How’s your activity level been lately? I’m still plugging along with my run and walk routine, but I can certainly tell when I get off schedule. I feel cruddy, plus it’s so much more difficult to exercise after not running for a week or so. So I’m trying to keep on trucking. Having goals set has helped me stay on track. That’s why Couch-to-5K was such a great plan for me to help me finish my first 5K earlier this year.

 

 

Since then I’ve joined a group of friends in what we call the Red Faced Runners. Red Face Runners is a group of runners (see the member list below) of different experience levels that cheer each other on to keep putting one foot in front of another. It kinda began as a running joke because we all are pretty red-faced after our runs. We like to be silly. Can’t ya tell?

As a group we all realize how important it is to have a goal set on the calendar to keep us focused and on task, so we’ve chosen the weekend of September 8, 2012 to enter a race. We won’t necessarily be running in the same race, but we’ll be running on the same day. We even bought matching Wonder Woman socks because that’s how we roll…or rather, how we run.

 

 

We’d like to invite you to join us in the challenge, the Red Faced Runners 5K Challenge!

Will you? Will you join us? Come on! What’s stopping ya?

Like I said before, we’re all at various degrees of experience as far as running goes. So no matter your pace, your distance, the level of redness of your face, you’ll fit right in.

 

If you want to join the challenge, here’s what to do:

  • Choose a race to enter the weekend of September 8, 2012, and let me know in the comments below. To find a 5K race where you live visit Running in the USA or Active.com. Once you’ve chosen your race, I’d love to hear your plans. Let me know in the comments below what you’re doing.
  • We’ve also created a Red Faced Runners 5K Challenge hashtag … tag any photos or tweets with #RFR5K. Use the hashtag to share progress or photos on Twitter, and Instagram. It’ll be fun to see all the red faces out there.
  • There’s also a Facebook page for Red Faced Runners Challenge. It’s a place for you to offer encouragement and hopefully find some when in need too!
  • If you’re active on Pinterest, we also have an inspiration board there as well.

 

 

Again, you don’t have to be an experienced runner to join the fun. If you’re new to running, but are up for joining the Red Faced Runners 5K Challenge, there are training programs that help you move forward in baby steps to meet your goals. Couch-to-5K is the one I used, but others are out there. And thankfully, we also have a Red Faced Runner member who is a running coach, Cindy from Once Upon a Loaf. Cindy is what I call a major runner. She’s always ready with an encouraging word, running tips, or a motivational thought to keep us moving along.

Cindy has put together a list of helpful tips to get started with your training:

 

10 Tips for All Runners from Cindy Corliss BeMent

  1. Believe in the run.
  2. Believe in the rest.
  3. Respect must rule all.
  4. Your body is your temple.
  5. Your kitchen is your place of worship.
  6. Equip yourself.
  7. You run. You don’t jog.
  8. Get after it.
  9. Spread the love.
  10. Have the time of your life!

 

Excellent stuff.

You’ll find a more detailed explanation of Cindy’s tips over at Dara’s blog, Cookin’ Canuck, along with Dara’s inspiring story of her journey to fitness. It’s really amazing. Do check it out.

Here’s the list of the Red Faced Runners. Drop by their sites to read each Red Faced Members story:

Dara, Cookin’ Canuck
Cindy, Once Upon a Loaf
Kristen, Dine & Dish
Bridget, Bake at 350
Lori, Recipe Girl
In Katrina’s Kitchen
Robyn, Add a Pinch
Carolyn, All Day I Dream About Food
Krista, Budget Gourmet Mom
Shawn, I Wash…You Dry
and me!

So get those shoes on and hit the road! It’ll be fun!
And again, I’d love to hear from you, so let me know in the comments below if you plan on committing to the challenge. I sure hope you do!