Today is the first day of the 5K training class “Straight Offa Couch,” at the Rail Spike Park Pavilion, and more participants are welcome for future sessions.
The Greenwood-Leflore County Chamber of Commerce created this class a few years ago to help runners prepare and train for races such as the 300 Oaks Road Race, said Terry Grantham, leader of the class.
“It was a very successful class,” Grantham said. “We decided it would give people a chance to get out and get active.”
The 37th annual 300 Oaks race will be held Sept. 16. Participants of the class will
receive a discount on their 300 Oaks race entries.
The class will begin at 6 p.m. on Tuesdays and 6:30 a.m. on Saturdays and will be held until Sept. 12. There is no age limit, and both men and women are encouraged to join. Participants are not required to have 5K experience.
“The class will vary,” Grantham said. “We are going to start out slow. Our first run will be a run-walk; it won’t be a complete run, so it will be a mile and a half. Then we are going to build up from there, but the class probably won’t take more than just 45 minutes.”
As of Friday, about 10 people had signed up, and no fee is required. Grantham has also brought in Cyndi Saia, who has completed eight full marathons and 12 half marathons. She will bring valuable experience to the group, Grantham said.
“I think it is great that Terry is doing this, because one thing I have found in the running community is that everyone I have met is extremely supportive not only in running but in everyday life,” Saia said.
Anyone can get out there and do it, and participants can set their own pace, she said.
• Contact Lauren Randall at 581-7239 or lrandall @gwcommonwealth.com.
