Club Description Loco Philosophy Club Protocol
Club Description
Locomotion Running Club is a volunteer-driven recreational
marathon-running group based in
The club does a long run every Saturday morning somewhere along the Wasatch Front. Unique to Locomotion Running Club is a “Sag wagon”, which is a support vehicle that follows the runners along the course and provides liquids, first aid and storage of personal clothing. Check the current schedule for information. The club publishes a phone list for all members that allows individuals to contact their fellow club members to arrange workouts during the week.
The club periodically conducts social events that include
dinners, sendoff parties and club meetings. Large groups of individuals also go
to out of town races together.
Membership is open to anyone who enjoys running in a
group that includes runners of all abilities. Coaching and a wealth of
information based on experience are available to all members. Membership dues
are $50 a year.
For more information about Locomotion Running Club, Email Us (Click Here)
Loco Philosophy
Reprinted with Permission
from Bill Schmid
Introduction
The “philosophy of LocoMotion Running Club involves both a training program and a social approach. The social approach includes a casual, lightly structured organization (club President, dues, ect.) but it relies on an important set of norms (unwritten and usually unspoken “rules” that guide our actions as individuals within the group). As our club grows it is probably a good idea to talk more clearly about these norms that our veterans tend to take for granted and that our newcomers want to know.
No Negative Talk
When you are with the group, don’t complain about the weather, or the terrain, or the footing, or the whatever. Don’t put down others or yourself. Instead, actively praise others as frequently as you can (for their presence at the workout, for their effort, for anything positive). Remember this: Garbage in; Garbage out. So, let’s be unrelentingly upbeat about our running, ourselves and each other.
Support the Sag Wagon
Say “thank you” every time you get a drink – make the sag driver know that you really do appreciate their being their to help you with your running. And go beyond showing your appreciation – sign up to be the sag driver at least twice each year and find out what it’s like to be on the receiving end of all that gratitude. Please take note: the sag wagon always stays with the middle and back of the pack. If you out-run the sag wagon, you are on your own.
Run Together
In LocoMotion, no one runs alone (except by choice). Don’t run near someone, run next to them. Start talking, and get to know your running partner. Don’t forget that you are with a club to be with people first, and to run second. If you are a fast runner, dedicate some time in every workout to run with someone who isn’t so fast; you’ll have plenty of opportunity to get all the workout you want. If you find yourself way out in front, turn around and come back to repeat a segment. Again, you are here to be with people – if you just want to run away from others, there really is no point for you to be in any club (your behavior is self-defeating).
Don’t Race in Practice
We build ourselves up in our workouts, and then we excel at our races. Those individuals who feel the need to “beat” other runners in practices (we sometimes call these runners “workout-winners”) would probably fit in better with some other running clubs. We don’t talk macho, we don’t challenge each other – we support, we encourage and we appreciate. Prima-donnas and those who need hero worship should apply elsewhere.
Care About
the Group
We have little structure to our club because we believe that the club’s entire purpose in being is the runners who make up the club. When you participate in a pot-luck dinner you bring a dish to share with others, and you get to share what everyone else has brought. LocoMotion is like that. Please contribute to the club and, in turn, enjoy what the Club has to offer: success, satisfaction and camaraderie.
I sincerely hope that these notes help anyone interested in knowing what LocoMotion Running Club is about
– Bill Schmid
Club Protocol
Suggested Uses of Loco Group Email
E-mail should be used for the purpose of club-related
activities and communications. Defining what exactly is club-related is an
abstract concept. What one person may feel is club-related; another may feel is
a superfluous bit of electronic drivel. Because the club’s leadership does not
wish to be in the business of censorship, we only ask that club members give
thought to the relevancy of an email before it is sent to the entire group.
Please be respectful of others’ time and use your own best judgment when
sending an email that will reach upwards of 70 people – many of whom with which
the sender may be unacquainted.
Promotion of Runs or Events that Conflict with Scheduled Club Runs
Sometimes a scheduled run does not always
work with our individual training schedules. If the schedule is made up
and posted, an open e-mail to club members that has the intent and effect of
drawing them away from the scheduled run is not appropriate. Many times a
club member will go to much effort to host a club run or activity, and it is
disrespectful to draw the group away from their efforts. If you have ideas
about what to do on a particular Saturday in the future (one that is still
unscheduled), PLEASE feel free to send your suggestions to the President.
Future club Presidencies will endeavor to obtain a list of races at the
beginning of the year, and create monthly schedules thereafter that coincide
with races that are of general importance to club members.
Philanthropic and Charitable Projects
These are GOOD and ENCOURAGED, and we welcome
communication to club members about them, including through use of the Club’s
group email. These projects are an explicit exception to the
“club-related” test described above. The members of LocoMotion
Running Club have made it clear that they want the Club’s involvement in the
community to extend beyond just running and races. We do have to draw the line,
however, when LocoMotion is asked to officially
sponsor and/or endorse a philanthropic or charitable project. LocoMotion is NOT a qualified nonprofit organization under
the Internal Revenue Code. Thus, we may run afoul of the law when we associate
the club’s name with a project, particularly when tax benefits are inferred or
implied. Please also be mindful that each Club member’s financial willingness
and ability to participate in the philanthropic or charitable project of
another varies and is invariably limited. If you choose to solicit the
involvement of other Club members in your pet project, please don’t be offended
if everyone does not necessarily greet your project with the same enthusiasm
that you do.
Sag Wagon
Every dues-paid Loco member gets an opportunity to sag. Don’t make us beg. You know you need to do it. Go ahead, you’ll feel good for having done it.
New Member
Recruitment
LocoMotion Running Club does not aspire to be the biggest
running club in the greater