According to a survey of runners from the Road Runners Club of America (RRCA), 60 percent are comfortable running with five or fewer people once a return to larger group running is permitted. Fifty-one percent are comfortable with 10 or fewer runners, but the percentage of comfort drops significantly when group runs start to see 20 or more participants.

Other aspects explored in the survey:

  • Event Running: Approximately 53 percent of respondents noted they would participate in events for the remainder of 2020, if public health officials allow them to take place. While that leaves 47 percent of runners unsure (23 percent) or not willing to run in events for the remainder 2020, 90 percent plan to participate in events in 2021 and beyond. Less than 1 percent of respondents having written off participation in running events in 2021 and beyond.
  • Event Size: For events, 500 stands out as a point of demarcation, with 53 percent of respondents feeling comfortable with an event up to that size (down from a starting point of 61 percent of respondents who feel comfortable with an event between 0-100). From there, the number drops quickly with just 34 percent comfortable running in an event with over 1,000 participants.
  • Registration Planning: When local permitting agencies eventually give the green light for events to occur, organizers should plan for the fact that most participants are likely going to register within a narrow window of race day, with 42 percent feeling comfortable registering one to three months out from race day, with a significant drop-off in comfort four months to a year before race day.

The survey was taken from April 21 to May 6. Utilizing the zip code question, RRCA was able to confirm responses were received from individuals from all 50 states and the District of Columbia*. Of the respondents that completed the question about gender (67 percent completed the question), 54 percent were female and 43 percent were male and 3 percent did not identify or chose not to respond. A high percentage of the respondents are likely to be members of a local running club and representative of runners and event organizers that are engaged in their local running communities.

For the full survey results, further analysis of the responses and subsequent recommendations, as well as a more in-depth discussion of methodology and demographics visit here.

Photo courtesy Runners World