Join Our Half-Marathon Training Program!
The cost of the 14-16 week program is only $49. You can choose any spring half-marathon! The program begins with a three mile run on Saturday January 14th, 2012. The group members train alone during the week and then come together on Saturdays for the group long run. To register for the program, please call 801-484-9144 or stop in to any of our locations.
I encourage you to take that first step toward becoming the runner you have always wanted to be. I personally didn’t start running with any real purpose until about November 2010. I had a distant goal of one day having a medal hanging on my wall, but never really intended for race day to come as soon as it did. The Half-marathon training program Salt Lake Running Co. created was a new adventure for me, and one that I was terrified to attempt. It was 14 weeks of exhilarating physical tests and roof-raising accomplishment. Just by following the training program, I was able to run the Salt Lake City Half Marathon in 2 hours and 9 minutes.
Like I mentioned, running a half-marathon was something I never thought I would be able to do. Ever. But I knew if I was disciplined, I would be able to do it. I also knew that if I had a group to run with, the cold morning runs wouldn’t be so bad. There were about 100 people in the training program. Some had run marathons before, some had only walked a 5K, but we were all there to help each other.
One of the coolest things about the training program for me was seeing the number of miles increase with my ability to run them. I remember looking at the training program realizing that after the first “long” run, every week would be a new milestone, with a run longer than I had ever run in my life staring at me in the face every Saturday. It is amazing to see our bodies adapt to the things we put them through.
The greatest perk about the program, and the whole reason why the program costs money, is Coach Deveree. “Dev” is a great coach and she really makes the runs fun and less intimidating. Every week the route is sent in an e-mail with instructions on where to meet and what to expect on the run. Week after week I wondered if race day would ever come, then I realized it was a week away. Had I trained enough? Had I done enough cross training? What if my new shoes were a bad idea? What if I cramp up? What if I go to reach for a gel and it has fallen out? So many what ifs!
Being in a real race and feeling great on the run because of diligent training, is so exhilarating! You feel like nothing can hold you back. The best moment of the race was when I was coming around the corner at the top of State Street realizing I was about a mile away from completing my very first (and certainly not my last) half–marathon. I felt awesome, tired, and so ready to be done, but great at the same time. As I rounded the corner, my friends from the store began to run toward me. It was so good to see them and to hear their encouraging words! They had already finished hours before me, and came back to find me, and celebrate with me. This put a huge smile on my face.
This Winter we are starting the program again and if you are considering a half marathon come to the kick-off meeting on Thursday January 10th at 7:00 pm at our 700 East store. We are very excited about the extended program and hope many of the half-marathon participants will continue on to the full distance and prove to themselves they can do anything. The program is geared toward runners who can already run 2-3 miles without stopping. I was in this group, but barely…. Let me tell you this: If I can do the training program, anyone can do the training program. Come and prove something to yourself!
See you Thursday!