Building Steam Helps Build Stamina for the Steamboat Classic

In an age when everyone is becoming more and more health conscious, we learn very quickly that moral support is probably our biggest help to each of us in becoming successful. Doing things alone always makes things much harder, so when you're training for something that you have never done before in your life, it's always better to have someone there that will not let you give up so easily.

In the past six months, I came to the decision that I was going to start ticking things off of my "bucket list". For example, going back to school to get my bachelors, and running a 5k before I die. These are things that require work. You can't just go out and easily attain them. At least I can't! I talked to several friends and they all agreed that we would go ahead and just do it! We'd sign up to run "The Steamboat Classic" in Peoria, IL. I was a bit overwhelmed, because this race is four miles, not the 3.1 miles that is a 5k. More than that, I was hoping to train all summer and run my 5k in the fall. Not happening! The Steamboat is in June every year, which means even less time to train and prepare for such a huge feat.

Now I've always been out of shape. Always been deemed "fat". So I was going to need a lot of moral support. This is where "Building Steam" came into play. Beginning in April each year, Building Steam meets ever Wednesday night to train you and prepare you to run the Steamboat. The fee this year was $65.00. With that, you got a Building Steam T-Shirt, six weeks of training, your entry fee into the Steamboat Classic race, and a race T-Shirt. We figured this cost was well worth it!

This year, they were astonished at the amount of people that signed up to do Building Steam! They had over 500 people involved! The first week, we met together at the Riverplex in downtown Peoria. They talked about what Building Steam would do for us and how each week would go. The next week, we did a one mile time trial. After you finished your mile, your time reflected which training group that you should be in. My time? 12:23, so I was in the 12:30 per mile time training team. The pace seemed about right, but I was a little nervous that lasting at that pace for four miles. Each week, they challenge you and push you further. Being in a smaller group of people was fun! You got to know the trainers and your team mates. Your trainers even encouraged you to let them know if you were running other races, because they wanted to be there to support you. I also love that they have a medical professional there to help you with all of your aches and pains.

After we got into our group, the first week that we officially trained together, we ran two minutes and walked a minute for a total of 1.3 miles. The next week they pushed us to run three minutes and walk a minute for 3.1 miles. They ended up pushing us hard that week! The following week there was no walking. We ran for 2.77 miles without stopping. Mind you, I walked! I couldn't keep that pace for that long. I felt like I was going to die! Still, the trainers were right there along side of me not leaving me behind. They kept giving me tips and telling me I could do it! I feel like I'm a part of a family. Two of the trainers actually even went out to dinner with us after we trained one week.

Because of this, I have decided to run a 5k two weeks prior to the Steamboat Classic so that I have some race experience and so that I can run a shorter race as well.

Due to the help of Building Steam, I can now run 2 1/2 miles without walking! I love the support that I have gotten with them and I highly recommend this training group for anyone that is interested in running but doesn't know how to start! They have given me self confidence, support, and guidance that I never knew I had! I know that if I didn't have their help that there is no way I'd come this far and I now have the confidence to finish the race!