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Key Takeaways
- You can support the running community through various non-running activities like volunteering, fundraising, and donations.
- Participate in charity walks or offer your time at local running events to connect with others.
- Encourage runners at events; a simple cheer can make a huge difference.
- Donate gently used running gear to help underprivileged runners or support small runner creators to enhance diversity in the community.
- Engage with the running community by sharing ideas or connecting on social media platforms.
Discover creative ways to support the running community without putting on your running shoes. From volunteering at races to organizing fundraising events, these five non-running support ideas will help you make a meaningful impact.
(This post about how to support the running community contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Influencer, I earn commissions on eligible purchases. Thank you for supporting this content!
This past spring, recovering from treatments for varicose veins forced me to take a running break. I couldn’t run for over a month! Since running is a major part of my personality, I focused on finding ways to give back to the running community without running.
Running Community Connection Tips
How to Help the Running Community
Here are seven tips for how to support the running community without running any miles! The running community is a powerful entity. While it might be viewed as an individual sport, there is so much connection and commonality that make it incredible.
Sign Up for a Charity Walk
Lots of charities host walking events to offer an alternative participation option if running is not your thing. I join the Imerman Angels Brunch Run 5K and 1 Mile Walk every year in June at Montrose Harbor in Chicago. Walkers get the same perks as the runners (mimosas and a catered breakfast)! And I love that my race entry helps support the charity’s mission to support cancer fighters with one-on-one connections. Even for a shorter distance race like a 5K, you have a powerful opportunity to raise money for an honorable cause.
If there is a charity or cause that you’re passionate about, reach out to the charity and ask if they host fundraising events like a charity walk. Once you sign up, you can raise funds to help their cause. If they don’t have a local option, see how you can encourage others to donate directly to the charity.
Volunteer at a Local Running Event
I wasn’t able to run my favorite race in Chicago, the Shamrock Shuffle 8K, this past year, and I wanted to be involved in some capacity. Since I couldn’t run in this event, I volunteered in the start corrals instead. It was really fun! I was able to see some of my friends as they piled into their corrals, and it was interesting to see what happens in the corrals after the race starts. If you’ve never volunteered at a race, I highly recommend it! You can also sign up to help support water stations and pass out glasses of water, or volunteer at the finish line and pass out medals. Seeing runners achieve their goals can be really rewarding!
Races have so many different positions available to assist with.
Here are the types of roles races are looking for volunteers to help with:
- Help with runners checking their gear before and after the race
- Starting corrals
- Finish line support and offering medals to finishers
- Passing out water at aid stations
- Course marshals to guide runners on the route
There are so many different ways you can assist and offer volunteer support. Check with your local race to see how you can help!
How to Support Runners By External Means
One of the easiest ways to support the running community is by making a donation to support a charity runner. I’ve run six of my twelve marathons for charity, and honestly, it’s my preferred method of getting into the Chicago Marathon. Running for charity has been one of the most inspiring and motivating experiences I have ever been through. It’s taught me ways to hold myself accountable to marathon training and to encourage me when I’m not motivated.
When I fundraised for my first marathon, I got the best advice: It’s not about asking for money, it’s about asking for support. And you’re asking others to support a really great charity. It helps spread the word for a charity’s mission with free advertising (which makes a huge impact).
If you know someone running a marathon for charity, even a small donation can make an impact for their fundraising requirements (also, you never need to apologize for a small donation!)
Offer Encouragement at a Running Event
Katherine Switzer, the first woman to officially run the Boston Marathon, once said,
“If you’re losing faith in humanity, go out and watch a marathon.”
Watching a race is a great chance to give back to the running community! It’s also one of the most inspiring things to witness. Something as simple as clapping or saying, “You look strong,” can make a huge difference for a runner when the going gets tough.
If you want to step up your engagement while spectating, try these tactics:
- Make a humorous race sign like, “You look hot,” or something related to a pop culture meme.
- Order confetti cannons and release them when you see your friends. Find a 12-pack of biodegradable confetti cannons here on Amazon.
- If the confetti cannons scare you, try getting a bubble gun! Check out this option with loads of bubbles!
For me, watching other runners is one of the most inspiring things! Watching people run the Chicago Marathon in 2013 is what gave me the courage to run my first full marathon!
Offer to Host or Volunteer at a Cleanup Event
There are plenty of ways to get involved and give the gift of your time. Look in your local neighborhood, Facebook, or online communities for cleanup events supporting a local running trail or outdoor spaces commonly used by runners. Keeping these locations clean helps the running community and also helps the environment.
Donate Your Gently Used Running Gear
Donate your gently used gear to a local charity that supports underprivileged runners, a high school or offers resale options to raise money for their organization. You could also host a yard sale for your athletic gear and donate the money to charity or to a charity runner’s fundraising campaign! Ask for a donation receipt if you can to help with a tax writeoff.
Support Small Runner Creators
While this might seem like a small idea, this one is great for helping provide value in the running creative space. By supporting smaller creators, this allows more perspective, more inclusion and more representation in the running community.
- Follow running creators on Instagram, TikTok and Pinterest. (You can also follow this blog on these platforms).
- Sign up for running newsletters – Support this blog by joining my mailing list.
- Listen to runner created podcasts. You might learn something new and also have another level of appreciation for this sport.
Related Post: Looking to become a content creator? Check out this post on how to become a micro influencer! And if you need tips for creating running content, read this guide!
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! The running community isn’t just about miles logged. It’s about connection, support, and shared experiences. Whether you’re injured, taking a break, or focusing on other things, there are so many ways to stay involved.
You can donate them to organizations or programs that redistribute gear to runners in need. If your shoes need to be retired, you can check with your local running store if they have a program to recycle your old running shoes.
Give Back to the Running Community
Whether you’re an active runner or someone looking to support the community, there are so many options to get involved and support other runners.
Have an idea for how to give back to the running community that’s not included on this list? Leave a comment below and let me know how you’re supporting the running community through non-running activities.
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