The 2009 DCRRC Free Jump Start Program

The DC Road Runners Ten-Miler Training Program, entering its fifth year, is the exclusive training program for the Army Ten-Miler Race this year. This is an association DCRRC takes very seriously, so we wanted to make sure that everyone who entered the Program would have the ability to run a quality ten-mile race at the Army Ten-Miler on October 4, 2009.

We were worried about persons new to running, or persons returning to running after a long lay-off, because it is hard to get up to a ten-mile base from zero in twelve weeks (the race being the thirteenth week). Furthermore, the Army Ten-Miler Race has a 15-minute per mile pace standard. If a runner cannot maintain a pace that will ensure a finishing time of 2:30:00 or better, that runner will be directed to the finish line early and will not get an official race result.

In other words, the Program could not accommodate walkers, and would not be offering any run/walk training. The program directors brainstormed how best to ensure that everyone showed up capable of running three miles the first day of the Program in early July.

The Program Director, Emily, came up with a brilliant solution, the Jump Start Program, a free, four-week regimen on Haines Point that would get dedicated participants up to being able to run three miles by the start of the Program. If a person wasn't committed enough to follow that training, or found the activity wasn't for him or her, there would be no reason for that person to pay for and enter the Program on July 11th, the official start.

Emily, a running boot-camp instructor and ultra runner, conducted the Jump Start Program. It kicked off on Saturday morning, June 13th in the Haines Point Public Golf Course parking lot with some food and beverages and lectures. After stretching, the participants went on a 0ne-mile run. For many of the two dozen or so participants, the half mile out and half mile back was a journey. The start of something long and wonderful. The outing was concluded with a cool-down stretching routine.

The same routine was followed in weeks two and three. Twenty-two participants enjoyed the administrations of three coaches in week two and went two miles. Another thirty or so participants listened to Fleet Feet store owner and triathlete Shawn Fenty lecture on running progression, biomechanics and form in week three before running two and a half miles with the coaches.

Week four fell on July Fourth and, wary of the crowds that might be on Haines Point on the holiday, the venue was moved to the Gotta Run store in South Arlington. The two dozen or so participants were given a lecture on equipment by store owner and premier runner Andre Williams, before going on a three mile run through the streets of Crystal City. (Right: Jump Start participants gather outside of Gotta Run on the Fourth prior to going three miles.)

And just like that, a cadre of committed persons was enabled to participate in the Program and prosper from it. Two runners attended all four Jump Start sessions and were recognized at a subsequent Program Happy Hour for their dedication.

The Program itself kicked off with a three-mile run on Saturday and Sunday, July 11th and 12th at four different venues, and has over 170 participants.