Greenfield resident Laura Townes has been an avid runner since she was a teenager. In the past, she has completed two marathons and countless other road races.
Running is one of her passions. But when her life got full balancing a family and her career, she let running fall by the wayside. Over the years, Townes says she tried several times to resume a regular running practice but wasn’t successful. She couldn’t make it a habit.
“The hardest part of running is getting started and building the base of fitness,” Townes said.
As a way to motivate herself, Townes recently formed a women’s running group for those who have never run before and for runners who want to get back into it after taking time off.
“Forming this group was a way to find others who share the same goal as me and are committed to doing it at the times I can. Plus, I’m turning 51 this summer and staying healthy is important to me,” Townes said. “It’s all about the camaraderie, a structure for success and new friends.”
The Greenfield Women’s Couch to 10k Walk/Run Group is a free, 14-week training program intended to prepare participants for a 10k road race. This year, the group is training for the Reebok Boston Women’s 10k event on Oct. 14.
Since July 15, the group has met every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 6 a.m. and Saturdays at 6 or 7 a.m. There are 46 members of the group on Facebook, but they have 8 to 14 runners show up on any given morning. On the weekdays, they meet at Beacon Field and warm up on the grass. Then they either run around the circumference of the field or on the streets.
They go to Highland Park on Saturdays for a longer run.
More than a physical regiment, “We’re cultivating mental toughness. The discipline first to show up, and then the discipline to push a little up a hill or until the next walk break, whatever it is. It’s training for life,” Townes said.
The results speak for themselves.
Lisa Snow-Woodall, a local fitness aquatics instructor, says she used to run track in high school but struggled to keep up the habit later in life. A year ago, Snow-Woodall says she tried to start running again on her own but had to stop and walk after a few minutes.
“When you start to get older, you struggle with fitness and struggle to stay in shape,” Snow-Woodall said.
She joined the Couch to 10k Walk/Run Group to get back into better shape and says she has since made new friendships. Since joining the group, Snow-Woodall says she can now run 2 miles without stopping.
“I really enjoy working out with this group of women and see that I’m not alone on this journey,” Snow-Woodall said. “We’re supporting each other and encouraging everyone to come. It’s great to be a part of something positive when there’s so much negativity around.”
Amanda Viles, a part-time teacher, says she’s new to running. Before joining the group, Viles says she kept up a basic fitness routine that included walking, going on bike trails and practicing yoga.
When she moved to Deerfield recently, “I never really took the time to find a community or any other fitness (activity),” Viles said. “I realized I needed to start moving. I wasn’t doing anything and was having a hard time being consistent.”
Going in on the first day, Viles says she was nervous and felt she couldn’t do it. The group has helped her gain confidence. Now, Viles says she is committed to running.
“For the first time ever, I can visualize myself as a runner and it’s something that is going to stay. I can see myself at the end goal,” Viles said.
For Maureen Gamlin, the oldest runner at 55 years old, the group has provided much-needed camaraderie. Gamlin says she was a relay runner in high school and joined the Air Force after that, which helped her stay in shape. But after she left the service, got married, had three children and went back to school for a new career, things changed. Now, she’s trying to reclaim her former fitness routine.
“There are different takes on this. Misery loves company and camaraderie. It makes you hold yourself to a higher standard and stay accountable. Women lifting other women up,” Gamlin said. “You can start running at any point in your life, but you have to want to. Finding other like-minded people is a great way to get motivated.”
Gamlin says the 6 a.m. runs are sometimes difficult to make, but the company is great. And while she still struggles to make running routine, the group makes it easier.
“The biggest reward is the company of other women and sharing our success at the start of the day,” Gamlin said, noting, “We are thankful to Laura for starting this group, along with her enthusiasm and knowledge.”
The women’s running group is open to any woman who wants to join, either locally or remotely. To find more information, go to Facebook and search “Greenfield Women’s Couch to 10k Walk/Run Group.”
Miasha Lee is a resident of Hatfield. She loves writing about music, health, culture and everyday people in the community. Contact her at miashalee2@gmail.com.