Wanna 5K, or perhaps 10K?

MDRA has partnered with the Twin Cities Marathon to offer a training program aimed at preparing runners to race the TCM 5K or TCM 10K run on the day before the marathon, Saturday, October 2, 2010. If you are new to racing, or you want to improve your time, this is the class for you!

The first class met this past Wednesday, August 11, however, there are still 7 weeks left! The class meets every Wednesday evening in Edina from 6:00 to 7:30 pm (the next class meets at TC Running Co in Eden Prairie). Each class will focus on a different aspect of running and training including injury prevention techniques, proper nutrition, core strength and race strategies!

The cost of the class is $60, which includes a special training program designed for you, USATF-certified coaching, a running singlet AND MDRA membership. MDRA membership entitles you to major discounts at local running stores, the official Run Minnesota MDRA magazine and the always popular training log book (retails for $15). This is an incredible deal!

The four coaches represent the best and most experienced Minnesota has to offer:

Kathryn Benhardus A USATF Certified Level One Coach and competitive masters runner, Kathryn is captain of the MDRA grand masters women’s USATF team circuit team and the grand masters women’s relay team, Do Not Go Gentle. They run ultra relays all over the country and have set age group course records. She has run many local races including 25 marathons, and won her age group in the MDRA Grand Prix for 2007. She coached track at the middle school level and has coached beginning runners for 11 years. Kathryn is currently the secretary of the MDRA board.

Nobby Hashizume Co-founder of the Lydiard Foundation (www.lydiardfoundation.org) to promote the Lydiard method of endurance training. Please check out the website or Google if you’re interested. A former professional running coach for Hitachi, Ltd. in Japan, he is currently coaching several ladies including a 2:50 female runner from Albuquerque, NM, and a couple of young ladies in Chicago via email/phone. He has been involved in running for over 35 years.

Gloria Jansen USATF Certified Level One Coach and a nationally recognized masters runner from White Bear Lake who has been running since 1986. She has completed 49 marathons and participates in many road races of all distances. She started coaching beginning runners in 2000 and has served as MDRA president.

Phyllis Stokke Phyllis is living proof that the MDRA beginning running program works! She started running with us five years ago. Inspired by the camaraderie and love of running that all the runners have found through this program, she keeps coming back. A cancer survivor who lives and works in Eden Prairie, Phyllis focuses on 5K runs.


If you're interested, check out the website for more information! If you would like to sign up, contact Heidi at hmiler (at) hotmail (dot) com. Or you can just show up to the next class which is meeting at TC Running Company in Eden Prairie at 6pm, August 18.