Sign up for our Newsletter
Make a Donation
All aboard!
Posted on Sunday, June 10, 2012
Whoo whoo! The Pufferbelly's coming; get on board or get off the tracks! The 3rd Annual Pufferbelly 5K Family Run/Walk takes place on August 25, and we want YOU to join us. Besides being a great trail fundraiser, this event is a lot of fun. Even if you're not a runner, you can do it. After all, I'm living proof.
I may be a runner now, but I didn't start out that way. When, for various reasons, I decided to beat feet, calling it "running" was euphemistic. I could barely pound out even a short distance at a pace that some people can walk. I was so embarrassed that I confined my running workouts to the treadmill on my basement. (Silly, I know, with all those beautiful trails around me.)
Anyway, I kept at it. About eight weeks after I first hit the treadmill, I threw caution to the wind and ran a 5K race. I had one goal: to run the whole way. I didn't care about my time, I just wanted to cross the finish line running. With my brother running beside me for support, I did it. When I looked at the clock, I saw that I had even pulled off a time that I didn't expect. I floated on giddiness for the rest of the day.
With the Pufferbelly 5K just over 10 weeks away, there's still time for ANYONE to train for the race, even people who've never run 100 yards. Coolrunning.com offers a terrific training guide called The Couch-to-5K (R) Running Plan. All it takes is 20-30 minutes, 3 times per week, for 9 weeks. For anyone who has ever thought about running a race, getting fit, or just getting outside and moving, this makes the transition super simple. And with 68 miles of trails networking in and around the city, Fort Wayne offers the perfect proving ground.
So get off the couch and give it a shot. If you decide to try the Couch-to-5K plan, let us know. We'd love to let you share your progress here if you're willing to share. Just remember, I think I can, I think I can, I think I can...
