Active Southern West Virginia would like to announce that we have three newly created Training Teams. Active SWV Training Teams are a free service providing safe and effective training guidance and the encouragement needed to train up to area events. It is meant to be a safe environment for new runners looking for guidance as well as a place experienced runners can come for fine tuning or just for a social group to run with.
Beckley Training Team
Owner of the Beckley Running Supply Store, Terry Hoskins, is our Beckley Training Team Coach. Terry currently leads two running groups in Beckley every week in addition to his Training Team running day. On Tuesdays he leads Trail Tuesdays at 6:15pm starting at the YMCA Soccer Complex in Beckley and on Thursdays he leads a road running group of beginner/intermediate runners starting at his shop in downtown Beckley at 6pm.
The Beckley Training Team meets every Sunday at the YMCA Soccer Complex at 2pm. Their first group training day was Sunday June 14th, but anyone is still free to join. This group has the goal of training up to a 10K or half marathon, but anyone interested in just joining the group for the purpose of having social support while they run is also welcome.
Practice Race Day:
The Raleigh County 4-H 5K Walk/Run on August 15th, see registration at http://www.tristateracer.com/RaceDirector/race.php?RaceID=7692
The races this team will be training up to are:
The Beckley Chamber of Commerce Half Marathon/Marathon on September 19th, see registration at https://www.facebook.com/events/new-river-park/beckley-rocket-run-5k-10k-kids-fun-run/1612546989002427/
The Beckley Rocket Run 10K on October 3rd, see registration at https://runsignup.com/Race/WV/Beckley/10kand5kRocketRun
MacArthur Training Team
Our newest Training Team Coach is also the President of the Southern West Virginia Road Runners Club, Missy Burleson. Missy is also the chapter leader of the Beckley WV Moms Run This Town Club and a member of the Idiots Running Club based in Missouri. She has been running for three years and started to lose weight; to date she has lost 75 pounds and believes that if she can do it anyone can. She is stepping into this role to be a mentor for members of her community in hopes that she can serve as a support system for those also trying to live a healthy lifestyle. She will be coaching a team in MacArthur with the goal of racing in a 5K, 10K, and/or half marathon, though she welcomes anyone with the desire to start running.
MacArthur Training Team Coach Missy Burleson, left, running the Sandman Extreme Half Marathon.
The first MacArthur Training Team meeting will be held on Sunday July 12th at 5:30pm at Fitzpatrick Park in Beckley, WV. Youth and adults are encouraged to join; youth under the age of 18 need a parent present at the first meeting to sign a waiver. This first meeting will include details on running schedule, course description, how often and where the group will run, and general running guidelines. Come dressed to run and bring water.
Practice Race Day:
The Raleigh County 4-H 5K Walk/Run on August 15th, see registration at http://www.tristateracer.com/RaceDirector/race.php?RaceID=7692
The races this team will be training up to are:
The Beckley Chamber of Commerce Half Marathon/Marathon on September 19th, see registration at http://brccc.com/ImageGallery/beckley-full-half-marathon.aspx
The Beckley Rocket Run 5K/10K on October 3rd, see registration at http://brccc.com/beckley-rocket-run.aspx
Fayetteville Training Team
Avid trail runner Sarah Johnson Coffey will be stepping into the Training Team Coach role on July 26th. She competed in her first trail run last year at the Sticks & Stones 15K and is now winning or placing at the top every few weekends at area events. At the beginning of this year, Sarah and friends started the New River Trail Runners Club, which meets every Monday at 6:30pm in the Fayetteville Town Park at the NPS Trailhead. Sarah ran cross country in high school and played basketball in college, she is also a mother of three boys. She recently began running again last summer for the purpose of losing weight and now says she is the most fit she’s ever been.
This group has the goal of training up to the Sticks & Stones 15K at Babcock State Park on October 10th, see registration at http://sticksandstonesrun.com/ and racer’s forum at https://www.facebook.com/groups/263163366860/
The first Fayetteville Training Team meeting will be held on Sunday July 26th at 6pm at the Fayetteville Town Park (last entrance on the right by the NPS trailhead). This first meeting will include details on running schedule, course description, how often and where the group will run, and general running guidelines. Come dressed to run and bring water.
Practice Race Day:
The Captain Thurmond Half & Half 5K to benefit the New River Gorge Learning Co-Op on August 1st, see registration at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/captain-thurmond-half-half-5k-tickets-16874776912
If you have any questions about Active SWV Training Teams or anything mentioned in this article, or if you think you may have an interest in starting a Training Team in your area please contact Melanie Seiler at [email protected].
