Club Scene
PEI Roadrunners
For over 40 years, the pei Roadrunners have kept an important portion of Prince Edward Island’s residents fit by supporting – if not creating – the province’s running culture. The volunteer-led club has been quite successful in fulfilling its mandate of promoting running and a healthy lifestyle. In fact, the Roadrunners counted 250 members in 2017 and, according to Roadrunners president Janet Norman-Bain, those numbers are steady from year-to-year. The club is the biggest of its kind in the Maritime provinces. “Running in p.e.i. has certainly been growing, and that has been a goal of ours,” says Norman-Bain.
In a province lacking regional track and field clubs, crosscountry meets and running coaches outside of Charlottetown, the group’s ubiquity is invaluable – especially considering that the club is self-sufficient. “We are not a provincial sport organization, meaning we are not recognized and funded by the provincial government,” Norman-Bain points out. “With that comes various challenges, but our system has worked.”
The club sanctioned over 40 road and trail races across the island in 2017, but it also plays a role in the organization of another 26. “We offer to place any race happening on p.e.i. on our online schedule, but we only sanction races that have proven themselves as legitimate in terms of accurate distance and overall organization,” says Norman-Bain. With the pei Roadrunners sanctioning comes advertisement and clocking services, along with insurance benefits.
The club is fortunate to benefit from consistent leadership coming from a board of dedicated volunteers, with each playing key roles. “We don’t really stick to titles, and work as a team,” says Norman-Bain, adding that multiple-time p.e.i. Marathon champion, Stanley Chaisson, is an acting member on the Roadrunners board.
Norman-Bain wants runners of all speeds to feel welcome to join the club. “Sometimes, people seem to think they have to be fast to run with us, or meet some sort of time standard. There is no truth to that at all,” she says. “Sure, we support our fast runners by giving them opportunities to run to good times in quality races like the Gold Cup Trot,” she points out about a race that is considered one of the fastest 5k road races in Atlantic Canada. It is situated in downtown Charlottetown and preceds the popular Old Home Week Festival Parade. “But, our main vision is to get people running, and to have fun doing so. We want numbers – we are inclusive,” she says. Social outings and functions within the group are common. “We have a group of 10 to 12 runners who will meet every Saturday morning for a run, followed by a cup of coffee at 7:30 a.m. Sometimes, if there is a race that morning, they will hop in the race after their own run,” says Norman-Bain. “We also hold Christmas parties and end-of-the-year banquets. Those events are popular within our group.”
Norman-Bain is soon stepping down as President of pei Roadrunners, but will likely still be seen at races cheering on her son, Alex. The younger Bain is 30 and has autism. His passion for running dates back to his high-school days, when he ran three kilometres around the track so hard that he needed a change of clothes after recess. Alex Bain has since completed the Boston Marathon twice, and is one of the club’s most loyal members, rarely missing a race. “He loves running, so I plan to keep showing up and taking pictures of his race finishes, even if he’s not always making the nicest smile by the end,” she laughs.
Moving forward, Norman-Bain is optimistic about the club’s sustainability, but realizes that a group effort is needed. “We have had great help over the years, but it needs to keep going. For this club to be sustainable, more volunteers need to step up and assume leadership roles.” One thing is for sure: the Roadrunners president is setting the right example.