i have trained for two marathons with this group, and i'm really surprised at all the negative comments. i have never heard anyone in the group express any sort of entitlement to the path. in fact, the leaders regularly stress the fact that we are not the only users of the path and need to leave room for other runners/walkers/bikers.

i don't know everyone in the club, but the people i have met are very nice and share a love of running. there are runners of all abilities and ages. benefits of membership include discounts at local running stores and training programs for races various races. as someone mentioned, gatorade is provided at certain points on the path during the sunday training runs, which can range from 3-20+ miles.

it really is a great group to run with. if you are interested, we meet at the gazebo on sundays at 8am.

I'm sure most of them are nice people and understand the rules of the road. However, I have had a number of instances over the years where our paths have crossed and I've come away thinking some of them are either stupid or rude. When you run 3-4 across and fail to yield to others, I'm not sure what else to call it.

i would agree that running 3-4 across and not yielding to others is rude. i object to the implication that this is an accepted practice of the group - as it is not.

quote:

i object to the implication that this is an accepted practice of the group - as it is not.

I really don't think I stated this is a practice that is engaged by all, just a few "socially challenged" individuals. I don't think it is condoned by the majority, in any group there are individuals who can't see past their own nose.
I'm hoping this season that the ones who understand that the trails are a shared resource will enlighten the others.

Hi,

kansas, FYI after reading this thread I contacted my friend who helps run the GE running club. She agreed with me that this IS a problem. She also said the guy who runs it was going to address it AGAIN during their next morning run. So whether we like to admit it or not - this is a problem. I've run with the group and I like many of the people in it, particularly the people who run it. But to say there is not a problem is simply ignoring the fact that many people are practically forced off the prairie path when the herd of 3 or 4 people blocking the path comes at you. It appears to be only a handful of people who simply will not move over. However, they are running as part of a GROUP and therefore the group is forced to bear the brunt of the complaints.

I'm excited the Glen Ellyn Runners have made the Glen-Ellyn message board, though it be somewhat of a negative post, it's still a post. This is news, free advertising, but most of all, it proves we are getting to be known.
It wasn't too long ago when we organized, granted we've been around since 1999, but we left our then mother ship, the Chicago Area Runners Association, and decided to form our own running club.

Getting the word out is most important when trying to grow. It was last September I received an email from a then very much concerned Lombard Illinois Prairie Path board member. Seemed he had noticed several Gatorade cups being blown all over Main St. Lombard. He approached a couple runners near the Gatorade containers and asked who owned the them? The runners weren't quite sure, but replied that the Glen Ellyn Runners have a large group out on week ends, so there is a good chance it's them.

I called the board member once he contacted me. I told him I was honored that the Glen Ellyn Runners were mentioned, however a few things were mentioned that made it impossible it was us.
The first being the Gatorade cups, which we don't use. We use a clear plastic Dart cup. The next being the fact it was Main St. Lombard, we were not running towards Lombard at that time of the year and finally, the fact that this happened on a Saturday, we run on Sunday. So yes, getting to be well known is exciting, even if it's negative. We trust that will change, the negative part.

Anyone who runs with the group or for that matter, knows the group, whether as a runner or just socially, realize what an outstanding group we are.
With that said, do we in fact have a problem with sharing our beloved Illinois Prairie Path?
At times absolutely, guilty as charged. As hard as we try to keep our groups "side by side", "two by two", we at times fail, but we try.
The problem lies with the fact that most users of the IPP are not familiar with "Path Etiquette", whether a walker, runner or a biker, there are certain rules we should all abide by, unfortunately that doesn't happen.
So, until we ALL learn proper Path Etiquette, we're going to have problems.
I, as the President of the Glen Ellyn Runners, will promise all users of the IPP this, we will, and will continue to do everything possible to SHARE the path with all users. It isn't as easy as one might think. As the saying goes, "you can't please everyone" this in fact is true with sharing the IPP. We have a policy to shout out, "bike back, bike up, runner back, runner up, walker on left or walker on right" letting our runners know of other path users locations so that we can "skinny up" or better known as "tightening up" the group.
Needless to say, this works out well, it works even better if someone approaching from behind alerts us with a shout, "bike left" "runner left". Now, the down side to all of this shouting has brought me other emails, those noisy runners, why can't they be more quiet? why do they have to run so early in the morning? all valid questions, but again, "you can't please everyone".
So again, we run early to avoid the big crowds that seem to come out later in the morning. We do the shouting to better share the Path.

I thank all of you for your concerns. The Glen Ellyn Runners want to be welcomed out on the Path. Our main objective is to make a positive impact in the DuPage running community.

We feel we are and have, but it isn't without a few concerned postings or emails that we can improve, so Thank You.

I'm also very proud to say that the Glen Ellyn Runners are lifetime members of the Illinois Prairie Path and provide no less than 12-24 people to help clean it up every Earth Day. We love the IPP, it's the greatest asset any of us active outdoor people have. To lose it would be tragic.
I hope to see you all out on the Path,

Ron Degnan
President
Glen Ellyn Runners
check us out at www.glenellynrunners.org

This message has been edited. Last edited by: GERprez,

Very nice first post! When you guys decide to do something less strenuous maybe I'll join.

Excellent post, Ron.
I appreciate the acknowledgement that as good as your organization is, you are always considering ways to improve.
I've enjoyed your website in the past. I guess we could have directed any critics/questions there.
Don't be overly modest. I somewhat regularly hear references to you guys, both from runners and non-runners. Considered running with you guys myself when doing a maratho a while back, but preferred a more solitary path.
Welcome to the boards - hope you stick around.

Ron-I appreciate your response and your genuine interest in make the path more user friendly. As I mentioned in provious post, most users understand they are not alone in using the path and are accomodating to other users. I appreciate any efforts you can make to educate your group to path etiquette.

I will now focus my angst and energies on the equestrians who leave their horse poop on the trail.

quote:

Originally posted by Yossarian:
Ron-I appreciate your response and your genuine interest in make the path more user friendly. As I mentioned in provious post, most users understand they are not alone in using the path and are accomodating to other users. I appreciate any efforts you can make to educate your group to path etiquette.

I will now focus my angst and energies on the equestrians who leave their horse poop on the trail.

Yoss....just wear your "blinkers" and you won't notice that $hit!