We’re on Track, Results of First Survey Show

During the last few months of 2010, the Lake County Milers encouraged its members to respond to an anonymous online survey (created and tabulated by Miler Jetta Meadows, demographics wiz and club member extraordinaire). The club’s officers wanted to gauge members’ satisfaction and learn how the club might progress by offering different running/walking options, times, and activities to its growing membership. Following are the results. (Note: Not all survey respondents answered all questions, so the totals are not always the same; also, not all percentage totals equal 100 due to rounding.) Membership status of respondents (N [number of respondents]=34) Individual Membership: 41% (N=14) Family Membership: 35% (N=12) Membership lapsed: 3% (N=1) Non-member (Lake County): 15% (N=5) Non-member (out of county): 6% (N=2) Zip Codes of respondents (N=23) 04926 China Village, ME: 4.3% (N=1) 95422 Clearlake, CA: 4.3% (N=1) 95423 Clearlake Oaks, CA: 8.6% (N=2) 95426 Cobb, CA: 4.3% (N=1) 95437 Fort Bragg, CA: 4.3% (N=1) 95451 Kelseyville, CA: 26% (N=6) 95453 Lakeport, CA: 4.3% (N=1) 95457 Lower Lake, CA: 4.3% (N=1) 95461 Middletown, CA: 4.3% (N=1) 95467 Hidden Valley Lale, CA: 26% (N=6) 95492 Windsor, CA: 8.6% (N=2) Age group of respondents (N=35) 18 or under: 0% (N=0) 19 to 29 years: 14% (N=5) 30 to 39 years: 29% (N=10) 40 to 49 years: 17 (N=6) 50 to 59 years: 29% (N=10) 60 to 69 years: 9% (N=3) 70 or older: 3% (N=1) Gender of respondents (N=35) Male: 29% (N=10) Female: 71% (N=25) Preferred activity (N=35) Walking: 9% (N=3) Running/Jogging: 69% (N=24) Combo of Running/Jogging: 20% (N=7) Another Activity (bike, swim, etc.): 3% (N=1) Average walking/running pace (N=27) 7:59 min./mile or faster: 3.7% (N=1) 8:00 to 8:59 min./mile: 14.8% (N=4) 9:00 to 9:59 min./mile: 25.9% (N=7) 10:00 to 10:59 min./mile: 18.5% (N=5) 11:00 to 11:59 min./mile: 14.8% (N=4) 12:00 to 12:59 min./mile: 14.8% (N=4) 15:00 min/mile (walking): 7.4% (N=2) Average pace of all respondents: 10:27 min./mile Primary Fitness Goals/Motivation (N=120) Improve or maintain current fitness level: 23% (N=28) Lose or maintain weight: 14% (N=17) Meet others/network with others interested in fitness: 21% (N=25) Learn techniques to improve/prevent Injuries, etc.: 9% (N=11) Community involvement: 11% (N=13) Train for upcoming event: 15% (N=18) I want to begin exercising more regularly: 4% (N=5) Other: 3% (N=3) If other, please list: • Accountability • Not sure • I also want to add endurance “horse rides” and “ride and tie” as well as horse training to my training schedule • Working on completing my second triathlon this spring Preferences for Saturday runs/walks Distance (N=40) 1 mile: 2% (N=1) 2 miles: 2% (N=1) 3 miles: 13% (N=6) 4 miles: 26% (N=12) 5 miles: 24% (N=5) 5+ miles: 11% (N=5) Don’t care: 22% (N=10) Time of day (N=37) Early morning: 59% (N=22) Mid-morning: 27% (N=10) Afternoon: 3% (N=1) Evening: 0% (N=0) Don’t care: 11% (N=4) Preferences for Sunday runs/walks Distance (N=40) 5 miles or less: 10% (N=4) 6-10 miles: 40% (N=16) 11-15 miles: 20% (N=8) 16-20 miles: 10% (N=4) 20+ miles: 3% (N=1) Don’t care: 18% (N=7) Time of day (N=37) Early morning: 48% (N=18) Mid-morning: 22% (N=8) Afternoon: 8% (N=3) Evening: <3% (N=1) Don’t care: 19% (N=7) What keeps members from participating in club activities (N=94) Busy work schedule: 20% (N=10) Busy family life: 24% (N=12) Lack of motivation: 6% (N=3) Don’t feel welcomed: 0% (N=0) Believe your fitness level is less than others: 12% (N=6) Live too far away to attend activities: 8% (N=4) Club times/days don’t work for me: 10% (N=5) I am not a club member: 10% (N=5) Other: 8% (N=4) If other, please list: • I participate whenever I can, but my work schedule interferes sometimes. • I am too slow now, maybe too old. • I already participate in club activities. • Often out of town on weekends or busy with other events. • I live in Sonoma County but my boyfriend and his family live in Kelseyville–I have been to three of your 5Ks and LOVE them! • Not