The rubber has hit the road for 60 Women Run Arkansas running and walking clinics across the state, with thousands of people more than halfway toward their goal of doing a 5K footrace May 10.
They are not so numerous as they were in the 10-week series’ opening days in early March - which were disrupted by ice and snow.
“And at some of the clinics, there have been thunderstorms that also have caused some of them to miss a night, but they’re going along great,” Linda Starr said last week.
Clinic directors have taught their participants that big trash bags make handy ponchos, and so a little rain shouldn’t deter anyone from working toward a 3.1-mile event like Conway’s Women Can Run 5K, the clinics’ official closing celebration.
“Listen, they’ve got them programmed that if it’s not lightning and thundering, we will be there,” Starr said, laughing.
Owner of The Sporty Runner in Conway, she’s relaxing a bit these days since her part of coordinating this grassroots effort by women to help other women attain fitness pretty much ends with the electronic ordeal of registration. Besides, she said, the actual work in the program is always done by clinic directors and their volunteers - and by the participants who have to sacrifice to come to training.
“I wish that we didn’t have so much attrition, but unfortunately it’s not unusual as I talk to other directors around the state,” Katie McManners said last week.
With Tori Green, McManners directs a clinic in Little Rock with 460 registered members - about 150 of whom turn out for twice-a-week workouts at J.A. Fair High School. Meanwhile, Jeanne Puelma leads another clinic for Little Rock women at War Memorial Stadium; and there are clinics in North Little Rock, Maumelle, Sherwood - and in 40 other cities. The biggest is in Russellville, with 1,061 enrolled.
Kim Head, director of Russellville’s clinic, agreed that retention is “an issue” with every clinic.
McManners said, “I think there are a lot of things that contribute to the success of a lady sticking with the program, and I think the largest is her network of support. That includes significant others, friends who are supportive - not only moral support but logistical support, helping with meals, taking care of children.
“I think that as women, when we add something to our lives, we don’t ever think about what we’re going to have to give up to achieve that new goal. So one of the things that we talk about with our women the very first night is ‘What are you going to have to give up to fit this new thing in?’ That’s part of the mental training as well as the physical training.”
McManners believes participants’ biggest challenge is taking time out from serving others. So tonight’s session will be “Friends and Family Appreciation Night”:
“We’ve asked the women to invite their support network to come to clinic … and sit in the stands, see what this clinic thing is that they’ve been doing, cheer them on, and then at the end of the clinic we will have a special moment of appreciation for them for helping us achieve our goals,” McManners said.
MOTIVATION
“Of course we always lose some as we go, but there are a lot of people here every week,” longtime volunteer Coreen Frasier noted on a recent Monday as women in rain jackets or with trash bags over their shoulders streamed toward the track at J.A. Fair.
One of 30 volunteers helping McManners and Green, Frasier said the beginning runners she jogs with come and go from session to session, “but I’m seeing some familiar faces now.”
A few participants do have perfect attendance, and as of March 31, one of them was Anita Williams. She said she’s determined to do that 5K: “I know if I don’t come here I’mnot going to do it at home, so I’d better come out here and get it done.”
More are like Maya Lopez, a pediatrician at Arkansas Children’s Hospital, who comes when her hectic schedule allows. When she isn’t free for the evening group workouts, she said, “that doesn’t mean I can’t exercise, I just have to choose a different time and different appointment. …
“Running is hard, it’s really hard, but I’m trying to diversify my exercise portfolio.”AIR HORNS AND HIGH FIVES
A typical meeting of the group at J.A. Fair begins with education. On March 31, that meant the women crowded under a metal awning to hear a fellow walker, Yvette Coleman of QualChoice, deliver a pep talk on nutrition.
“I have a feeling we’re not going to need our trash bags,” McManners told them as the sun came out. The women spread out between cars in the nearby parking lot to sway and stretch to pop music played on boom boxes before walking uphill to the track.
Walkers and runners divided into A and B groups. Beginners train with other beginners, more advanced with others who go their pace. People in A groups walk and run in one direction on the track while people in B groups go the other, reducing congestion and allowing everyone to greet one another in passing.
Every few weeks the groups trade directions, which, as McManners told them, provides variety, which supports motivation: “It’s a change for your body, it’s a change for your mind.”
Periodically air horns sound, signaling intervals of increased exertion or slower walking breaks. After the 30 minutes of intervals came a five-minute cool-down with stretching.
And then the women dispersed, many talking into cellphones while walking to cars.
“I know so many women who have wanted to bring their children, and for safety reasons we have not allowed children at the track,” McManners said. “We’ve let the ladies know ‘This is your time. You deserve this hour without distractions.’
“It’s a gift to them so they can be better mothers, wives, daughters, sisters, friends.”
ActiveStyle, Pages 23 on 04/14/2014