With summer in full swing, there are lots of 5K, 10K, half, and full marathons out there to sign up for. Even if you have never been a runner, it's really never too late to start up.
There are lots of different programs out there to get you started. One of the most commonly talked about and widely used is the "Couch to 5K" running plan. If you have been wanting to participate in a run, look at that program or get in contact with me and I get can you set up on another possible program that will work best for you.
You can either run to support a good cause, to participate with friends, or to gain better overall health. With gaining better health in mind a general rule of thumb is that the average runner will burn around 100 calories per mile.
The actual amount of calories burned will vary based upon speed and body weight. For example, a 150-pound runner running a 5K will burn around 228 calories running at a 10-minute mile pace whereas running at a 7:30-mile pace they would burn around 308 calories.
Maybe knowing those numbers will keep you from grabbing that 215-calorie Snickers bar next time; as if you ate it you'd have to run around a 5K to just burn it back off. As I stated earlier, there are lots of different runs to partake in especially around the Omaha area. During the summer months, there is almost always at least one run every weekend to choose from.
On a personal note, one race that I will try to partake in later this year is the Hy-Vee Pinky Swear 5K and Fun Run on September 30th to benefit pediatric cancer. In order to find a run that you would like to partake in, visit runningintheusa.com and omaharun.org. They have a big list and calendar full of events for you to choose from.
Get signed up for a run to challenge yourself this summer. If you've never done a run before, start with a 5K. If you've done lots of 5Ks but nothing else, why not try to crank it up a bit and challenge yourself with a 10K instead? Keep pushing yourself to become a better you this summer by signing up for a run!
If you have any questions in the meantime, don’t hesitate to give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you.
