Training resources for Charlotte Marathon runners

I’m not a runner. Not anymore, at least. I ran a lot in college but just for fun and never as an athlete or in actual races. I’d just walk out the door and run 10 miles without a route or a timer or a plan of any sort because I was young and capable and clearly not studying.

Those days are long gone. These days I’m tired and my knees hurt and I can’t convince myself to cover any more than 3 miles any more than a couple times a month. I miss running but not enough to start running again.

So your guess is as good as mine as to why I agreed to run the inaugural rebranded Charlotte Marathon this fall (and as a race ambassador no less).

Here we are creeping in to training season and here I am once again without a plan or any clue where to start. Thankfully, Charlotte has programs for beginners like me, advanced Boston qualifiers and everyone in between.

Help.

Run For Your Life’s Run Far Training Program

Dates: June 4 – November 12
Cost: $140 returning members, $170 new members

Run For Your Life offers full and half marathon training programs for first-time beginners and experienced intermediate runners alike. You’ll get customized weekly training schedules as well as coached group training sessions on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Register here.

26.BREW

Dates: Full marathon training July 5 – November 12; Half marathon training August 24 – November 12
Cost: $45

OrthoCarolina is teaming up with NoDa Run Club, Lenny Boy Run Club, WFNZ and Carolina Beer Temple to create a social marathon training club complete with weekly runs, access to training experts, a hefty swag bag full of goods and, of course, beer. NoDa Brewing and Lenny Boy even collaborated on a specialty run brew. There will be two different programs – one for the full marathon and one for the half. It all kicks off with a party at NoDa Brewing (North End) on Tuesday, June 28. Register here.

YMCA Charlotte Half Marathon Training Program

Dates: August 16 – November 10
Cost: $120 members, $170 nonmembers

The Dowd YMCA will host a brand new training program for half marathoners. It includes hills, track workouts and tempo runs Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6 a.m. to 7 a.m. All runners should be able to complete 3 miles on day one. Anyone interested can attend an informational meeting on Wednesday, August 10 at 6:30 p.m. at the Dowd YMCA. Register at the Dowd YMCA.