Running clinics offer leg up on TC 10K

Anyone looking at joining a disciplined fitness program to run or walk the Times Colonist 10K on April 26 are finding lots of company and camaraderie close at hand as official training clinics start on Saturday and continue next week.

The 14-week training clinics are held at 14 participating recreation centres throughout Greater Victoria, Shawnigan Lake and Ladysmith. Each clinic offers four programs — one for walking and three running levels: beginners, intermediate or advanced.

Many participants come for guidance by seasoned volunteer run/walk leaders and leave with lifelong friends.

“The clinics often open new worlds for people,” said Corinne Marley, co-ordinator for the clinic run out of the Juan de Fuca Recreation Centre. “The friendships that form, the camaraderie among the group, continue sometimes for years.”

She is also seeing a higher number of women participants, made up of two different groups: Women who have raised their families and now have more time to pursue interests and younger women with children for whom the clinic is an opportunity for “me” time.

“The thinking is that a healthy mom leads to a healthy family,” said Marley.

Groups can be as small as a few individuals and as large as 60 or more participants.

“It’s very ‘Victoria’ to see groups of TC10K clinic participants out training all over Victoria during mid-January to the end of April,” said Jill Shaw, TC10K clinic manager.

Interested individuals who wish to join a clinic can register directly with their local recreation centres. Clinic costs $120 plus GST. Participants receive a comprehensive 14-week training program, technical training shirt, TC10K registration (including the event shirt) and advice from industry experts.

The TC10K is Canada’s secondlargest 10-kilometre race, with more than 11,000 taking part in the main event, a half-marathon race or a Thrifty Foods 1.5K family run.

Participating clinics include: Cedar Hill Recreation Centre Crystal Pool and Fitness Centre Henderson Recreation Centre Oaklands Community Centre Panorama Recreation Centre Pearkes Recreation Centre Saanich Commonwealth Place SEAPARC Shawnigan Lake Community Centre University of Victoria Victoria West Community Centre Juan de Fuca Recreation Centre Windsor Recreation Centre For clinic dates and times go to: tc10k.ca/clinics-2015/