I'm curious if anyone has had any experience with the Glen Ellyn running club? I'm looking to find out how far they usually run and any benefits to membership.

I toyed with joining it, but they get together on Sunday mornings (or at least they used to) which is not always appealing to me. At one time I posted an inquiry on another site I frequent (coolrunning.com/neighborhood) and there are several regulars who post there who are members of this group. At that time (about a year ago) there were members of various abilities and able to run various distances.

I think they go out on Sundays around 8:30 a.m., which is a bit early for me.

Yoss, you can ask them if you go to the bagel place on Duane and Main on Sunday around 10:30. We take Junior there for a bagel after Church and they are usually there in their tights and running shoes......Can't miss 'em.

On the really hot & humid summer days, I will go out early. It's then that I see this group on the PP, usually running 3-4 people across, which does a nice job of blocking the path for other users.

I've been contemplating joining, but have not found a compelling reason. I thought maybe someone could make a case for joining.

Other than the Sunday morning thing, I was hesitant because I'm not a fast runner. Although I enjoy running and would probably benefit by running with someone-I didn't want to be put in the remedial group all by myself.

Did you check out their web site?

Glen Ellyn Runners

There is a bulletin board.

One benefit is Gatorade placed strategically along the IPP for the Sunday morning runs (if the fountains are insufficient for your needs).

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Did you check out their web site?

Yep. On long runs (45 minutes +) I drink Propel, so the coolers of gatorade don't appeal to me. I thinking I'll just keep the status quo. My long runs are a nice quiet time to relax and enjoy the scenery.

Yoss, do you run with the dogs? I'm hoping that eventually I'll be able to run with the puppy.

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Originally posted by Yossarian:

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Did you check out their web site?

Yep. On long runs (45 minutes +) I drink Propel, so the coolers of gatorade don't appeal to me. I thinking I'll just keep the status quo. My long runs are a nice quiet time to relax and enjoy the scenery.

Watch your ankles on Glen Ellyn Place.

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Yoss, do you run with the dogs? I'm hoping that eventually I'll be able to run with the puppy.

I've tried that, but the dogs don't know how to pace themselves. I do take the youngest one to Ackerman to run with me and chase the geese. He's good for about two laps around the park. Speaking of geese, Ackerman really needs to have some type of goose control program. I would be happy to have my pooches attend to it for a minimal fee.

They meet at 8:00 a.m. on Sunday mornings. One of the other Moms from our group at Healthtrak decided to run with them for the first time last year. She said the leaders were nice but that the group blocks the entire prairie path and won't move over for other runners or bikers. This became a bit embarrassing as she'd see more of us (friends and neighbors) on the prairie path, who were forced to move off the path when the "pack" came through. One would think that if they are seasoned runners they might get it by now. But from what I've heard they seem like a nice enough group, if you don't mind having to move out of their way.

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She said the leaders were nice but that the group blocks the entire prairie path and won't move over for other runners or bikers.

I've experienced this first hand, it's just rude. I agree that regular users of the trails should know and abide by the "rules of the road", which are posted every couple of miles. This is one of the reasons I have been reluctant to sign-up with this group, the sense of entitlement to the width of the path.

I also ride my bike on the PP and run into the gaggles that won't move, and I always alert fellow path users with a "passing left", yet they barely move. It's not just the GE Running club, there are plenty of clueless dolts to go around. AAAhhh, good times on the PP.

Yoss...I say we start a group that gets up at 7:30 on Sunday mornings and stands in places strategically mapped out along the path to wait for this group who thinks they can bully any path user in their way. Shame on them!

As a regular prairie path user, I could not agree more with what has been mentioned above. The path is open for everyone. What about sharing? Esp. during the summer months, let's be kind and courteous. I would NOT want to be a member of group that seemed to be less than polite and didn't use common sense!

Let's start a Saturday group and be kind to our fellow prairie path users

When I was doing my long runs prior to my sole marathon a few years back, I made sure I found out which direction they were headed in (on Sunday long runs they generally start at Park), and went the other way. I don't know that I thought they were particularly rude, just that there were a bunch of them all running with their own conventions. If you got out ahead of them you'd keep getting passed by their fast groups - which can be depressing. Or if you went out behind them you'd have to keep working your way through their slower groups, which could be a bit of a hassle - as well as possibly throwing off your pace.

I guess joining the group would make sense if you lacked the discipline to keep to a schedule.

Of course I thought the marathon itself was pretty unthrilling - just 4 hours of running in a big crowd. I guess I dislike most other people as much as they dislike me!

Too bad the Great Western Trail doesn't have more shade-it's not very busy, even on the weekends.
Maybe we should all line up on the PP on a Sunday morning and yell rude comments to them, hold up signs and trip them!

I'm there HD...but according to the latest news about the Wetern Trail...you could trip over a body and hurt yourself...

I agree on the GWT, it's nice not to navigate the crowds, but is not near as scenic and is brutal on a hot, suuny day.

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is brutal on a hot, suuny day.

Is that like a hot day in the Middle Eastern sun?