Training Tips

Any half marathon racer will tell you that running or walking 13.1 miles is not something that you just decide to do overnight. Training is necessary in order to prepare the body to comfortably race over such a large distance. Many participants find that they do not know where to begin in their training, often trying to run or walk either too much or too little at first. Luckily, the River City Runners and Walkers Club is once again providing a training program in order to help area racers work up to the levels they need to be at in order to cross the finish line of the News and Sentinel Half Marathon on August 18th.

The 12-week program is already under way and is a great way to train for the race. While this program is not the only training that an individual should go through before taking part in the half marathon, it is a great supplement to individual training done outside of the program. What is so great about the program is that it does not immediately begin at 13.1 miles but rather builds up to this distance by adding a mile to the distance covered each week. I have always found that running or walking with others can be more motivating than going solo, especially when there is a lot of ground to cover, and I know that there are many others who agree with me. Thus, the training program is also great because it is a group program, although there is no set pace.

Information on the program, including dates and times, can be found at the first link posted in the sidebar.

Since the Two Mile Race's course is a considerably smaller distance than the Half Marathon's, it does not have a special training program. For most experienced runners and walkers the 2 mile distance is no big deal. However, for those looking to participate in the Two Mile Race for the first time, being timed to cover the distance can seem daunting. I have found a training program through our Active.com race registration site that can help first-timers prepare for the Two Mile Race and help experienced runners improve their times. My friend and I actually plan to begin the program tonight in the hopes of improving our running times. The program is a 5K training program, which I know is a little more than 3 miles, but if you can work up to a 5K then running 2 miles should be no big deal by the end of the 9-week program. If you begin this week, you'll have just enough time to complete it before the race on August 18th!

This training program can be found in the second link posted in the sidebar.