Go From The Couch to Completing A 5K With Help From The Greater Framingham Running Club

Thinking of running a 5K? Don't have any idea where to start?

The Greater Framingham Running Club is launching a Couch-to-5K (C25K) program.

It starts Saturday, March 19 and will meet every Saturday, with the goal of participants running the Annual Framingham Police Chase for a Cure on Saturday, May 21. The Police Chase 5K, a 3.1 mile race, benefits the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network.

The 8-week program will be staffed by supporting coaches and mentors from the Greater Framingham Running Club. Runners, and walkers, of all experience, are invited to participate. The cost is $50.

Included in the fee is an eight-week training plan, a goody bag with products to get participants started, an exclusive C25K t-shirt, a one-year of membership in the Greater Framingham Running Club, and entry into the race.

The program will include organized runs/walks on Saturday mornings at 8.

The Greater Framingham Running Club has almost 300 members, of all ages and abilities, who run on roads, trails, and tracks.

The Club runs the Framingham Summer Track series at Bowditch Field.

It also hosts a trail race called the Busa Bushwhack, honoring Club member Rich Busa, who is a nationally-recognized trail and snowshoe runner.

Members of the Greater Framingham Running Club, who are not running the Boston Marathon, staff the clock-watching stations along the marathon route.

To register email Kendra Howard at Kendrahowie@yahoo,com or visit the Greate rFramingham Running Club's website at www.gfrcrun.org

Running has several physical and mental health benefits.

But running may not be for every person, so check with your physician before beginning a program.

Running can:

• Prevent muscle and bone loss
• Fight diseas
• Reduce risk of stroke, heart attacks and some forms of cancer, specifically breast cancer.
• Lower blood pressure
• Raise good cholesterol
• Relieve stress
• Build confidence