SPECIAL EARNED RUNS 2020 SUMMER CHALLENGE:
​TAKE 9; PROTECT BLACK LIVES
See the June 8 BLOG post for details

WELCOME!
​JOIN OUR WORLD-WIDE 'EARNED RUNS' COMMUNITY ONLINE

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EARNED RUNS OFFERS
ONLINE SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT TO ALL VISITORS

TYVEK BIBS WILL BE MAILED TO ALL
ADDRESSES IN THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA BUT THERE WILL BE A LIMITED NUMBER AVAILABLE FOR OTHER COUNTRIES
Demand has been so high that unrestricted free bib mailings cannot be sustained
Bib mailings will continue until supplies are exhausted, so request them early before they are gone!
To help with demand printing has been enabled!
Thank you for your support!

NEW!!!!
EARNED RUNS BIBS CAN NOW BE PRINTED: Go to the REQUEST BIBS page for more details.

The countries from which requests have been received and to which bibs have been sent: 
​ALGERIA, ARGENTINA, BELARUS, BRAZIL, BULGARIA,  CANADA, CROATIA, DENMARK, EGYPT, FINLAND, FRANCE, GREECE,
INDIA, IRAQ, ITALY, JORDAN, LATVIA, MOLDOVA
MOROCCO, POLAND, RUSSIA, SPAIN, TUNISIA, TURKEY, UKRAINE, UNITED KINGDOM,
​ UNITED STATES, and UZBEKISTAN.

The USA states from which requests were received include: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin.

EARNED RUNS OFFERS
ONLINE SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT TO ALL VISITORS

EARNED RUNS BIBS CAN BE PRINTED!

Check out the new option on the REQUEST BIBS/CONTACT page. 

TRAIN YEAR 'ROUND TO BE FIT  

CHECK OUT SEASONAL PERSONAL GOAL ACTIVITIES AND CHALLENGES suggested by 
EARNED RUNS to motivate regular commitment to athletic endeavors​...on your terms.
SPECIAL 2020 SUMMER CHALLENGE:
"TAKE 9 PROTECT BLACK LIVES"

SUMMER 2020 Challenges see RESOURCES page
I: Streaking
II: Run-Walk-Bike Across America:  
Portland OR to Portland ME route
- started May 25, 2020;
 see updated materials on the RESOURCES page
​
 NEW Across America South Route test season proposed
 Santa Barbara CA to Myrtle Beach SC

III: Fastest 5K or Summer of Fun 5k's
IV: Series Sweep
V: Buddy-up
VI: Obstacle Race Training
SPRING 2020 
Bib Use Event Suggestions (PDF download) 
(January 15, 2020 BLOG POST )

WINTER 2020 CHALLENGES (CLOSED)
See RESOURCES page
Suggested by Earned Runs for the WINTER 2020 season 

I: Half Marathon with 'Saints Days' 5k & 10k Training for Runners and Walkers
II: Winter Streak (blog post)

FALL 2019 CHALLENGES (CLOSED)
TURKEY TROT Training Plans Starting September 16
FOR BEGINNER RUNNERS AND WALKERS
Runner 5k (PDF)
Walker 5k - 10k (PDF)
Check the RESOURCES page for additional materials

SUMMER 2019 (CLOSED)
See RESOURCES page

SPRING 2019 (CLOSED)
Bib Use Event Suggestions (PDF download)
(BLOG POST February 23, 2019)
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Bibs of 2020, just before the New Year. Clean and ready to mark up with notations of accomplishments.
WHY USE PERSONAL EARNED RUNS™ BIBS?
  • Enjoy unlimited opportunities to design races,     challenges, and contests
  • Pay NO registration fees
  • Generate motivation to achieve PERSONAL goals
  • Receive encouragement to take on SOLO efforts
  • Involve friends and family if desired
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Morning run in CENTRAL PARK, New York City, a dream fulfilled September 2016

Earned runs support

EXPLORE, FIND HELP
on the EARNED RUNS BLOG and other pages:

the great outdoors 2020

Daily outing neighborhood images during months with minimal travel. Heading from winter into spring!

