Coach Bio: Russel Towns is an RRCA Certified Running Coach. He has coached programs but has also coached individuals on every distance from 5K to marathon. His favorite distance is the half marathon. Russel’s wife, Jennifer, is also a runner and will often help with the program. They have been married for 21 years and have two children. Russel is also the Camp Manager at the Georgia FFA-FCCLA Center and lives at the camp. He started running in 2011 when he realized that he was becoming less active, gaining weight, and had high blood pressure. He started running and found out how much exercise helped him physically, mentally, emotionally, and even spiritually! Now he is passionate about helping others discover the difference that exercise can make in their life!
Class Info: Who is this group for?
The program content is designed for those who are new to running, but the structure is also great for those who are just out of practice and need some accountability. Most participants at the beginning can only jog for very brief amounts of time, but by the end of the 10 week course can complete a 3.1 mile race. Couch to 5K programs are a great way to begin a journey to a more healthier you!
This is a beginner-level program, but we still recommend that you see your doctor before starting this or any exercise program and ensure that you are in reasonable health to take on a new exercise challenge.
The Plan: The program will run for 10 weeks, August 24- Nov 2 (the date of the Deer Dash!). The program will consist of 3 runs per week: Tuesdays and Thursdays 5:30 PM, Saturdays 8:00 AM. We will meet at Bulldog Gym (533 Venture Ct, Monticello).
We will use a time-tested method of run-walk training. In other words, you will run for a certain amount of time, walk for a certain amount of time, then alternate running and walking. We will very slowly increase the running time and decrease the walking time. This helps you progress quickly with less risk of injury.
The coach will also teach basic running techniques such as breathing, posture, and form.