Each year millions of Americans participate in road races across the country. The goal for some is simply to complete the distance, while others desire to improve their time, possibly setting their own personal record (PR) for the distance. The key to either goal is proper training. The following websites can provide you with the necessary information to design your own training program to help you attain your personal goals.

www.runnersworld.com is the website for Runner’s World, the most popular running magazine in the world, and is the source for a wide variety of training programs and training information.

Once you access the website, click on Training in the topic bar. The side column will list a variety of topics, including programs for beginners, programs for advanced runners, and programs for specific race distances such as the 5K, 10K, half-marathon, and marathon.  You can even develop a personalized training program by entering your recent race time and the race distance for which you are training.

Additionally, the website contains information on a host of other related topics, such as strength training for runners, running for all ages, running form and efficiency, and calculation of race pace.

www.tidewaterstriders.com is the website for the Tidewater Striders, a local Road Runners of America club, and has two sections with information on training.

Click on Training Articles for a wide variety of topics, such as  Beginners Guide to Running, How to Run Your First 5K, 3 Ways to Prevent Running Injuries, and 27 Ways to Run Better Every Day.

Click on Training for ERR, a training program developed for the Elizabeth River Run that is very applicable to the CHKD Run/Walk for the Kids 8K race. The Basic Training Program is designed for novice runners to complete the race distance either by running or a combination run/walk protocol. The Advanced Training Program is designed for those who currently are running 15-20 miles per week or more and who desire to improve their race time. Other sections include Training Tips for Runners and Tips for Weight Control.