Life is complicated; 
EXERCISE IS simple

IF YOU CAN'T PARTICIPATE IN
AN ​ORGANIZED EVENT,
PLAN YOUR 
OWN!

 DESIGN A CUSTOM EXPERIENCE
​FOR YOURSELF
OR WITH OTHERS

PictureMy four 2018 Earned Runs custom bibs and bibs from B1G Ten 10K, Zeeland Turkey Trot, and Midwest Surgical 5K organized event bibs. Third place age group medal from the Turkey Trot. Image taken by PK Senagore January 2019. All rights reserved.





​RUNNING, WALKING, OR WORKING OUT IN OTHER WAYS, JUST FOR THE SAKE OF DOING IT, and the HEALTH & WELL-BEING that may accompany exercise, is what sport and fitness is all about for many.  

​Especially for those who do so regularly.

It can also be about the excitement, spectacle, and comaraderie of COMPETING in organized races, events, or challenges, plus the chance to support charities and causes.

For some, these TWO MOTIVATIONS will not intersect. Time and money may not easily be committed to fun competitions on weekends when there is work or family life to consider. 

​Race/event registration, travel expenses, or days away may be too costly. Making the commitment to register is daunting and can be required months in advance of an event.

Injury can deprive you of the chance to participate in an eagerly awaited and paid-for competition.

However, you still yearn to join the community of competitors, reach a milestone marker, experience the thrill of achievement, secure a token of  your success.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

Request or print
EARNED RUNS Bibs!

​Receive 4 consecutively-numbered
EARNED RUNS Tyvek™ COMPETITION BIbs
if your mailing address is in the USA or canada.

or,
print one or a set 

then,
create your own events and activities.

 start training to compete,
WORKING TOWARD A GOAL,
MEETING A PERSONAL CHALLENGE
or ORGANIZING A GROUP EVENT!

Search box

The EARNED RUNS website is searchable! Check it out ...

 IMAGES OF SCENERY, NOT RUNNING...

Most of the Earned Runs website images are NOT of runners, walkers, or exercisers in motion or of their gear. Why? There's very little variety when it comes to depicting people in athletic apparel and footwear. They can be shown from the front, rear, or in profile.  In full- or partial body views, or simple foot, leg, or arm shots. They can be solo, or in pairs, groups, and crowds. Gear is also a rather visually restricted subject.

However, one of the GREATEST PERQUISITES of outdoor exercise, which is available to everyone and doesn't require a membership, is the opportunity to enjoy the SCENERY. ANYWHERE!

​Earned Runs images are of what can be EXPERIENCED by a runner or walker on a neighborhood loop, big city travel jog, lunch break course, favorite weekend park pathway, or spectacular vacation trip. These scenes are what encourage us to take our shoes and energy wherever we go; they represent the promise of inspiration we hope to find out there!
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My four 2019 bibs with completed challenges from each season. Looking back, it was a great year!

“If you have a body, you are an athlete.”   Bill Bowerman, former coach of the University of Oregon track and field team

A Step toward greatness: earned runs 'honor series'
an example of the kind of event tradition that can be yours:

LEARN HOW A PERSONAL EVENT MIGHT BE DESIGNED to commemorate a special date or anniversary that is important to you.
The Earned Runs HONOR SERIES page explains.
"Doing something for yourself like running, and using it to test yourself,
will only make you feel better about your career or family role."  Joan Benoit, Olympic runner

Suggestions on How to Use EARNED RUNS™ Bibs:

        Pin them on*, as an INDIVIDUAL:     
            Race alone; use one bib number for many different events
              or use each of the 4 bib numbers at 4 different events.
   
        Pin them on*, with OTHERS:
            Invite 1, 2, or 3 family members or friends to compete with
              you at the same time and location or at other times or locations.


