Whether you’re someone looking to run you’re first 10K or a veteran distance runner in need of a group to train with, the Summerville Family YMCA has just the thing.
The Y’s “Y in Training” program is designed to assist those who are new to distance running, to help experienced runners improve their performance and to help new and veteran runners alike prepare for events such as the Flowertown Festival Run (March 13) and Cooper River Bridge Run (March 27). Meetings and training have already begun, but registration remains open and the program runs through March.
Training is conducted out of both the Y’s downtown and Ponds facilities three times a week – Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6 p.m. and Saturdays at 8 a.m.
“It’s fun and it’s about meeting personal goals rather than comparing yourself to others,” Kendal Shows, one of the program supervisors, said. “With our group, it’s fine if you want to run part of the course and walk part. We use a variety of workouts. Some days we focus on interval short sprints; other days we work on setting a tempo; and others we use a slow run that is more about the time we run than the miles.”
 The group takes field trips to train with runs over the Cooper River Bridge and at places such as James Island. On Tuesdays, the program has guest speakers who address various run-related topics.
“We try to get people who have a unique talent or gift,” Shows said. “A lot of them are people who have motivated me or helped me, but basically we just want to provide a variety of resources that are beneficial to people in the program. We like to keep the speakers local so if people see them around town or at the Y they can stop them and ask for more advice if they need it.”
The group has produced positive results, helping some successfully venture into distance running and more experienced runners to reduce their finishing times for races such as the Flowertown Festival Run.
“A lot of times, people just don’t run their own race,” Shows said. “They do things such as starting out too fast. Our training can help with that. Also, training with a group helps motivate people. We also throw in some social events that are a lot of fun.”
YMCA personal trainers and experienced runners supervise the program. The fees are $55 for YMCA members and $85 for potential members and include the weekly training, entry fee for the Flowertown Festival Run, a “Y in Training” t-shirt and a Flowertown Festival Run t-shirt. Financial assistance is available for those in need.
For additional information, contact Nicole Martine at 871-9622, extension 105.

Contact Roger Lee @ 873-9424 ext. 213 or rlee@journalscene.com.