Southport Magazine

Caitlyn Reschly; Stephanie Seeber; Leslie Reschly, ‘Health’ section columnist; Beth Baldiga; Kris Beasley, advertising representative; and Brooke Beasley all participated in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in March. Photo courtesy of Kris Beasley

As the weather warms, opportunities abound to participate in locally organized competitive run events, from 5k (3.1 miles) to marathon (26.2 miles) distances. As a long-time runner, I am amazed and inspired by people of all ages who dream about and then successfully complete a 5k. As Nike says, “Just do it!” What are you waiting for? Here’s a four-step guide to help you get started.

PICK A RACE: There are options to race for a cause, for the location, or even for the party! The Wilmington Road Runners Club, a nearby membership of regional runners, offers a list of local races along with links to register on its website, www.wilmingtonroadrunners.org. Health clubs and sporting goods stores often have brochures of local events on-hand. Check out the race calendar to the right of  this page, too.

If a cause is close to your heart, consider running to help fund-raise. The inaugural Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure for breast cancer was just held in Wilmington in March; this experience was personally motivating for those who ran in honor of a survivor or in memory  of a loved one, including myself. Southport Magazine’s Kris Beasley is a breast-cancer survivor, and the Komen Race was her first official 5k!

If you love Disney or San Francisco, sign up for a race and take your family on vacation! The latest craze is the Color Run, where you can run and sweat in colored powder—the end result is a crowd of tie-dyed people and clothing! These races fill up so fast you need to sign-up early. Folks interested can keep an eye on when registration in a certain city will open by checking www.thecolorrun.com. In fact, Southport Magazine’s editor, Bethany Turner, will participate in the Color Run in Washington, D.C., this May.

When you pick your race, allow yourself enough time to train depending on your current fitness level. If you are just beginning, allow at least two months.  Then, sign up! You will get the benefit of early registration fees, which are often discounted; you’ll be guaranteed a coveted T-shirt; and, most importantly, you’ll be vested in participating.

TRAIN: Couch to 5K (C25K) websites and smart phone apps offer training schedules and helpful hints for new runners. As with any new exercise program, be sure to first consult your family physician or health care practitioner.

As you begin, it is very important to start slowly to avoid injury. Obtain the proper footwear for your foot. Consult the experts at Omega Sports (3501 Oleander Dr.), TrySports (925 Town Center Dr.), or Dick’s Sporting Goods (816 S. College Rd.) in Wilmington if you need assistance.

Find a training partner if you need additional motivation. You may find someone with a secret dream to run a 5k, too, in your work place, church, social or civic club—or even your family! My last race was more fun because my daughter was with me—albeit ahead of me. The same training schedules exist for 10k, half-marathon, marathon and triathlon events which provide step-by-step guidance for training.

MONITOR YOUR PROGRESS: Track your training on a calendar, running journal, or with one of the many apps available for your smart phone. My favorite is MapMyFitness, which can record all types of activities. Settings allow you to be coached during your run with audible calculations of your distance and pace. An added benefit of this app is it interrupts your music briefly for this update but then returns back to your songs.

Saving your workouts allows you to track your progress. Weekly, your workout summary info will be e-mailed to you. Plotting your distance run, distance walked, and time of workout on a paper calendar allows you to visually see your improvement in a very short time!

RACE: Registrants often have several occasions to pick up race packets prior to race day. If you are not familiar with the area, drive the route of the race if possible or visualize the course as mapped out, so that you can know where you will be at the halfway point, for example. Warm up prior to the start with a light jog around the area. Start yourself in the middle of the pack. Don’t worry if people pass you—you may find yourself passing them before you are done! Pace yourself as you start because the adrenaline pumping may cause you to begin too fast. Utilize your smart phone app to help you determine your pace. Slow down, speed up, or walk if needed—this is your race!

Celebrate as you cross that finish line—you did it! Write down your time, race and date on your running number and save this as your trophy!

UPCOMING RACES:

Brunswick Forest Veterinary Hospital Hound Hustle
5k, 10k, and 1-mile Trot with Spot
Sun., April 7th • 8 a.m.
1513 Brunswick Village Blvd., Leland
$20-40 • brunswickforest.vetstreet.com
Fun and Fast 10k, 5k and 1-mile races start and finish at the Brunswick Forest Veterinary Hospital’s new facility in Brunswick Forest. The 5k is pet-friendly, and runners with pooches start at the back of the pack. Post-race party/awards ceremony will include several pet-related sponsors. Runners without dogs are welcome in all races. BONUS: Brunswick Forest Veterinary Hospital will be offering $30 micro-chip implants for pets on race day for all race participants.

Oak Island Lighthouse Run and Walk
Half-marathon, 10k, and 5k
Sat., April 20th • 8 a.m.
NC Baptist Assembly at Fort Caswell
$20-45 • www.lighthouse10k.com
The Oak Island Lighthouse 5k, 10k and half-marathon courses showcase some of the best scenery on the North Carolina coast. On what other course can you see salt marshes, the Atlantic Ocean, beautiful beaches, ruins of a historic fort, and have a lighthouse as a cheerleader beckoning you to the finish?

Divas Half-marathon and 5k
Sun., April 28th • 7 a.m.
North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
$30-110 • www.runlikeadiva.com
This is the largest women’s half-marathon series in the U.S.! The Divas Half Marathon and 5k is all about girl power. Our mission is to challenge mothers, daughters, sisters and those who love them to tackle one of life’s goals and complete a race.
Get glam at one of our races while enjoying a great run in one of the country’s best vacation destinations. Remember when you were younger and would stand in front of the mirror playing dress up? Well, just because you’re a grown-up doesn’t mean you can’t be a princess! Throw on a boa and tiara along the course for an instant pick me up and remember to smile for the cameras when you cross the finish line! Let us pamper you with roses, a champagne toast, amazing medals and so much more.

It is not just about the run but the whole weekend experience. Our events will host a two-day Health and Fitness Boutique, a Divas 5K, a Diva Lounge, Post-Race Pool Party hosted by DJ Honey Loquacious and more. This city will infuse some of its flair for a wonderful weekend with the girls or with family where mom, sister or daughter are stars.