The Dead Runners Society (DRS) is a worldwide

online In computer technology and telecommunications, online indicates a state of connectivity, and offline indicates a disconnected state. In modern terminology, this usually refers to an Internet connection, but (especially when expressed as "on lin ...

running Running is a method of terrestrial locomotion by which humans and other animals move quickly on foot. Running is a gait with an aerial phase in which all feet are above the ground (though there are exceptions). This is in contrast to walkin ...

club. DRS is notable for its unusual role in the development of both the

Internet The Internet (or internet) is the Global network, global system of interconnected computer networks that uses the Internet protocol suite (TCP/IP) to communicate between networks and devices. It is a internetworking, network of networks ...

and the sport of

. Founded by Chris Conn in 1991 as an

electronic mailing list A mailing list is a collection of names and addresses used by an individual or an organization to send material to multiple recipients. Mailing lists are often rented or sold. If rented, the renter agrees to use the mailing list only at contra ...

, DRS pre-dates widespread use of the

World Wide Web The World Wide Web (WWW or simply the Web) is an information system that enables Content (media), content sharing over the Internet through user-friendly ways meant to appeal to users beyond Information technology, IT specialists and hobbyis ...

. It is an early example of a

virtual community A virtual community is a social network of individuals who connect through specific social media, potentially crossing geographical and political boundaries in order to pursue mutual interests or goals. Some of the most pervasive virtual commu ...

formed around a non-professional topic. Many early DRS members were computer professionals, librarians, academics and researchers. Membership broadened with the growing use of

email Electronic mail (usually shortened to email; alternatively hyphenated e-mail) is a method of transmitting and receiving Digital media, digital messages using electronics, electronic devices over a computer network. It was conceived in the ...

in the mid-1990s. Annual World Conferences have been held since 1993.

Other DRS lists

The original DRS group, known as "the big list," now has about 1,700 members. Over the years, more than 20 sublists have been formed. Some deads subscribe to one (or more) of the sublists but are not subscribed to the big list or have set NOMAIL option on the big list. Sublists have a geographic or thematic focus. * An example of a geographic group is the SOBER Deads (Southern Ontario and Buffalo Expired Runners). * An example of a thematic group is TRI-DRS. for dead runners who are interested in triathlons, duathlons, and other multi-sport events. It was founded by Loreen Kail. * DRS-readers and DRS-mind are examples of thematic groups for discussions. Three Dead Runners Society groups also operate on the

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website.

Members

DRS members are known as "deads". Online discussion includes everything from

meditation Meditation is a practice in which an individual uses a technique to train attention and awareness and detach from reflexive, "discursive thinking", achieving a mentally clear and emotionally calm and stable state, while not judging the meditat ...

marathon The marathon is a long-distance foot race with a distance of kilometres ( 26 mi 385 yd), usually run as a road race, but the distance can be covered on trail routes. The marathon can be completed by running or with a run/walk strategy. There ...

training—and even topics only marginally related to running. Deads also meet regularly at races. Deads range from beginning runners to elite athletes. One dead holds the world record for the one mile run for women age 70 and older. Other deads are coaches, race directors, writers and editors of running magazines, and developers of running-related

software Software consists of computer programs that instruct the Execution (computing), execution of a computer. Software also includes design documents and specifications. The history of software is closely tied to the development of digital comput ...

. Deads say the civilized level of discourse and strong sense of

community A community is a social unit (a group of people) with a shared socially-significant characteristic, such as place, set of norms, culture, religion, values, customs, or identity. Communities may share a sense of place situated in a given g ...

sets DRS apart from other mailing lists.

Terminology

Over the years, the group has adopted, adapted, and coined various terms. Among them: * ''eric:'' not eb. * ''Clydesdale:'' a heavy runner. * ''Encounter:'' a face-to-face meeting of Dead Runners. * ''

Filk Filk music is a musical culture, genre, and community tied to science fiction, fantasy, and horror fandom and a type of fan labor. The genre has existed since the early 1950s and been played primarily since the mid-1970s. The genre has a ni ...

