Is Running In Your Genes?

How many running families do you know? I can think of quite a few in my neck of woods and I'd like to bet so do you. Coincidence, lifestyle, genetics?
This question occurred to me when Club Fat Ass member Tim Wiens sent some photos from his recent finish at the Okanagan Marathon. I looked at the pictures and although the guy on the photo looked familiar, I didn't think it was Tim. The second photo he sent showed two guys and I felt slightly confused. I did of course not read the accompanying text that explained that both Tim and his brother Stan completed the marathon. They finished 3 minutes from each other. I don't know there running history, only that it wasn't there first marathon.

I come from a running family. When I grew up, we would spend every weekend at another 10km, Half Marathon or longer races. As a young teenager I crewed for both my mum and dad at the famous 100km of Biel in Switzerland. Although inspired by their accomplishments, I would be an off and on runner, depending on my teenage mood and hormone level. Come to think about it, same applies to my sister. I don't think we ever ran together when we grew up. One of us always was running, the other wasn't. 30 years later we both run, our husbands do, my nephew does (he is 12 years old) and my children love to run.

I know similar stories. Take the extended Pace family... let's see if I get this right: Melissa and partner run, brother Glenn does 100 Milers, mother is an exceptional runner. Geoff Palmer, winner of the 2005 Silvertip 50 Trail Race, has running parents. Read Geoff's blog to find out who is the faster marathon runner, dad or him? Wendy Montgomery, host of tomorrow's "Wendy's Get Your Fat Ass Off The Couch" comes from an athletic family. Her mom is an incredible age group runner, sister Carol has competed for Canada in the Olympics and Wendy's daughter Olivia won last year's Edgemont Mile (Olivia is a competitive swimmer). And the list goes on.

What makes these families run? Is it nature or nurture. Do you come from a running background? Tell me your story.