3 Ways Runners and Walkers Can Best Benefit from Group Training Programs
Joining a group training program for preparing you to run or walk a marathon, half marathon, or other-distance race requires more than paying your registration fee — if you want to get the most out of the program, that is. Here are three ways to do just that.
Wear your program’s membership identifier during group workouts.
Some training programs ask members to wear a particular jersey during group runs or walks. Other training programs ask members to wear a colored shoe-tag that is highly reflective on one side and contains emergency information on the other side. Programs may ask you to wear their membership identifiers so that they can quickly identify, account for, and aid all members during each group workout. They may do this to increase publicity for the group, which can raise awareness for a fund-raising cause affiliated with the group or can keep registration fees low by attracting more members. Whatever the reason, support the group that supports you by wearing its membership identifier.
Keep your program’s coaches informed about your goals, progress, challenges, and successes.
Your program’s coaches are not necessarily paid much, if anything, to coach you. But they are runners or walkers just like you. They want to help you to reach your goals, so you have to share your goals with them. They want to know how you are doing throughout the season, but only seeing you every Saturday morning for the group run or walk probably is not enough to tell them your challenges and how you are progressing. So make a point to email them occasionally with your own news. Finally, they thrive on helping others, so be sure to let them know about your successes — such as after you have returned from a marathon that nobody else in the group attended. Which brings us back to your goals: If you tell a coach well in advance about your upcoming race, then he or she may let the entire group know, so that its members can support you and maybe even join you!
Look people in the eye, smile, and wave as you pass their homes during your group workouts.
Imagine stepping outside your home’s door one Saturday morning to discover that there are 100 people running or walking right past your home. Would you feel even a little bit “invaded” by their presence? Probably. So think of the residents of the homes that you pass during each of your group workout. And acknowledge that you are somewhat invading their “space”; just look them in the eye, smile, and wave as you pass them. Who knows? You may hear some encouraging words in return, or you may hear words spoken in anger. Either way, you will run or walk faster!
What do YOU do to get the most…? Please leave a comment here. Thanks!
