Going the distance

Trekking at Griffy Lake, Bryan Park and everywhere in between, IU students have filled the city this fall with the patter of footsteps and the sounds of heavy breathing at every corner.\nSaturday’s Second Annual IU Circle of Life event will include both a mini marathon and 5K race on the IU campus. Last year, over 3,200 runners competed in the mini marathon and raised $60,000 for the Bill Z. Littlefield Scholarship for Survivors. As potential participants start to train, however, they usually find that starting is the hardest part.\n“People find that it is hard to get motivated. Other people just hate running,” said men’s cross country team member and sophomore Seth Ball. “Finding that motivation is often difficult, but once you can overcome it, running is pretty fun.”\nBeyond the mental aspect of starting a program, running involves physical commitment and discipline. Running also requires a great deal of respiratory stamina and muscular strength.\n“Before you begin to train hard, make sure you stretch out as much as possible,” Ball said. “That is very important.”\nBall said he also recommends running at one’s own pace to avoid injuries. \nTraining casually is different than training competitively as Ball does. Junior Todd Morin has participated in competitive races in the past and considers himself a casual runner. Morin trains by running four miles at a time on average and knows how to stay the course when training for an event.\n“Stay confident and work hard, and it will pay off in the end,” Morin said. “Not only will it help you in the sport, but running will also help you with your lifestyle.”\nBall and Morin both said that to begin running, it is best to start off with a short base distance, somewhere around two or three miles in order to establish a solid beginning.\nPracticing the fundamentals of running is important at all skill levels, whether a runner is just beginning, in prime physical shape or has been around the sport for as long as Phil Henson, assistant professor of kinesiology.\n“I would recommend to beginners to start out by running on a daily basis while taking one or two days off,” said Henson. “The half marathon is not a good distance to start on.”\nHenson has been around the world’s best in running, having been the director of competition for the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. Henson said he believes that in non-competitive running, time is irrelevant.\n“The most important thing for a runner is to actually pace yourself and finish,” said Henson. “The worst thing for a runner to do is to eat a low carb diet if they are trying to be competitive.”\nRunning remains a very important part of a healthy lifestyle for many IU students. According to Ball, the effects for a beginner can tough on the body, but pay off in the end.\n“There is no avoiding the pain in your lungs and the pain in your legs,” said Ball. “The only thing that makes it feel better is the sense of accomplishment you get when crossing the finish line.”\nRegistration for the Circle of Life mini marathon and 5K race is from 5:30 to 7:30 a.m. Saturday at Assembly Hall. The mini marathon begins at 8 a.m., and the 5K begins at 8:15 a.m. Registration information is available at www.iumini.com.