A Brief History...
The Adult Running Program got its start over ten years ago, when one of our club members, Barb Kletzke, who had
just started running shortly before, asked Dennis Novak, our then club President, if our club could put on a
beginning running class. Dennis could also see the need, but there just wasn’t anyone willing to take on this
project. But Barb was persistent, and kept the bug in his ear for the next several years.
In the mean time, I had been to at least two "Coaching the Coaches" seminars at the annual Road Runners Club of
America conventions, when the format was changed to its current one of being a coaching certification course.
Since the memory of Dennis asking for someone to teach a class had been bouncing around in my head for a number
of years, I took the course again. The knowledge gained from that class, and an informal convention lunch session
on some pioneer beginning running programs throughout the country, gave me the confidence to propose the Beginning
Running Program to our Road Race Committee (RRC) in November of 1998.
With Dennis’ encouragement, the RRC passed the proposal.
March of 1999 brought the first class to Hart Park's Muellner building in Wauwatosa. Because there was such a
pent-up demand for a class like this, we were inundated with 124 participants, including Barb. And without the
help of about a dozen other volunteers, who acted as mentors during the class, it would not have been a success.
(Now we regularly get 65 participants each year.)
In fact, since there was such a large group of runners in that class who had been running as long or longer than
Barb (some for up to 20 years), I got the idea to create a class for non-beginners – Intermediate Running, where
the emphasis would be on increasing your speed in races.
And while trail running with my wife, she suggested that I should also create a Trail class. One that would provide
all of the info and training needed to make the transition from the roads.
So 2000 brought two additions to the schedule, Intermediate, with almost 60 participants and 5 volunteers, and
Trail with usually a dozen and three or four volunteers. Those additions seemed to complete the program - or did
they?
Intermediate, in its short six weeks, gives one a flavor for what is needed to get faster. Plyometrics are
demonstrated and practiced, race strategy was mentioned, and hill, fartlek, and interval methods are run. But still,
there was something missing. Some in the class are training for short distance, and others, marathons. While the
class does help many, it doesn’t specifically target them and their goals.
So, fast forward to 2003, and the trial running of an Advanced class. In this class we could make use of heart
rate monitors to specifically tailor a program for short, medium, or long distance racing, and carry it through
to the goal race. So, instead of running in groups like the other programs, everyone is running based on their
heart rate. And the strength-in-numbers group setting makes it much easier to practice. That was also a success,
with many running faster than they had in years, or even setting PR’s.
So, 2004-5 brings on the addition of both a summer and winter Advanced session, with the Winter session being
geared mostly towards marathoners looking for a fast time in Spring.
My thanks to all those participants and volunteers who help make these classes possible!
Marty Malin
Adult Running Program Director
414-453-7326
