The Defiance Running Club is hoping to get people in the community off of their couches, and to the finish line of a 5K run.
Mark Childs, president of the club, said the ‘Couch to 5K’ program begins on Monday, May 1 at Crothers Park in Wallaceburg at 6 p.m.
“This year we are providing a modified version of the ‘Couch to 5K’ allowing walkers and runners to both enjoy a ‘Couch to 5K’ experience,” Childs told the Sydenham Current.
“What we are going to do, you will have a normal walk pace and then we will ask all walkers to step up their pace to a little brisker. Nothing that is going to hurt anyone, but something that is going to force them to work a little bit harder and enhance the cardio and to increase their speed.”
Childs said it is a 10-week program, which basically ends right around the time of the St. Clair River Run and the WAMBO Run.
“The conclusion of the program is right before the St. Clair River Run so people can either take advantage of that and go to that run, or wait and go to the WAMBO Run and get a few extra weeks under their belt,” he said.
“It is a gentle approach to walking better and running.”
The program has a flexible schedule on Monday, Wednesday and Fridays.
“People don’t have to worry about shift work or if they can make all three nights,” Childs said.
“We give everybody the layout for the week and then whatever time you can be there, or you just do it on your own.
Childs said the program is for anybody that is looking to be active.
“It is one thing to be active on your own, but in all honesty on your own is boring,” he said.
“We have a group that is probably as fun and welcoming as any group on the planet. Anybody that has joined our group will tell you that it’s a great way to experience the world of running and to get involved in activities. Our group is very busy and we look after our own. It is like having an extended family.”
Childs said there is a $20 fee to become a member of the club and to take part in the ‘Couch to 5K’ program, but the group is encouraging people to come out on May 1 for free.
“If you like what we do that you come back and we are asking that within 30 days that the $20 be paid.”
The money goes 100% into a youth program organized by the club.
“The youth program is well under way,” Childs said.
“All the schools are doing well. We are paying the children $0.25 per km and at the end of the program, all money raised goes towards book purchases for each of the schools. Getting them active. With this new incentive of $0.25 per km, one of the schools that had struggled doing this before has had great success this year so far, so they are quite happy with the enthusiasm of all the kids now that there is a little bit more of an incentive involved.”
More details are available at defiancerunningclub.ca.
– Photo credit: WAMBO River Run