:'' In DRS parlance, a running-related song in which new lyrics are written to an existing tune. * ''Goomies:'' Post-run snacks and drinks, e.g. bagels, bananas, sports drinks, and water. * ''Penguin:'' a slow runner (coined by John "the Penguin" Bingham). * ''ORN:'' Obligatory Running Note. A brief note about a run appended to a message with no other running content. * ''VRP:'' Virtual Running Partner. A dead who encourages another via private email. * '' YMMV:'' Your Mileage May Vary. In DRS parlance, you may react differently to the shoe, medical treatment, training program, or other matter under discussion.

History

The list founder is Chris Conn, a runner and

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Austin, Texas Austin ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of Texas. It is the county seat and most populous city of Travis County, Texas, Travis County, with portions extending into Hays County, Texas, Hays and W ...

. The Dead Runners Society is incorporated in

Texas Texas ( , ; or ) is the most populous U.S. state, state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. It borders Louisiana to the east, Arkansas to the northeast, Oklahoma to the north, New Mexico to the we ...

as a

non-profit organization A nonprofit organization (NPO), also known as a nonbusiness entity, nonprofit institution, not-for-profit organization, or simply a nonprofit, is a non-governmental (private) legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public, or so ...

Name

The Dead Runners Society's name derives from the film ''

Dead Poets Society ''Dead Poets Society'' is a 1989 American coming-of-age drama film directed by Peter Weir and written by Tom Schulman. The film, starring Robin Williams, is set in 1959 at a fictional elite boarding school called Welton Academy, and tells ...

'' which had as its motto

Carpe Diem () is a Latin aphorism, usually translated "seize the day", taken from book 1 of the Roman poet Horace's work '' Odes'' (23 BC). Translation is the second-person singular present active imperative of '' carpō'' "pick or pluck" used by Ho ...

—Seize The Day. The Dead Runners Society amended this to Carpe Viam—Seize the Way (or Seize the Roadway).

DRS conferences

Since 1993, the DRS has been holding annual conferences in different cities, with the abbreviation DRSWC''n''. To encourage attendance, the host city generally creates a Web-based guide to their city's attractions. * 2014, World Conference 2014: San Diego, California, U.S.A. * 2012, World Conference 2012: Austin, Texas, U.S.A. * 2010, : Gainesville, Florida, U.S.A. - CANCELLED * 2009, : St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.A. * 2008, : Tacoma, Washington, U.S.A. * 2007, : Torino,

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* 2006, World Conference XIV: Toronto, Ontario, Canada * 2005, World Conference XIII: Tucson, Arizona, U.S.A. * 2004, World Conference XII: Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A. * 2003, World Conference XI: Cupertino, California, U.S.A. * 2002, World Conference X: Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.A. * 2001
World Conference IX
Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S.A. * 2000, World Conference VIII: New York, New York, U.S.A. VIII * 1999, World Conference VII: Tucson, Arizona, U.S.A. * 1998, : St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.A. * 1997

Eugene, Oregon, U.S.A. * 1996

Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.A. * 1995, World Conference III: San Francisco, California, U.S.A. * 1994, : St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.A. * 1993, World Conference I: Washington, District of Columbia, U.S.A.

Books and tools by dead runners

Virtual (or long-distance) training and coaching is one of the benefits of belonging to DRS. Some members have created Web pages for running advice. A few have gone further and transferred their accumulated knowledge to paper or software applications. A few examples follow: * ''Marathoning for Mortals'' by John BinghamBooks by John Bingham * ''Hal Higdon's Beginning Runner's Guide'' and ''Marathon: the Ultimate Training Guide'' by Hal Higdon * Excel Running Log by Alan Rubé and David S. Hayshttp://www.davidhays.net/running/runlog/runlog.html Running Log

References and external links

* Bingham, John (2002) ''No Need for Speed'', Emmaus, Pa.: Rodale Press * Cobb, Nathan (1993) ''On-Line Athletic Club Keeps Conversation Running'', Boston Globe * Hill, Craig (2008) "Dead Runners Will Join Field of Tacoma Race", Seattle News Tribun

*
Dead Runners Society World Conference
*

Chris Conn's DRS Page
{{Webarchive, url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080723172345/http://storm.cadcam.iupui.edu/~cmcgoat , date=2008-07-23 Running clubs Road running Internet forums Sport websites Non-profit organizations based in Texas 1991 establishments in the United States Road running in the United States Sports clubs and teams established in 1991