One in an occasional series of features on Charlotte area businesses, nonprofits, and events, and how they are adapting to the “new normal.”
Our Subject: runCLTrun is a way to support the running community of Charlotte — a hub for people to gather information and meet other runners. It’s not a club, but a digital platform for people to get connected and find running clubs to train with and races to run in. Its creator, Lisa Landrum, is connected to a lot of people in Charlotte’s running community.
What’s been impacted: The pandemic reduced running clubs as restrictions limited numbers in outdoor activities, and people generally tried to avoid being too close to others not in their household. As high schools cancelled sports and clubs pared back their practices, youth runners had fewer chances to experience the social interactions they craved along with the training miles they needed.
Innovative pivot: As Landrum saw the togetherness and training wane, especially among young runners, she created a way to help. Using her coaching certification, she formed a group of youth runners to train at McAlpine — the county’s 5k course — three times a week. The small group allowed kids to see each other and stay in shape for cross country season at their schools.
“This actually catapulted me into what I wanted to do forever, but never had the ‘courage’ to do,” says Landrum. Her new business, Forward Motion XC, offers group, small group, and one-on-one training for a fee.
Reactions: The idea was a hit with kids. “It took a life of its own,” says Landrum. “Kids craved the social interaction with friends.” Getting out and running with their ‘group’ also helped them lose some of the stress of school and the pandemic.
The running groups helped kids train for cross country tryouts at their schools, whose teams were drastically cut back this year. Kids who didn’t make the team were motivated to keep running so they could still cheer on their friends.
“They missed it,” says Landrum.
Forecast for the future: “As long as they want to continue to run, I will continue to hold workouts,” says Landrum. She enjoys connecting youth to support, to other runners in the community, and to the different parts of running. She looks forward to sending them on to their school teams.
“This is a great opportunity for kids who want to play other sports, and want to become stronger runners,” says Landrum. “There’s a place for them too.”
Reach Lisa at https://forwardmotionclt.com/