Runner's Blog: Top 3 Reasons to Join our Winter Distance Program

By Coach Michele

More than 2 million people ran a half marathon in 2014. That’s the latest number but since that was almost four times as many as had run the distance in 2000, odds are half marathons are even more popular today.

And with good reason! Half marathons push us to run far enough to strengthen our bodies and feel that immense sense of accomplishment afterwards but not so long that our weekends are consumed by long runs and our bodies are shot.

So, if your plan is to run a 15k, half marathon, or anything in that ballpark (sooner or later), here are the top three reasons to train with Fleet Feet Sports in our Winter Distance Training program.

1. Build your base for a future race. Training for spring and summer races will be so much easier and better if you don’t completely take the winter off. Winter Distance Training is as much about base-building for the year as it is training for a goal race.

2. There is strength in numbers. It’s cold. Average temperatures this past week have been in the single digits. The whole winter season could be like this. Who actually goes out and runs alone when it’s like that? Knowing others are waiting for you will get you out the door and on the road.

3. It’s fun. Seriously. The group of people that gets together for Sunday morning long runs and Wednesday night speed work during Syracuse winters tends to be as committed as they are wacky. We have runners of all paces and vary the workouts, routes and distances enough to keep things interesting.

Visit our website to learn more about the program and to register! We start this upcoming Wednesday, Jan. 3 at Long Branch Park and continue until Sunday, March 25. I hope to see you out there!