Red Coyote Running Store Hosts Newbie Running Program

By Christina Eckert, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- For a small group at the Oklahoma City River, there may be a few nerves on this night. This is the first week for a group of new runners, newbies.

"Anybody can run and we're gonna get started tonight and show them how to do it," organizer Burke Beck said.

The Newbie Running Program is put on by the Red Coyote Running Store. The group meets twice a week to help them learn the basics of running with the eventual goal of taking part in a 5K or 3.1 miles.

"For some people that's a pretty big distance so we are starting very slow and very basic so everybody has a great experience and nobody gets injured," Beck said.

Melissa Barnett is one of the new runners hoping to not only run a 5K, but to eventually run the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon.

"I am not apprehensive at all, I'm stoked, I'm just completely excited and I think it's going to be a great chapter in my life," Barnett said.

To step into this next chapter, the group is on a program that involves walking and running about a minute of each. It's a program designed to make it easy for people to get started and make sure no one gets hurt.

"For us who are out of shape or little couch potatoes who have never run before, I think it's a great way to start," said Barnett. "It's not intimidating, it's doable and I'm excited."

Organizers are also hoping these nights will not only improve their fitness, but build some new friendships and encourage a life-long love of the sport.

"Yeah, I love it," said Beck. "And we're gonna make sure everybody starts out slow so everybody can love it."

If you are interested in learning more about the Red Coyote Running Program you can visit their website at http://www.redcoyoterunning.com/. Find a beginners run-walk program.