BE CREATIVE! 
There are many possible ways to enjoy running, walking, hiking, biking, swimming or fitness competitions in which you set all the terms. Below are possible activities; use one or all bibs at a time, or invent something! Think "green"; re-use bibs for multiple events! Write details of each event on the front or back of bibs. Request stickers from Earned Runs. If we don't have one for your purpose, we might design and offer one suggested by you.

OTHER COMPETITIONS
'Competing' doesn't always involve crossing a finish line and measuring your effort by time.  Meeting tough challenges you set for yourself is a form of competition. Become a 'STREAKER' and keep track of every consecutive day you finish the mandatory one mile of exercise activity, whether it is running, hiking, walking, biking etc,. Outlast others or beat a personal record.  Are you tracking daily STEPS? Set a significantly higher level goal or a series of  progressively higher marks to reach and record the number each day.

PERSONAL EPIC ADVENTURES & FASTEST KNOWN TIMES
Identify a longer route or trip to run, walk, or fast-pack hike (or combination), solo or with a group.; it can be scenic, historic, or have personal significance. Search online for information and advice in planning, and make arrangements for food/fluid and shelter support as needed, or mostly unsupported without outside assistance.  Use bibs to list and check-off stages or components of your DIY epic trip. Consider attempting an official FKT (fastest known time) on an established route, or register a new route. (www.fastestknowntime.com)

solo EVENT

  • Newbie: find a training plan and commit to finishing a race distance, as short as 1 mile, to many miles. Record event results on your bib or use it as a training log (see RESOURCES for seasonal beginner runner and walker plans)
  • Training: prepare for upcoming certified events by running a shorter distance "test" race. It's personal, so use your bib as motivation to give your all in training.
  • Return-to-competition: come back to activity after an injury by first racing in conditions determined by you. Run a personal race before participating in an organized competition.
  • Treadmill: run your own custom race in earnest, but in a controlled environment indoors . Transform the "dreadmill"; make it a challenging course to be conquered.
  • Challenge: set a unique non-racing goal to attain, rather than a a simple point to point distance event. See the RESOURCES page for seasonal Earned Runs Challenges

Group fun

  • Show-of-Force: mirror all the details of any organized race, held in a far way location, that you can't attend; run your own event!
  • Reunion: invite runners and walkers alike, gathered together or home for the holidays, to race or cover a distance in competition.  Like a classic Thanksgiving Turkey Trot race!
  • Celebration: increase the fun of any special date or event with a fitness activity  that can involve everyone in friendly competition
  • Mash-up: have each runner or walker race their own distance simultaneously.  Participants might be in different time zones, cities or locations.
  • Memorial: remember someone or something dear to you on a birthday or other special time
  • For a Cause: special circumstances may lead you to run with others in support of a particular charity (see GENEROSITY). Earned Runs has supported Breast Cancer awareness  event participation each October, personal or organized
  • Beautification: race along a favorite path and celebrate/recover afterward by picking up trash along this same route

you DETERMINE:

  1. Goal/challenge
  2. Sport/activity
  3. Date/Time
  4. Location
  5. Distance(s)
  6. Course
  7. Competitors
  8. Charity contribution might be optional or required ( see the GENEROSITY page)
  9. All the other FUN details!!!
  • T-shirts?
  • Prizes?
  • Costumes?
  • Refreshments?
  • After party?
  • Rivalry honors?
  • Qualifying requirements?
  • NOTE: each event participants can each request a set of 4 FREE earned Runs bibs

*WHat to do with bibs: Public or private?

* Pin bibs on outside clothing, to be seen by all...
* Pin bibs beneath clothing...
* Fold bibs and keep in a jacket pocket instead of actual pinning...
* Post bibs on the refrigerator or a bulletin board...
* Keep bibs tucked into your training journal...
​* Do what helps you realize your goal in each event or challenge!


TRAINING AID:

LOG/KEEP TRACK
of weekly miles or steps over an extended training program on one of your bibs; visualize progress!