I recently finished my third Country Music Half Marathon. When I tell people I walked rather than ran, I usually get a response of “ahhh” said in a tone implying that walking is easier than running. Well, let me tell you (with apologies to Yogi Berra) – walking or running, it’s still 13.1 miles. And, that’s a darn long walk (this year’s 3:48:28 is my personal best).

So, why do I get up early every Saturday morning from January through April, no matter the temperature, and walk distances ranging from five to 10 miles? And why do I religiously track my exercise the rest of the week? Well, yes, there is the guilt-free great breakfast my friends and I indulge ourselves with each Saturday, knowing we already walked off the Weight Watchers points

But the real reason is Personal Social Responsibility (PSR). Not unlike the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs that KVBPR organizes and implements for clients, this is my way of doing something for an organization that is important to many people in my life, Gilda’s Club of Nashville, while doing something for my own well-being at the same time.

And I am not alone. In addition to the 100-plus members of Gilda’s Gang, Team-In-Training, which is a national program that raises money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, expected hundreds of participants to raise $3 million at the 2008 Country Music Marathon. According to The Tennessean, at least 11 other organizations had teams to raise money or awareness for a cause, like the pink T-shirted, Hula Hooping runners/walkers who hooped the half to raise awareness about breast cancer. Imagine being passed on the course at mile six by a group of thirtysomethings in pink T-shirts rhythmically hula-ing their hoops while speed walking!

All of these marathoners were in it for the long haul. Each has a story about why their commitment to the marathon was part of their PSR – just as businesses should have a clear rationale and plan for their CSR commitments and be willing to go the distance to reach their goals.