Somerville Named a Runner Friendly Community

Somerville photo by Tim Sackton on Flickr/Creative Commons

It shouldn’t be news to anybody that Boston is a hotbed of running activity. Runner’s World ranked us the country’s third-best running city, we’re home to athletic brands including New Balance, November Project was born here, and—oh, yeah—we boast the world’s oldest annual marathon.

Now, Somerville is adding a new trophy to the case.

The Road Runners Club of America (RRCA), the nation’s oldest and largest network of running organizations, named Somerville one of its Runner Friendly Communities of 2016. Consider observing this feat by taking your post-work jog along the Mystic River.

“Somerville is a national leader in walkability and bikeability,” Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone wrote in his RRCA letter of recommendation. “As a Somerville resident, a runner, a coach, and a parent of active young children, I am excited about the ways our community is growing, changing, and expanding to support runners.”

The RRCA selects its Runner Friendly Communities based on infrastructure and support from the community and local government. In a blog post, the organization praised Somerville’s well-managed events department, which allows for plenty of road races; its bountiful running-related activities; local business’ support for the running community; and the overall “strong spirit of community” found there.

The ‘Ville shares its title with Annapolis, Maryland; Fort Collins, Colorado; Indianapolis, Indiana; Santa Clarita, California; and Tallahassee, Florida.