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Smart Health: Want to train for the Flying Pig Marathon? Here’s how to get ready for your first time


By Kristen Mees
St. Elizabeth Healthcare

It’s that time of year in Northern Kentucky, training for the Flying Pig Marathon. You may be thinking, that you can’t even get off the couch, let alone run a marathon — there is a program just for you.

The couch to 5K is a running program designed with you in mind.

It can transform anyone from a couch potato to a runner.

Stacey McConnell, a certified Physical Therapist for St. Elizabeth Healthcare believes the couch to 5K program is the perfect program to get anyone started. He says, “This program could lead to a total lifestyle change. It isn’t expensive, it gets you moving and you can become part of a community of runners.”

3 Tips to Training for Your First 5K

Stacey offers some key tips for people interested in training for their first 5K.

1. Start slow – the key to avoiding injury is to start slow. Do not do too much too fast or you will take yourself out of the race before you begin.

2. Join a training group – training with others can keep you motivated to get to race day and provide you some coaching. Tri-State Running has training groups for different levels of runners for a small fee.

3. Make participation your goal – by registering for your first 5K you are giving yourself a goal—to finish and earn that race bib. The Flying Pig holds a 5K on May 5, which means training can start today.

Stacey is not only a Physical Therapist, but he is also a runner. He has produced a series of videos to help you run better and remain injury free.

If you’re a runner and you’d like to talk to or work with a physical therapist who understands running, call St. Elizabeth Edgewood Sports Medicine at (859) 301-5600 to schedule your appointment.

Stacey also performs video analysis of your running to create a plan to alter poor movements or suggest strengthening and stretching programs.


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