MARTINSBURG, W.Va. – It’s time to spring into running! Local races are coming up, and it’s an excellent opportunity to do your first 5K or rejuvenate your exercise program. Local races coming up include the Truffle Shuffle 5K on April 29 in Martinsburg and the Harpers Ferry ½ and 5K on May 13.
Running, jogging, or walking in a road race can breathe new life into your exercise program, or if you are not currently exercising, a race may be just the thing to get your off the couch. Races are a way to connect with others with a similar goal. Getting together on race day with a few hundred others with the same collective goal, to be healthy, can be very invigorating. There is excitement in the air. You can also get a group of your friends or family to participate together. There’s nothing like a good challenge to get everyone bonding.
The Wellness Center at Berkeley Medical Center is offering a free 0 to 5K Training Program to help you train for your first 5K. The training program will give you the opportunity to get in shape, gain cardiovascular endurance, improve your running or walking form, and/or improve your time, so you are ready for your 5K.
0 to 5K is open to all ages and levels of runners or walkers. The program will focus on running/walking during each session with core and resistance work each week specifically designed to improve running and walking form and ability. Also, topics such as heart rate training, training plan, proper fueling, and injury prevention will be addressed each week. Walkers will follow the Arthritis Foundation’s Walk with Ease Program.
0 to 5K includes weekly coaching sessions, group runs, an eight-week training plan, and instruction on running/walking form and training. This free program will be held at War Memorial Park in Martinsburg each Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. from April 5 through May 24.
For more information or to sign up for 0 to 5K at War Memorial Park, call 304-264-1287, ext. 31814, or email ddejarnett@wvumedicine.org.