CHICO — Chico Running Club members run for their lives, not away from harm but toward better fitness, personal accomplishment and new friends.

A fitness goal spurred Club President Tim Danielsen and his wife, Laura, to put one foot in front of the other on the trails of Bidwell Park. The couple started running six years ago. They rarely miss a day.

“I started running late in life, when I was 43. I”d never run in my life, not even when I was being chased. I was adverse to it,” said Danielsen.

“But, there was a fitness level I wanted and running was the least time-consuming way to get there. Now my worst fear is getting injured and not being able to run. I”m addicted and there is no 12-step program.”

While it was fitness that propelled the Danielsen to run, it was “peer pressure” that motivated Club Treasurer Tracie Hannick to lace up her shoes and take a beginner running course eight years ago.

“After that, I was hooked,” she said. Running keeps me fit, allows me to accomplish things I never knew I could do, gets me outside and keeps me sane.”

Fleet-footed friends

Chico Running Club was founded in 1975 by nine runners who “wanted to bring the running community in Chico together,” said Hannick.

The mission is to encourage runners to have fun, work on their fitness and take part in competitive running for those who wish to improve their performance.

While they focus on the sport, they incorporate the social. The current 100 members come together to run or train in small informal groups and for monthly pizza nights.

Max Zachai discovered she liked to run when she adopted her dog Jackson, “a hyper-active toy poodle” who began training her to run during their daily walks. Like Hannick, Zachai enrolled in a running course where she met club members and was invited for pizza. She liked the people and decided to join.

“It”s just great to have a structured meeting time to be with people who love running. It”s exciting to have social time to talk shop with other runners and make connections. Plus, there”s free pizza,” Zachai said.

“Everyone runs for different reasons: To keep up with their hyper poodle, to stay fit, to eat pizza or drink beer. We all have something, some reason to hold on to keep us going while we”re out there slogging through the miles,” she said.

Besides meeting up with running and training partners, members find others who share resources for clothing, shoes and injury treatment, as well as friends.

“I’ve met fantastic people and made some of my very best friends through the club,” said Hannick.

Off to the races

Chico Running Club hosts four races a year: the Bidwell Classic Marathon in March, the Independence Day 5k in July, the Hot Half Marathon in September and the Almond Bowl Marathon in November.

The Bidwell Classic and the Almond Bowl, which both draw California runners as well as runners from other states and countries, are the club”s largest events. These races have grown exponentially over the years — some 1,500 runners assembled at the starting line in last year”s Almond Bowl — so the club contracts Under the Sun Events to manage the races.

The average combined proceeds from the Bidwell Classic and Almond Bowl are $10,000. The club splits the money equally between Pleasant Valley and Chico high schools” cross country teams.

Proceeds from the Independence Day 5k, raises $1,500 to $2,000 that is donated to Chico Area Recreation District, the club”s event co-host.

The Torres Shelter receives a donation of $500 to $1,000 from the club”s smallest race, the Hot Half.

“The club exists to put on races. And our mission is to foster running in the community. We feel that supporting the schools” cross country teams and the recreation district enables both to provide more opportunities for runners, and fosters a love of running,” said Hannick.

According to Danielson, two years ago, the club donated $5,000 to the Parks Department to fund two, year-round drinking fountains at Horseshoe Lake and Parking Lot E. The city used to turn off fountains there during five months of cold weather each to year because of freeze damage concerns.

If you can walk…

As a club, Chico Running Club does not offer beginning training programs. However, club members welcome “every pace,” from slow to fast and every level, from those working their way up to a 5k (3.1 mile) finish to those who run full 26.2-mile marathons.

“If we can support getting people out and running, providing them with accountability and motivation, meeting new people, is fantastic to us,” said Hannick. “That”s who we are.”

For those thinking about running, Zachai would encourage them to “get up and get going.”

“Running is a broad concept. There are many ways to run, build a way that works for you. If you can walk, you can run.”

Danielsen, who describes himself as a “day in, day out runner, not a serial runner who runs every race,” says if he can run anyone can.

“In fact humans are designed as distance runners. We”re not all gazelles. It might take some work, maybe a lot of work, to get yourself ready to run but if you are willing to put in the time and effort you can run,” he said.

“It”s work, it”s rewarding and you will finish each run with a sense of accomplishment like you”ve never experienced.”