Road Runners Club of America

The Road Runners Club of America (RRCA) is a nonprofit organization that has been the oldest and largest national association of running organizations in the United States since its founding in 1958. It is dedicated to growing the sport of running and consists of over 2,700 running club and event members representing more than 250,000 individual runners active in their running communities.

Mission and Vision

The RRCA's mission is to champion the development of community-based running clubs and events that serve runners of all ages and abilities in pursuit of health and competition. Its vision is to see organized and active running clubs and events in every community, empowering everyone to run.

Programs and Services

The RRCA offers a variety of programs:

• Liability Insurance: Provides coverage for running clubs and events, ensuring the safety of participants and volunteers.
• Runner Safety and Education: Focuses on promoting safe practices and educating runners about various running-related topics.
• Coaching Certification: Offers certification programs for coaches specializing in long-distance running, helping to improve coaching standards and runner development.
• National, Regional, and State Championships: Organizes a series of national, regional, and state championship events to support competitive running.
• Road Scholars Program: Provides grants to promising post-collegiate athletes, supporting their development in the sport.
• Kids Run the Nation Program: A 10-week youth running program curriculum designed to introduce children to running and promote physical fitness.
• Runner Friendly Community Program: Recognizes communities that promote running through infrastructure, events, and community support.

History and Accomplishments

Founded in 1958 as an alternative to the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU), the RRCA has played a pivotal role in shaping the running landscape in the U.S. Key milestones include:

• 1958: First RRCA Championship events were held.
• 1964: Began certifying accurately measured courses.
• 1970: Hosted the first women’s marathon championship, challenging AAU restrictions on women's participation in marathons.
• 1978: Helped lobby for the Amateur Sports Act, which led to the reorganization of amateur sports governance in the U.S.
• 1980: Launched the Women’s Distance Festival to protest the exclusion of women from the 1980 Olympics in Moscow.
• 1996: Initiated the Roads Scholar program to support emerging elite athletes.

Awards and Recognition

The RRCA presents several awards to recognize outstanding contributions to the sport:

• RRCA National Running Awards: Acknowledges volunteers, club presidents, youth program directors, and others for their service and dedication.
• RRCA American Long Distance Running Hall of Fame: Honors individuals who have made significant contributions to long distance running.

Structure and Governance

The RRCA operates with a member-elected Board of Directors, ensuring that decision-making power is vested in its member clubs. Regional directors oversee state representatives who coordinate efforts at the state level. While individuals can join the RRCA directly, the organization encourages participation through local member clubs.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Road_Runners_Club_of_America [2] http://www.runpro.com/tfaa-1-1 [3] https://colonialrunners.org/history/ [4] https://orrc.net/about-orrc/road-runners-club-of-america/ [5] https://runnersconnect.net/running-interviews/road-runners-club-america-rrca/