Beginning Running Class

We live in a valley full of amazing athletes. As such, getting involved in endurance sports here can be quite daunting. Clients often tell me they "could never do that" after asking me about a run or race. The thing is, I didn't always run long distances or look the part of a long distance runner. A wise Physical Therapist often says, "you get good at what you do." I couldn't agree more. I started running to exercise my dog in high school, and over the next fifteen years, became a runner. While running is simple, there is still an element of finesse and technique. Like learning to play a musical instrument or a language, learning a new sport takes instruction, time and practice to engrain new pathways in the brain and thereby, the muscles. There are a few cues that can be the difference between feeling energized by a jaunt on the trail and exhausted, worked over, and achey.

Learning to activate stabilizing muscles 

Starting Monday the 11th, I'm teaching a six-week class to learn how to run so that you feel good or even better when you are done than when you started. It's possible, believe it or not. Because the class focuses on technique and core work, it's perfect for people who have always wanted to start running; people who ran in previous lives but haven't been able to recently; or people who run now but want to feel better when they do. This is not a class to see how fast or far you can run. If you're interested in joining in, call Winthrop Fitness at 996-8234. We'll go from 5:15-6:30 at the gym. Feel free to email me with any questions. I hope to see you there!

Spring Training Group

It's time to start training! I'm doing another running class at Winthrop Fitness this spring. Since the Rattler provides an early season race, I thought we'd start earlier in the year so people can use the class to build up their training for the event, or just get a head start on the upcoming running season.

There will be two different sessions, one for beginners and one for more advanced athletes. Both will focus on learning more efficient technique on different terrain and incorporating certain workouts into your own training. The advanced class will work on these things while running, while the beginning class will have more drills and instruction without continuous running.

Training goes from 5:15 to 6:30 on Mondays for beginners, and Wednesdays for the advanced group. We'll meet at Winthrop Fitness for the first couple of sessions, then head to different trails as snow allows. The cost is $95 for eight weeks. The fun begins Febuary 25th and Febuary 27th. Call the gym at 509.996.8234 to sign up. Questions? Email me at alison(at)methowendurance.com. Come run with me!

Holiday Technique Sessions

As the snow starts to accumulate in the Methow and surrounding areas, it's not surprising that folks are getting excited about Nordic skiing and spending their winter days cruising through beautiful forests.

Methow Endurance coach Sam Naney will again be available during the winter holidays to provide private technique sessions for aspiring skiers to hone their abilities. Whether you are an accomplished skier looking to fine-tune your form, or a never-ever beginner who just wants to have the capability to move on snow without completely thrashing yourself to exhaustion, a private lesson is the perfect way to condense Sam's extensive skiing knowledge into a beneficial dose of learning for you. Choose either an hour or two-hour session in classic or skate technique, or take on both! Either way, Sam's coaching experience is sure to get you moving down the trail with greater ease and more enjoyment.

One private session is $55, or bring a friend or two for a semi-private session for $25 per person. Contact Sam at 509-996-3222 or samuel.naney(at)gmail.com to arrange your session. Make the most of your winter!

Run with Ease!

Join me in learning to run more relaxed and minimize injury. Working in conjunction with your body's natural inclinations, I will show you through technique work, video analysis, running specific drills, and core strength, how to bring more ease to this lifelong sport.  This is NOT a fast run group. No prior running experience is needed to gain from this. All levels are encouraged to join, though to maximize personal attention and ensure proper form, class size is limited to 12.


Classes will be held at Winthrop Fitness on the following Mondays: April 16, 23, and 30 from 5:30-6:30pm. The cost is $45 for all three classes. Call Winthrop Fitness to sign up: 509. 996. 8234.