If you live in Oakland County and you have an interest in running, you have the qualifications to join the Oakland Runners trail running club.
The club, recently founded by Lake Orion resident Amy Lieblein, will bring together runners from all levels, from beginners to marathoners, and of all ages to run on area trails. Lieblein is a trail runner herself how favors the Bald Mountain area.
“I run on the trails alone with my two dogs and I don’t see a lot of (other people),” said Lieblein of her idea to start the club. “It’s nice to know there’s someone else out there. We have incredible trails in this area…yet I see all these people running on the roads every morning, and they’re killing their knees.”
Lieblein said trail running offers more shade is for the more adventurous runner.
“I have been running off and on since college and consistently since 1995…I run about five days a week, at least, on the trails,” she said. “(Bald Mountain) is winding and it’s got little hills, and it’s completely shaded. It’s better than running on the roads with the hot sun beating down on you.”
Lieblein is holding an organizational meeting for the trail runners club this Thursday, Sept. 18, in the staff parking lot at Lake Orion High School near the tennis courts. Participants should come prepared to run, and bring calendars with them so the group can begin setting up dates to meet to run on the trails.
“We’re going to do it as an (America Online) group,” Lieblein explained. “The group is called Oakland Runners…so if people email me, AOL will send them an invitation to join the group and a free AOL screenname they can use.”
Members can then check in online to see who wants to run on what trail and what date and time, and then arrange to meet and run in groups.
“My intent is for you to say, as an example, you want to run at 9 a.m. on Oct. 17 at Orion Oaks, and meet at a certain spot,” Lieblein said. “We’re not going to have any formal activities, unless that’s what people want.”
Lieblein said she has already been contacted by quite a few beginner runners interested in joining the club.
“As well as marathon runners,” she said. “If you say you’ll meet someone, you’re more likely to go and run…if you don’t have anyone to run with, you don’t have a commitment to anyone but yourself.”
Lieblein said she advises runners going on the trails to carry a cell phone and a whistle with them for safety.
“Those are my two safety things, and I have my two dogs,” she said. “You have to think about safety when you go out on the trails.”
Runners of any age are welcome to the club, which is free. The club can be accessed online by going to the American Online page and clicking on groups, then searching for Oakland Runners; or email Lieblein at ralieblein@aol.com to have your name added to the group.