GWTC Beginning Running Group
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GWTC Beginning Running Group
This seasonal training group runs from September 23 to November 18, 2026, meeting at the Korean War Memorial in Cascades Park (1001 South Gadsden). Its main goal is to prepare beginning or returning runners to complete a 5K (3.1 miles) using either a run-walk-run method or continuous running. Training begins with running one mile and gradually increases weekly until the program target is reached.
The program is organized into three weekly groups with distinct progressions:
- Run-Walk Only Group: maintains a fixed 1 minute run / 1 minute walk ratio while increasing distance each week.
- Run-Walk-Run Group: starts with a 1:1 ratio and increases the number of running minutes relative to walking minutes as distance steps up, progressing toward continuous running of 3 miles by the eighth week.
- Running Group: increases continuous running distance by roughly a quarter mile each week, with incremental endurance gains of about two to three minutes per week, aiming to run 3 miles with little or no walking by the eighth week.
Participants under age 14 must be accompanied on all runs by an adult. Registration and a signed waiver are handled through RunSignUp. The sessions describe a structured, gradual plan focused on building distance and run-time in measurable weekly steps. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
