Running is free—running alone, that is. Finding a community of runners takes a little more effort. So, Lauren Lieske, coach and personal trainer at CrossFit Charlottesville, has been getting people to move together with a free track running series.
Hosted each Sunday on Charlottesville High School’s athletics field, the weekly event is open to the public no matter your skill level or experience. There’s no mileage prerequisite, says Lieske, and the workouts are broken into beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels.
“As a coach, I’ve found that a lot of people can be intimidated by running, and although they might be interested in starting, they aren’t quite sure how,” she says. “Fitness shouldn’t have barriers.”
While the track series began at CrossFit Charlottesville, Lieske was determined to bring it to members and non-members alike. The trainer says she’s had up to 22 people attend any given weekend, and most folks find out about it through word of mouth. Aerobic training complements strength training, she says, and keeps your heart healthy and builds endurance.
“I enjoy watching people push themselves and do things they might not have thought they were able to do. Running alone versus running with others is a very different experience,” says Lieske. “At the end of the day, we’re just a group of people getting together to move and feel good and I want everyone to actually feel good.”
