MC program preps race runners

By Jane DeGeorge
Eagle Reporter
Published: June 12, 2008

During the summer of 1999, Syria resident Jean Link and her daughter, Seri, cleared their Saturday morning schedules. In preparation for the Charlottesville Women’s Four Miler, the two were determined to head down to Charlottesville each weekend and be off and running by 7:30 a.m.
But the early morning drive to attend the race’s training program proved to be a hassle for the Madison County residents. 

“I think we only made it two or three times,” said Link, who is now an avid runner, personal trainer and yoga and Pilates instructor.

This past year when the Syria resident decided to give the four-mile charity race another shot, Link started up a “satellite” training program in Madison County to save local participants the unnecessary trip.

The Charlottesville Women’s Four Miler – now in its 16th year – is the largest all-women’s event in Virginia (men are not allowed to participate). Proceeds from the race – which peaked last year at $230,000 – benefit the University of Virginia Cancer Center Breast Care Program.

The sheer magnitude of the gathering – last year 2,800 women participated – makes the 8 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 30 event unique.

“It’s all women – 2,800 women – that itself is powerful,” the Syria runner said. “It’s women supporting women, to get off the couch and go do something.”
Starting June 21, Link will join 20 other Madison County females from 7-8 a.m. each Saturday at various county locations to train together for the four-mile event. For the first three weeks, the group will meet and run or walk on the Madison County High School track.

Following these sessions, the women will train along four-mile routes in Graves Mill, Syria, Criglersville and the Hebron Valley-area.
The training program is designed for women ages 10 and older of all skill levels and abilities.

Although the program is open to walkers and previous running experience is not required, Link encourages those who have always believed that they hate running, to try it.

“If you’re already walking, it’s not a lot to lift your knees a little,” she said. “Once you get doing it, after that first mile – it’s easy. That first mile is the hardest. If you get past that mile and start doing it, it’s really empowering.”

Although there are some women who “run hard and fast and try to win,” the majority of the Madison County participants are focused on “just going out there to support the breast care program,” Link explained.

“We’re not really as competitive, we’re just trying to get out there and do something,” she said.

Some of the Saturday training sessions will also feature speakers and other offerings – including a mobile mammography unit, which will offer free screening mammograms in the Madison County High School parking lot.

If participants express interest, Link may expand the training program to include runs and walks during the weekdays as well, she said.
For information or to sign up for the Madison County training program – which costs $15 – contact Jean Link by calling (540) 923-4038 or e-mailing
.

For information or to sign up for the Charlottesville Women’s Four Miler race (which requires a separate registration), visit the event’s Web site at http://www.dominiondigital.com/womens4miler.

The schedule for the 2008 Madison County training program for the Charlottesville Women’s Four Miler is:

• 7:45 a.m. Saturday, June 14—kick-off of Charlottesville training program in Charlottesville at Klockner Stadium.

• 7 a.m. Saturday, June 21: kick-off of Madison County training program in Madison at the Madison County High School track, including speaker Cynthia Lorenzoni of the Ragged Mountain Running Shop.

• 7-8 a.m. Saturday, June 28—training at MCHS track.

• 7-8 a.m. Saturday, July 5—training at MCHS track.

• 7-8 a.m. Saturday, July 12—training along route in Syria.

• 7-8 a.m. Saturday, July 19—training along route in Graves Mill, including yoga and massage class provided by Jackie Howell of Mountain Wood Massage.

• 7-8 a.m. Saturday, July 26: training along route in Hebron Valley-area, including “the running doctor” speaker University of Virginia Associate Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Dr. Bob Wilder.

• 7-8 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 2—training along route in Syria, including women’s health speaker Deborah Mestar-Little of UVa Midlife Health Center.

• 7-8 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 9—training along route in Criglersville.

• 7-8 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 16—training at MCHS track, including a mobile mammography unit on site from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. (advance appointments required).

• 7-8 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 23—training at MCHS track.

• 8 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 30—race day at Foxfield Farm in Charlottesville.