Women Run Arkansas, the statewide club that conducts free fitness clinics for women and girls, is recruiting volunteer leaders for the 2017 Women Can Run/Walk clinics.
"This will be our 20th year," says coordinator Linda Starr, owner of The Sporty Runner in Conway.
The clinics are group workouts that follow progressive 5K training schedules designed to help people walk or run for fitness. At the end of the series, participants celebrate at the Women Can Run 5K in Conway. The 2017 race will be May 13.
Although there is a registration fee for the footrace and its pasta party, the clinics are offered at no charge.
Group leaders, called "directors," are responsible for finding a safe place for women and girls to exercise together twice a week for 10 weeks, beginning the week of March 5, and they decide which days of the week they train and what level of skill their clinic accepts.
Directors also must attend one of two training sessions -- 2-4 p.m. Jan. 8 or 22 at Conway Regional Fitness Center, 700 Salem Road in Conway.
In 2016, volunteers led clinics at Alma, Batesville, Beebe, Bella Vista Lake, Benton/Bryant, Brinkley, Cabot, Clinton, Conway, Corning, Danville, El Dorado, Fort Smith, Fayetteville, Glenwood, Greenbrier, Guy, Harrison, Heber Springs, Hope, Hot Springs, Jacksonville, Jonesboro, Kirby, Little Rock Hillcrest, west Little Rock, far west Little Rock/Perry County, Lonoke, Marion, Marshall, Maumelle, Morrilton, Mountain View, North Little Rock, Paris, Perryville, Pine Bluff, Prescott, Quitman, Russellville, Searcy, Sherwood, Wynne, Vilonia and Yellville.
"If anyone does not see their location listed and is interested in having a clinic, they can contact me or my assistant, Yvonne Schrepfer," Starr says. "Also, if your city is listed and you directed a clinic in 2016 but you do not plan to direct a clinic in 2017, please let us know so we can try to find a director for that clinic."
Her email is lstarr38@sbcglobal.net and her phone is (501) 472-7979; Schrepfer's email is yvonnepwoc@bellsouth.net.
JoAnne Owens Nauslar of Lincoln, Neb., will speak at the 2017 Women Can Run Pasta Party on May 12. A PE teacher described as a "possibilitarian" and "past president of almost everything," she led the National Association for Sport and Physical Education; the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance; and The Husker Athletic Fund.
She was state director for comprehensive health and physical education at the Nebraska Department of Education for 19 years and director of professional development for the American School Health Association.
For individuals who want to attend a clinic, the footrace or its pasta party, online registration will be available at womenrunarkansas.net after the first of the year. Or they can sign up in person at any clinic location.
The theme for 2017's clinics will be announced Jan. 1.
ActiveStyle on 12/05/2016