October is a big running road race time in the Eastern Panhandle. Oct. 10, is Freedom’s Run (marathon, half marathon, 10k, 5k and kid’s 1-mile) in Jefferson County and Oct. 17, is the 36th annual Apple Trample 5k in Berkeley County. These races provide an excellent opportunity right in our backyard to do your first 5k or rejuvenate your exercise program. Both events have become a tradition, community events that celebrate the history and heritage of our area. What better time to take on a personal challenge of running or walking your first 5k?

Running, jogging or walking in a road race can breathe new life into your exercise program or if you are not currently exercising, a race may be just the thing to get your off the couch. Races are a way to connect with others with a similar goal. Getting together on race day with a few hundred others with the same collective gal, to be health, can be very invigorating. There is excitement in the air. You can also get a group of your friends or family to participate together. Nothing like a good challenge to get everyone bonding.

The Wellness Center and Two Rivers Treads, in conjunction with a grant received by Healthy Berkeley: It’s Up to Us from Try This WV, are offering a 0 to 5k Training Program to help you train for you first 5k. The training program will give you the opportunity to get in shape, gain cardiovascular endurance, improve your running or walking form and/or improve your time so you are ready for your 5k. The program will be offered in two locations.

0 to 5k is open to all ages of novice and beginning runners or walkers. The program will focus on running/walking during each session with core and resistance work each week specifically designed to improve running and walking form and ability. Also, topics such as heart rate training, training plan, proper fueling, injury prevention will be addressed each week.

0 to 5k includes a t-shirt, weekly coaching sessions, group runs, 8-week training plan and instruction on running form and training. Participants can attend in either location. The fee for the program is $50. Children 13 and under are $10 with a paying adult. Scholarships are available. Funds from this program will go to help build trails in Berkeley and Jefferson County.

0 to 5k will be offered at Morgan’s Grove Park in Shepherdstown Tuesdays at 6:30pm Aug. 18 through Oct, 6 and at War Memorial Park in Martinsburg Wednesdays at 5:30 Aug, 26 through Oct. 14,.

For more information or to sign up for 0 to 5k at War Memorial Park, call 304-264-1287, ext. 31814 or email ddejarnett@wvuhealthcare.com. For Morgan’s Grove location, call 304-876-1100 or email trt.diana@outlook.com or go to Two Rivers Treads store in Shepherdstown.

For more information on the Apple Trample or to register, go to www.appletrample.com. For more information on Freedom’s Run or to register, go to www.freedomsrun.org.