sure when/if regular meetings are held. • Gone on some Saturdays to take care of elderly Mother. Need more walkers. • I run on weekdays. • When I’m not able to make them, generally meet a few times a week with some Milers Favorite running/walking event (N=71) 5K: 27% (N=19) 10K: 27% (N=19) Half-marathon: 17% (N=12) Marathon: 8% (N=6) Ultra-marathon: 3% (N=2) Trail runs: 14% (N=10) Other: 1% (N=1) I have never participated in an event: 1% (N=1) Unsure, or does not apply: 1% (N=1) Would you be interested in… (Yes, No, Unsure, Maybe) Attending informational events hosted by the Milers (N=35): 63%, 6%, 6%, 26% Volunteering during Miler events or being an officer of the club (N=34): 44%, 18%, 9%, 29% Leading a weekday, evening, or morning run (N=34): 3%, 53%, 12%, 32% Leading a long run on Sundays in any area of the county (N=34): 15%, 53%, 9%, 24% Starting your own sub-group of the Milers (N=32): 3%, 75%, 6%, 16% What could the club do to encourage you (or others) to attend Saturday or Sunday runs/walks, or events? • I think this survey is a GREAT idea. You do a GREAT job promoting as it is; people are just TOO busy (especially families with elementary-aged kids and younger). The only thing I can think of is to really promote the family aspect of events, which you do pretty well already. Or, go the complete opposite direction and do a champagne and/or wine run and/or spa run. Something that really stimulates the senses like booze or a massage. But, again, at the end of the day, people are just plain BUSY–it has become a real epidemic (I think we are all addicted to it, being busy). We should all go on a running retreat together. I’m gonna stop there, it’s getting late. • unsure • Have beginner/training runs for those that don’t run but might like to try. • REWARD THE SLOW WITH NON-FOOD ITEMS. • I enjoy all of our events from pizza runs, breakfast runs, to timed events. I think we do a lot to encourage people to come out for our regular walks and events. Maybe we could try attending meetings of local fitness groups to spread the word about the Milers. The business cards will help when we see runners and walkers on the road. • I am sure that you already do a nice job. Life just seems to get in the way. • I think you are doing all you can do. • Nothing already planning on attending more. • Friday or Saturday evening sunset runs followed by food and beer. • Breakfast! • A Thursday or Friday evening pizza run; Saturday 9 a.m. • I actually find the running with like-minded people to be enough motivation. I really enjoy the camaraderie of running and sharing of information. If I don’t make it to a run, it’s usually because it is a scheduled rest day or I am otherwise busy. • have a location in Maine. • I already attend most all of them. • Get more guys to join, do speed training. More trail runs. Go out for breakfast afterward. • Not so EARLY IN THE MORNINGS. I’m still asleep at 7:30 a.m. • Making it later in the morning. Saturday is our day to relax. 8:30 or 9 a.m. would be great. • I really enjoy the after-work, evening get-togethers, like the pizza runs. I know it is hard to do in the winter months, because of darkness… but spring, summer, early fall, maybe we could do an evening run once a month, like we do in the summer. • I like the idea of pizza and or breakfast runs on occasion because I would love the opportunity to talk to people, rather than run and just go home. • Hold quarterly or so socials and bring friends, coworkers, acquaintances What is one word or one sentence that you would use to describe the Lake County Milers as a club? • I have so much fun with the Lake County Milers, the running is just a bonus! • Active and encouraging • Everyone is so friendly and encouraging — a fun group • Supportive • INTERESTING • Friendly!!! • just now, very active! • Great group of people who share a common interest in fitness and a healthy lifestyle. • Good energy! • The Milers are a fun and motivating club that makes everyone feel welcome and appreciated. • Super friendly • motivation • active and fun • AWESOME! • The running club. • Super!! And Jeannine I would describe as AWESOME! • FUN • Supportive • Awesome!!! • A motivating and welcoming group of healthy people who make running fun! • fun • Friendly group. Wish there were more walkers in the group. • Friendly, welcoming, fun and fit! • Good healthy fun • Fitness- and fun-oriented; family-friendly; celebrates Lake County • Fun • Wonderful people • Energetic and motivating • A group of nice, friendly people with positive attitude • Like-minded, health-oriented friends • Welcoming • Enthusiastic • Encouraging Any additional comments? • I really appreciate all you do! I look forward to the emails every week. I mark my calendar every time a clever club run is scheduled, and I look forward to seeing everyone on the weekends. I think the Lake County Milers is a FABULOUS club, and I only hope to gain more time in the near future to volunteer my efforts more. • Keep up the good work, keep recruiting new members! • Thanks for always being there–makes me get up and going when I need motivation. • I’ve been a member for a couple of years now and really love it. I sometimes help with donations, etc. for events when I can. I try to get to HVL for weekend runs occasionally as well. It’s really a top-notch group and I’m happy to be a member. • A very busy president and e-mail sender • I’m so glad to have found this club in Lake County. I believe in the club’s goals and purpose, and I wish that more people would take advantage of the opportunity to belong to this fine organization. The club gives me the motivation to exercise regularly and to lead a healthier lifestyle. I enjoy the camaraderie and the team spirit of this group. • Hi, this is Mike Addis and I think that a support group for weekend long runs (especially when the rains come) would be very helpful. I also am interested in getting back into the “horse” thing. A horse makes a great running partner in the trails. Two runners and a horse makes it more interesting. Two hundred horses and four hundred rider/runners on the trail makes “an event!” Thanks for your concern. • Keep up the great work. • I would like to see more walks. • I realize that the Lake County Milers are committed to Lake County for obvious reasons, but maybe we could try occasional weekend runs on the Willits Classic course or on the coast (Fort Bragg)??? I have started to run the Willits Classic course (10 mile) once/week at 8 a.m. (between Sunday-Wednesday) if anyone wants to join me. The North Coast Striders and Fog Dodgers just are not as active and fun as the LC Milers. • Running has been good to me. • Wish I had the will power to participate more often. • Great job to everyone involved in keeping this club running • I really appreciate the dedication of the club president and officers. A lot of effort is made to keep things interesting and enjoyable. I feel welcome in this club. • More activities for youths are needed. Races good, but kids need to have their own set runs along with club runs. • Thanks for putting on the running events. • I enjoyed the beer and brat and am looking forward to officially becoming a member! • This club has enriched my life so much. I have traveled for races, because of the race… but have seen places and areas that I would have never seen otherwise. The club reminds me that there are middle-class, healthy, friendly people here that I can befriend. Also, I am here on my own mostly, and I think that one way to make friends is to see people over and over again. Running with the group on Saturday affords that casual meeting that allows friendships to blossom. My life is much richer, both from the exercise and the new friends I have met and love. • How about an annual meeting/bbq or potluck, not to run, but just to get everyone together, interact, to see just how much the club is growing? It could be announced well in advance and be a set day, like the third Saturday in a chosen month every year. Thanks for the survey. • I love the Milers!