Week one has just begun. Fourteen more to go until the July 14 Charlie Melvin 5K walk/run
For Renee Droessler, she’s aiming to run. After four years of walking the midnight event, Droessler said this is the year she’s going to make a lifestyle change and start exercising. The Charlie Melvin is her excuse for making it happen.
“The Charlie Melvin has always intimidated me,” she said. “I just never felt I could be a runner again.” Even in the dark of night.
But with the help of friends, and strangers, Droessler feels this year will be different.
Droessler joined about 20 others Saturday morning for an hour of walking around the track at Allen Community College as well as listening to health tips and words of encouragement from organizers of the three-month fitness program, sponsored by Thrive Allen County.
Helping with the Saturday morning sessions is Shandy Wrench, who from personal experience can testify that it takes both exercise and a change in diet to effectively lose weight and keep it off. Wrench, 32, weighed more than 360 pounds only six years ago. Today, she’s trim and can run a mile in under 7 minutes.
“In high school, I could run the mile in 14 minutes,” she says with a hint of satisfaction of how the aging process is not holding her back.
DROESSLER, 40, said she ran track in high school.
But today? “I probably couldn’t jog 500 feet,” she said. “But already, being with this group of people, helps me feel motivated. I lost that motivation when exercising by myself.”
The longer days also will help Droessler add exercise to her evenings. She heads out of her home early, commuting to Osawatomie each day where she works in medical records at the state hospital. That puts her home each evening about 5:30.
Walking around the circle of her neighborhood on North Walnut Street is a half-mile. Her neighbor, Nancy Ford, is always a willing partner, Droessler said, which will help the effort.
FOR THOSE wanting to join the Saturday morning group call the Thrive office at 365-8128. Participation is free. The group meets next at Riverside Community Building.
