Free program from Tanner, West Georgia Track Club transforms walkers into 5K runners 

Sometimes the first step in becoming more physically active — is just to take a step. Group fitness has have helped many people find the motivation and inspiration to become more physically active and do things they never thought they could do. Together, with experienced trainers, people can make friends and find fellowship with others who are out to achieve similar fitness goals. 

That’s the driving force behind the free Move It Mondays program from Tanner Health System’s Get Healthy, Live Well and the West Georgia Track Club — bring people together and help them achieve fitness goals they never thought possible. Move It Mondays is an eight-week program designed to turn walkers into joggers. The program helps participants add distance and increase their pace over the course of eight weeks while experienced runners offer encouragement and motivate participants along the way. The program can help even the most casual walker pick up the skills and improve his or her fitness to run a 5K over Move It Monday’s eight weeks. 

“We are so excited to start another session of Move It Mondays alongside Tanner Health System’s Get Healthy, Live Well,” said Sarah Matthews, membership director at West Georgia Track Club. “This program is designed for all – whether you are just starting out and want to get to a point where you can walk three miles, trying to go from walking to jogging three miles, or aiming to run faster for longer.” 

Tara Barronton of Carrollton has gone through the program twice and is returning for another round in March. Not only has Move It Mondays given her the opportunity to meet new friends and socialize with old ones, she has also lost 15 pounds in the process. 

“They put you in groups so that you’re running with people that run around the same pace that you do, and then each week, they give you homework assignments,” Barronton said. 

Those assignments may include walking or running certain days of the week. 

“They give you a really good progressive program and I need the accountability,” said Barronton, who is no stranger to 5Ks and half marathons. 

She appreciates that coaches are available to help keep participants on track whether they want to go from walking to jogging or improve their race times. 

“I love the track club and the motivation, and the fact that they really get to know each person individually,” she said. 

The next session of Move It Mondays will kick off with a meet-and-greet on March 11 at 5:30 p.m. in Classroom 4 at Tanner Medical Center/Carrollton, located at 705 Dixie Street. The event is an opportunity to meet the coaches and experienced runners from the West Georgia Track Club and the staff from Get Healthy, Live Well who will help participants pick up their pace.

Regular sessions will begin the following week, March 18, at 6 p.m. on the walking trail at Tanner Medical Center/Carrollton. Coaches and participants will gather on the walking trail across from the hospital’s Clinic Avenue Parking Deck, adjacent to the emergency department. 

The program is a great opportunity to start training for West Georgia Track Club’s inaugural Carrollton Half Marathon, planned for Saturday, Sept. 7. More information about registering for the half marathon is available at runcarrollton.com. 

If you are already a 5K or 10K runner, sign up for Fourth Annual West Georgia Track Club Road Race that will be held Saturday, March 9. Visit westgeorgiatrackclub.org to register online. To register for Move It Mondays, visit tanner.org/moveitmondays.

For more information, contact westgeorgiatrackclub@gmail.com. The program, offered at no cost to participants, is part of Get Healthy, Live Well’s efforts to promote a healthy lifestyle and prevent chronic disease for residents in Carroll, Haralson and Heard counties.