The Asheville Track Club in conjunction with Asheville Parks and Recreation will be conducting a beginning runners program starting May 6. This will be the twelvth year of the class. Over 400 runners have been added to the community over the last nine years. The age of the participants has ranged from preteens to 70 years old. The goal of the program is to train new runners to be able to complete the Bele Chere 5K on July 26.

People are aware of the need to increase their physical activity to control their weight and improve their cardiovascular fitness. Some people try to run a mile. They feel like it is the worst thing they have ever done, and they never try again. The Asheville Track Club program is the safe, sane way to start on the road to physical fitness. Each class is a combination of running and walking. As we progress through the program, the amount of running increases and the walking decreases until we are able to run nonstop. The class does a trial run on the Bele Chere course the week before the race.

There will be guest speakers on training, stretching, nutrition, hydration, injury prevention, running shoes, and apparel. This is an excellent class for first time runners, injured runners who want to come back gradually without re-injuring, and runners who have taken time off and want to resume running. There is no charge for the course. If one stays with the program, they are asked to join the Track Club. Each class member contributes 50 cents every class until enough money is collected to buy special shirts for the class graduates. A contest is held among the class members to design the shirts.

On July 13, the class will continue the tradition of the red dress run. On that day all runners including the men are requested to run in red dresses. The red dress run originated as a tribute to women suffering from heart disease.

The class meets at the Carrier River Park by the old speedway on Amboy Road. Classes are held on Tuesday and Thursday at 6 p.m. and at 8 a.m. on Saturday. The program is 12 weeks long. Registration for the class will be at the park on the days of the class. If you have any questions, call Katie at 254-9690 or Wayne at 253-8781.

• If you have not been active recently, be sure to check with your doctor prior to starting any fitness program.
• Begin each session with a 10-15 minute warm-up. Walking and/or light calisthenics followed by light stretching is recommended.
• Be sure to cool down after each session with a 5-10 minute walk followed by light stretching exercises.
• The key to this program is to run at a comfortable pace for the time allotted. Don't worry about speed or distance. You will naturally get faster as time goes by.