Every runner with an eye on one or more of the St. Pete Beach Classic races needs a training plan and training friends. Run Tampa supplies just that.
The Run Tampa Club
With 465 members, the Run Tampa Club offers many opportunities for group runs, destination races, coaching, and socializing.
The Run Tampa Club, founded by Debbie Voiles in 2011, is now directed by a dynamic leadership team with Coach Maria Williams as head coach. With a whole team on board, opportunities have been expanded, and the membership just keeps growing.
Group Runs
The friendly, diverse group offers three group runs each week On Saturday and Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings. The Saturday runs rotate locations, including two convenient to Pinellas County. Those runs are Safety Harbor, the third Saturday, and the Courtney Campbell Causeway Pedestrian Trail, the fourth Saturday.
The first Saturday they run on Davis Islands, and the second Saturday, they meet at Upper Tampa Bay Trail. Every Sunday they run Tampa’s Bayshore, leaving from Hyde Park Village, and Wednesday evenings they run from Hyde Park Village to the downtown Riverwalk.
Everyone Welcome
Everyone is welcome to all the runs, and they are unstructured, by design. Everyone falls in with whomever is going their pace, and distances are completely flexible.
Run Tampa Coaching Program
Head Coach Maria Williams offers track workouts at three locations.
The next session starts July 10th. Details here.
Destination Race
Just a few weeks ago, 65 Run Tampa members left their mark on Grandma’s Marathon and the Garry Bjorkland Half in Duluth, and in the fall they’re headed to Utah for the Big Cottonwood Half and Full.
Running Opportunities
Plenty of running opportunities for those training for the St. Pete Beach Classic. Visit their website at RunTampa.com, subscribe to their weekly newsletter, and join their 3,700 member Facebook group.
Coach Deb at 2016 St. Pete Beach Classic
Here’s some motivation from Coach Deb!
Runners need motivation to train every day – or least most days – and some days it’s easier than others. Check out these tips to keep you motivated all year:
- Post your running schedule in a prominent place. The refrigerator is a good spot. This helps you in two ways: You can’t escape it. It’s a constant reminder, but it’ll be helpful for the whole family to see it and know your plans.
- Hang a large calendar right next to it. Every day that you do what your schedule says, including resting/recovery days, put a big red X across the box for that day, creating a long, motivating chain of red X’s.
- Listen to a podcast about running. My Mojo for Running Podcast is a comprehensive one, addressing a different topic in each episode. If you’re just becoming a runner, listen to my Beginner Runner Podcast. I provide motivation and explain the smart way to train. The goal of both podcasts is to help you achieve your goal, and to that end, my #1 priority is to keep you healthy.
- Convince several friends to commit to doing the same race, and make a pact to meet to run together at least once each week. You’ll look forward to these days and the chance to compare notes about training.
…Like the St. Pete Beach Classic. (Register Now)
- Listen to a book while you run. Make sure it’s about a topic of great interest to you, or choose a suspenseful ‘page-turner,’ and only allow yourself to listen when you run.
Coaching Advice For Seasoned Runners
If you are are a runner and you want to:
- Build endurance
- Increase speed or
- Improve your health
Check out the FREE Mojo for Running podcast on
These episodes are filled with information that you can apply today.
Coaching Advice For Beginner Runners
Beginner runners, check out the Beginner Runner Village Podcasts and take your very first steps.
In these podcasts, Coach Deb presents easy to digest information and explain how to train wisely.