Issue link: http://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/799833
RUN FOR IT A WORKOUT THAT WORKS SPRING IS HERE, AND YOU ARE READY FOR A NEW FITNESS CHALLENGE. WHY NOT USE THE GO MYWAY ONLINE HEALTH TOOL TO PREPARE FOR YOUR FIRST 5K? RUNNING IS A wonderful form of cardiovascular exercise, but if you jump in with both feet after a long layoff, or with no experience, it can lead to injury. The Couch to 5K training plan provides an introduction to running while also giving you a goal to strive for: completing your first 3.1-mile (or 5 kilometer) race. GO myWAY now offers a two-week Couch to 5K workshop designed to help you hone your form and build your stamina through incremental workouts. By the end of the workshop, you should be ready to run a 5K—and there are plenty of local races to choose from this spring, including the SpringFest 5K in Chippewa Falls on April 29 and the Eau Claire 5K Run/Walk on May 7. While you get ready to race, use GO myWAY to track other aspects of your health, such as steps, meals, water intake, blood pressure, and cholesterol. When you cross the finish line, better health—not to mention a memory you are sure to treasure—will be your reward. Ready to start training for your race? Take the first step and sign up for GO myWAY at gochippewavalley.com. IF YOU'RE CONSIDERING A NEW EXERCISE ROUTINE, KEEP THESE TIPS IN MIND. EVERYONE BENEFITS FROM physical activity, and it's never too late to start. If you're new to exercising, however, it's best to ease yourself into it. Not only is this approach safer but it also makes you more likely to keep it up. "Start low and go slow," says Vicki Vande Zande, MD, internal medicine physician with Prevea Cornell Health Center. "Set goals that are realistic for you to reach, and if something hurts, back off and do slightly less." Men over 45 and women over 55, or anyone with serious medical concerns, should always speak to their primary care physician before beginning a new exercise regimen. Programs and apps like Couch to 5K, which gradually eases participants from walking to running, provide a plan designed to incrementally build stamina and develop a regular routine. "If you can find something you enjoy, you're more likely to continue," Dr. Vande Zande says. "The benefits are numerous—decreased risk of cardiovascular issues and some cancers, as well as feeling better overall." If you can't fit five 30-minute workouts into your week, break your activity into smaller sessions. It doesn't matter what you're doing, as long as you're moving. Talk to your doctor before starting any new exercise. Don't have a primary care doctor? Visit sacredhearteauclaire.org or stjoeschipfalls.org. 3 S A C R E D H E A R T E A U C L A I R E . O R G