Team Crusade

By Kirby Adams

Calling all runners, or rather, would-be runners!  Yes, it's that time of year again; time to start thinking about whether you'd like to participate in the Triple Crown of Running in the spring.  If you can run a mile or if you are really novice, you could be ready to join Team Crusade.  The first race is 3.1 miles so it's a great way to launch into the sport.  Typically, we start training in January as a group.  By the second meeting we are running.  The camaraderie is incredibly motivating. 

Each Saturday we start the program with a short lecture on some aspect of fitness that effects running. It could be nutrition, flexibility or cross training. After that, we stretch and head out for our run. 

Keep in mind that we start training in the winter so you'll be outside in the elements, which means dressing like an Arctic explorer. Don't worry; there are so many new fabrics available that keep you warm and wick perspiration that it's not all that bad.   

As the weeks unfold we add on more mileage.  By the time of the Papa John's 10-Miler, the ice has melted, you are running in shorts and you will be amazed how manageable that distance seems.

The WHAS Crusade for Children running team, which we call Team Crusade, asks each runner to raise at least $250 for the Crusade. We are looking for 50 dedicated novice runners who want the support we can offer, and who want to support the WHAS Crusade. 

THE BENEFITS

The WHAS Crusade staff did a great job last year of helping out at the races. They provided a safe place to drop off clothes that the team didn't need to wear in the race.  The Louisville School of Massage kneaded out the aches and pains (I hope we can get them on board again this year!), and the Crusade provided each runner with the entry to all three races.  That alone nearly pays for your $250 donation.  However, on top of that, our runners get to use the facilities at the Baptist East/Milestone Wellness Center for the duration of the training.  That's another enormous value, especially during the winter months when it's nice to have a dry, warm spot to do your cross training. The staff at Milestone will be part of the Team Crusade training team so you'll be able to benefit from their knowledge of health and fitness.  

As usual, sports nutritionist Barbara Day, M.S., R.D., C.N., who has been with the team since 1996, will offer insightful nutritional advice and counseling, plus great articles in Kentuckiana HealthFitness throughout the 3 ½-month training period. One of my favorite parts of Barbara's counseling is how she calculates the number of calories, amount of water and other nutrients you need to properly prepare for these races.

You also get (or are forced to wear!) the official Team Crusade T-shirt. I have chosen a bright yellow color for the past eight years of training the team.  I may be vetoed this year, but, nevertheless, the shirt in itself is a great source of pride. It shows what you have accomplished and have been willing to do to support the WHAS Crusade for Children.

We meet to train each Saturday morning at The Wellness Center, which is located at 750 Cypress Station Drive in St. Matthews.  The facility is just behind the Mall St. Matthews. We've found through the years that those who do best on the team are able to run at least one to two miles comfortably before they join the team so you've got plenty of time to get a jump on things. 

If you are interested, please send a letter no longer than one page giving us an idea of your current fitness routine and your reasons for wanting to be a part of the team. Include anything that you would like to mention about the Crusade, and send us a picture that you don't need back.  It doesn't have to be a great photo; it's just a way for us to keep track of who is who on the team. Trust me, any picture you send will look better than what you'll look like at the end of a run on very hot Saturday mornings.

Send the information and photo to:

Team Crusade
Attention: Tina Whitlock  
520 West Chestnut Street
Louisville , KY 40202

Please try to get those letters in by January 5.

Kirby Adams is the consumer reporter for Kentuckiana's News Channel WHAS-11 and a sports and fitness buff. You can e-mail Kirby at kirby.adams@whas11.com. Kirby is also a member of Kentuckiana HealthFitness' Editorial Advisory Board.

If you know of a little "gem" or a story you would like to share with our readers, drop me a note about it.

Kirby Adams
c/o WHAS-11 TV
P.O. Box 2588
Louisville , KY 40201