Campus Recreation Office is offering a 10-week program designed to help individuals create a running routine with the overall goal of completing a 5K.
Be Brave to the Finish was created by Director of Campus Recreation and Athletic Facilities Kristen Nesvacil and is designed to mirror a typical couch to 5K program.
“We slowly start to build up endurance for running,” Nesvacil said. “So for the first week, we will be running for x amount of minutes and walking, alternating that for 20 minutes. This will eventually build up over time to where you will eventually be able to finish a 5K race.”
Participants are given individual goals to complete on their own throughout the week, such as finishing two other runs and one hour of a cross-training activity.
To accommodate cross training goals, each person in the program receives a 10-class group fitness punch card. This gives the flexibility to participate in a spin class, yoga or any other group fitness class once a week for the duration of the program.
“Running Central is collaborating with us on this,” Nesvacil said. “Each week they will be donating prizes, and we will be raffling them off for our participants to win. They will also be offering a discount to all of our participants on items in their store.”
The partnership with Running Central offers each runner an opportunity to come into the store and get fitted for the appropriate type of running shoe for them. This provides an educational experience for those wanting to invest toward their goal.
Every person that signs up will not only be eligible for weekly prizes, but they will also get a Be Brave to the Finish T-shirt and 24-hour email access to the program’s coach Debbie Fischer.
The program will be utilizing indoor facilities, such as the indoor track and the treadmills if weather conditions are not permitting outdoor activity.
The deadline to register for Be Brave to the Finish was Feb. 10, but the program will still accept sign ups until Feb. 17. Registration is $30 for Bradley students, faculty, staff and alumni. The program meets Tuesdays at 5:30 p.m. in Markin room 121.
“The way I’d like to move our department, Campus Recreation in Markin, is to offer more progressive programs, to get more people involved, to teach skills and lessons outside the classroom,” Nesvacil said.
