annual race, consisting of a 3.5 mile (3-loop) cross-country course at Rogers Grove. Usually held in early November, and is part of a regional series.

Turkey Trot 10K/2Mi (City of Longmont). This is Longmont's oldest race (30+ years) and is held in mid-November. Loop course, starting and ending at Westview Middle School.

Honorable mention goes to the Bob Turner Classic 5K in nearby Berthoud, usually run in early May.

I'm looking for something more structured than LRC. Are there any other running clubs or groups in the area?

Here are a few that we know about, most in neighboring towns. If you have any updates, let us know. There are probably more.

Jim Hallberg's coaching group. Longmont fee-based group coaching program run by the Track/Cross Country coach at Longmont HS.

The City of Longmont sometimes offers a fee-based structured running class each quarter, such as a track workout program or an "Improve your 10K time" class. Check with the City Recreation Department.

Loveland Runners

Boulder Road Runners

The Bold Running (part of the Bolder Boulder organization) program has structured summer and fall running groups.

In addition, there are at least two triathlon groups in the area:

Boulder Triathlon Club (BTC). BTC has active, year-round training programs that include weekly group runs

Blue Sky Velo. A Longmont-based cycling club but they also have a seasonal triathlon sub-group that includes group runs.

And on the more unstructured side:

Boulder Trail Runners (BTR). No membership fee or formal organization but BTR offers a regular trail run almost every day of the week, mostly in the Boulder foothills, and many ad-hoc runs throughout the year. The runs vary in difficulty, altitude, and starting time. A few LRC members are known to regularly run with BTR.

FleetFeet Runners. No membership fee, and many of their runs take place not far from Longmont. If you enjoy running 5 to 8 minute miles, they have a fast group just for you.

There is a group that meets out of 24 Hour Fitness in Boulder, Monday, Wednesday, Friday at 7 AM. You don't have to be a member to run with them. Off of Iris, in north Boulder.

Last Updated: June 21, 2010/

Longmont Running Club

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

LRC Saturday Morning Run

Monday, August 3, 2009

Longmont Running Club (LRC) Frequently Asked Questions

General questions about the Club

Questions/Comments about the LRC Saturday Morning Run

Longmont Running, In General