Local Running Community Continuing to Grow

A little over a year ago, it may have seemed odd to spot a large group of runners cruising the streets of Chatham, but not anymore. Now, running is a part of the local culture, and the running community is continuing to grow.

“When I first came to town it was pretty rare to see people running, especially in the morning,” says Kim Wood, owner of Downtown Chatham’s running shoe and apparel store, Up and Running. “Now there is always someone out running. It’s become less about having to be a fast runner. I think people are starting to realize, they can do this too.”

Although Wood is now accustomed to running some of the world’s best marathons, including this year’s Boston Marathon, she is very impressed with the emerging race scene in Chatham-Kent and across Southwestern Ontario.

“There are a lot of local races, almost every weekend now you could find a race less than an hour away,” Wood said, pointing to the St. Clair River Run and the Harvest Run as two local races that continue to grow.

In the eyes of many in Chatham, Up & Running’s launch just over a year ago, was the push the community needed. The store organizes running clinics, events, and drop in runs to help people get off the couch, active, and healthy.

“We do free drop in runs, Saturday and Wednesday’s, to try to educate people how to run, and how to run faster. You’re bound to benefit and find someone to run with.”

With the first year under their belt, Kim, and husband Matt Wood, see big things ahead for both Up & Running, and more importantly, Chatham’s running community.

“The first year was actually much better than we anticipated,” said Wood about the store’s success.

“We want to get more involved in the triathlon community, and also the running community. I think we have a great group of runners in town. Not just our group, but we have many groups in town, and we’re supportive of all of them.”

Overall for Wood, it comes down to a few key points, “We want to just keep promoting running and healthy lifestyles,” she said.

“You can do it. You don’t have to be thinking you have to be in amazing shape, or twenty years old to run. You get out, you start the same way everyone else does. You take a few steps, then you take a few more. If you have to walk, you walk, but you just keep building on that, and it’s exciting.”

Up & Running is located at 138 King Street West in Chatham, and is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10am to 6pm.