CVRA offering Couch to 5K course again

CEDAR RAPIDS - Last year, members of the Cedar Valley Running Association were unsure what to expect for the first Couch to 5K Program, but the turnout was strong enough to warrant offering it again this summer.

The Couch to 5K program is a nine-week course designed to help beginners participate in their first 5K (3.11 miles) event at the conclusion of the class. The program begins Wednesday, July 13 and is held every Wednesday at 6 p.m., meeting at Running Wild in northeast Cedar Rapids. The course is scheduled to end Sept. 7 with runners encouraged to run in the annual Swamp Fox 5K on Sept. 10 in Marion. Registration is $30 and includes the nine training classes, a free membership to the CVRA and entry fee to a CVRA race. Runners under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

The CVRA website states the classes can help beginners run their first 5K safely and effectively. Ninety-nine people attended the first session last year, which increased to 120 by the end of the sessions. The program had 80 runners continue and race in the 2010 Swamp Fox 5K.

According to Matt Van Maanen, the CVRA contact for the program, in a previous newsletter said each class started by addressing topics important for new runners, including hydration, stretching, equipment, goals and safety. The informational discussions were followed by a weekly run.

For more information, visit http://cvra.net/couch-to-5k.