Although the time for New Year鈥檚 resolutions has come and gone we are not beyond the moment when deciding to do something good for ourselves is past.
If committing to a healthy and active lifestyle is part of your vision for yourself in 2024, the Comox Valley Road Runners can help.
Since its inception in 1986, the annual 5K Running Clinic has helped more than 2,500 people gain the knowledge to improve their 铿乼ness and establish simple, a铿�ordable 铿乼ness routines based on running or walking.
The 2024 clinic, which begins Jan. 20, is a fun 10-week clinic geared to people of all 铿乼ness levels; from walkers to novice runners, to the lapsed runner who wants to get back on track, all the way to runners who have a need for speed. Each Saturday session begins at 9 a.m. with a guest presenter on topics such as nutrition, strength, motivation, and injury prevention. Participants then break into pace groups based on current 铿乼ness levels and personal goals and go for a 35 - 50-minute run, walk, or walk/run.
The clinic is once again co-ordinated by Leslie Dargie and a host of veteran runners who provide encouragement and support.
鈥淏ack in 1999 I decided I was getting old and soft,鈥� Dargie says. 鈥淢y husband and sons had been running for a couple of years already, thanks to the CVRR Clinic, and I felt it was a good time for me to begin my running career. I convinced my daughter to do it with me and the rest, as they say, is history.鈥�
Since that tentative start, Dargie has gone on to run ultramarathons and has led this annual clinic many times.
The clinic culminates in a 5K Fun Run on March 23, which gives participants a chance to 鈥済o the distance鈥� and also serves as a graduation ceremony to wrap up the clinic.
To register, go online at www.cvrr.ca or the Lewis Centre in Courtenay. The cost is $60 and includes a technical t-shirt unique to 2024. You will receive training and education from community professionals, highly skilled in their health and athletic 铿乪lds.
There is a great sense of community in the clinic, as the many CVRR member volunteers remember what it was like when they started running. They also provide mentoring, coaching and support including countless 1ps as well as the answers to your questions. The sense of belonging is enhanced by the camaraderie of being part of a group who are all challenging themselves together. No matter your speed, no matter your training level, no matter if you鈥檝e never been athletic before鈥� you will 铿乶d your comfort zone.
鈥淥ur hope is that participants will all become happy runners and walkers, and that they鈥檒l adopt 铿乼ness and a healthy lifestyle for life,鈥� said Dargie. 鈥淣o matter what level of 铿乼ness people start the clinic with, they invariably end it with an enormous sense of accomplishment.鈥�
Just show up鈥he rest will happen!
