The Mill Race Marathon and half marathon are four months away, and runners serious about conquering those distances likely have already begun training.
For those who haven’t, it isn’t too late to start. A three-times-per-week, 18-week training program kicks off Saturday morning.
The training program — and the marathon — are in their sixth year. Pat Pierz started the program in 2013 and was assisted the second year by Alejandro “Alex” Contreras. Contreras took over the following year and has led it ever since.
The training takes place at 7 a.m. Saturdays beginning at YES Cinema, 7 p.m. Tuesdays at the Central Middle School track and 7 p.m. Thursdays at the parking lot just west of Parkside Elementary. This year’s Tuesday sessions, which feature speed workouts, eventually could move to Northside Middle School, and the Thursday tempo runs could move to Mill Race Park.
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The move to Mill Race would allow runners to use the people trail along Jonathan Moore Pike, heading west toward I-65 and back for tempo runs. Runners using the people trails near Parkside sometimes have to stop for traffic at intersections.
The Saturday morning session is by far the most popular, sometimes drawing more than 200 people. The Tuesday and Thursday sessions the past couple years usually had between 10 and 20 on most nights.
“On Tuesdays and Thursdays, once the runners start to learn about their exercises, how to do it properly, they are able to do it on their own, as well,” Contreras said. “So sometimes they come, but sometimes they do the work by themselves.”
Contreras said he had 286 participants at the end of last year’s training program. As of the middle of last week, he had 101 returners signed up, along with more than 70 new participants.
The first eight Saturday morning sessions feature 40-minute classes starting at 7 a.m. at YES Cinema. One-week topics include running attire, yoga, nutrition, cross-training and injury prevention. Attendees then will go for a group run, with mileage building each Saturday.
“The Mill Race Marathon training program is a wonderful introduction to running for beginners, and challenging enough for experienced runners,” Lisa Hill wrote in a testimonial. “If you want to challenge yourself with a fitness goal of running a half or full marathon, this program will help you achieve your goals. This program helped me complete my first half marathon, which is something I never thought I would be able to do. It’s inspiring and rewarding to be running with a great group of people who encourage you all along the way.”
Another participant, Bill Mahoney, agreed that the training program was highly beneficial.
“The Mill Race training program encouraged and empowered me, as a new runner, to have confidence that I could train for a half-marathon in four months to be successful,” Mahoney said. “The Mill Race training program provided me with a detailed, manageable step-by-step guide to success. The program made me feel comfortable with each step, never overwhelmed. Without the guidance, support and encouragement of Alex Contreras and the Mill Race training program, I would not have been successful. I owe my achievement to Alex.”
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The first eight Saturdays of the Mill Race training program will begin with classes at 7 a.m. at YES Cinema.
The first week will feature a welcome and kickoff to the program, with speaker Randy Stafford. The remaining seven topics and speakers, with the dates yet to be determined:
Running attire, with White River Running Club
Benefits of yoga, with Hunter Meyercord
Nutrition, with Shayla Holtkamp
Benefits to runners from cross-training, with Jeff Smith
Running benefits and body changes, with Holtkamp
Injuries and injury prevention, with Mandy Wyant
Running techniques for long distances, with Alex Contreras
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Register at millracemarathon.com
Cost:
- $70 for marathon, $55 for half marathon and $20 for 5k through June 30
- $80 for marathon, $65 for half marathon and $25 for 5k through July 1-Aug. 31
- $95 for marathon, $80 for half marathon and $30 for 5k Sept. 1-20
- $110 for marathon, $95 for half marathon and $35 for 5k Sept. 21-22
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