CA article about Women Run Memphis program
Healthy MemphisJune 28th, 2007
THE COMMERCIAL APPEAL
Date MONDAY, June 25, 2007
Walk, then run — Program nudges women off the couch and into a friendship- building run
By Linda A. Moore / lmoore@commercialappeal.com
Three years ago, DJ Watson read about a training program for women who wanted to learn how to run.
“I read it on Monday morning and showed up on Monday night, ” Watson said.
Today, she’s one of thousands of women who have gone through the Memphis Runners Track Club Women Running and Walking Training Program, which culminates in a 5K run.
The training helps boost participation in the run. But just as important, it helps women kick-start power walking or running programs for themselves, and advances the club’s goal to promote running and fitness in the Memphis area.
“We have it all. We have young, old, in shape, out of shape, used to run, never run a step, all shapes and sizes and backgrounds, ” said Watson, now co-director of the 5K. “It is a very diverse group that will show up to do this.”
The race is more than 20 years old, and during the early years had from 50 to 80 participants, according to Rachel Ragan, Memphis Runners Track Club (MRTC) president. In 1993 the club added the training program, which helped a bit with race participation, Ragan said.
Last year, 600 women trained in running and walking.
“I would say that over the past 14 years, there have been over 3,100 women participating in the program, with 1,500 in the last three years, ” Ragan said.
Now, about 300 walkers and runners take part in the Women Run/Walk Memphis 5K, a distance of 3.1 miles.
The training sessions are free and held on Mondays at 6:30 p.m. This year’s program kicks off with an informational session today at Agricenter International. The actual walk/run sessions start July 9, with the 5K on Sept. 8.
Walkers and runners will train at different levels from beginner walking and running to advanced runners, who want to improve their times.
“It is a couch-to-5K program. You’re off the couch and running a 5K in 10 weeks, ” Watson said.
Petra Rittinger, 40, from Munford, trained last year, after admiring a friend who was a runner.
“I said ‘I don’t think I can do that.’ She said ‘yes, you can’ and showed me the program, ” Rittinger said.
Training wasn’t as grueling as she’d thought.
“It was gradual, ” Rittinger said. “You didn’t really realize how good you can get.”
Running is done in intervals with walking in between.
“At first it’s a minute, and then you think you’ll never do a minute and the next week it’s 2 minutes, ” she said. “You just work your way up. You do a little bit more each week and your body gets used to it.”
Diane Bitzer, 48, of Brighton, Tenn., had been a runner during the nearly 20 years she served in the U.S. Navy.
She had a baby at 40, and regular aerobics classes didn’t take off the extra baby weight. Last year she took part in the training program.
“I was never really a joiner, except for that one time when I joined the Navy. So it was a big step to join a group, ” Bitzer said.
With each Monday session Bitzer saw improvement in her running.
“The next thing you know, I started to feel good about myself again and what I accomplished with my running, ” she said.
Summer may seem the most uncomfortable time of year to offer outdoor training, but there’s a reason for the timing. Summer is the time when most women have fewer responsibilities with children and their activities, Watson said.
“We’ve also found that if you can run in this heat, you can run anytime, ” she said.
Participants are advised to bring plenty of water and stay hydrated, she said.
The women say training with other women allows for bonding and builds camaraderie.
“When it’s all-women, it takes a little bit of the edge off. It’s OK if there’s no hair and no makeup, ” Watson said. ”
Training with men can also be intimidating, she said.
“With the girls, there’s some encouragement, but it’s not cut- throat, ” Bitzer said. “That’s always made it feel less threatening.”
“There’s a rule: Whatever you tell your running buddies and your walking buddies stays within the group, ” Rittinger said. “It’s a big stress-reliever.”
The relationships formed during the training make completing the race a group accomplishment.
“It’s really not a competition, ” said Rittinger, who trained in the walk/run group and continues to walk regularly.
Bitzer finished third in her age group in the 2006 race.
“I think I could have had a better time for myself personally, ” said Bitzer. “But it was too enjoyable staying with the gang.”
- Linda A. Moore: 529-2702
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