Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/854584
10 LIVE IT UP! FRIDAY, JULY 28, 2017 SANTA CRUZ SENTINEL F leet Feet, which has local stores in Aptos and Mon- terey, has a variety of walk and run training programs. ese include the 10-week-long New Boundaries, which is non- competitive, very supportive and geared to beginners. Participants meet twice a week, on Tuesday nights and Saturday mornings. ose who register for New Boundaries are encouraged to work towards a goal of participating in their first 5K race. For example, a training from April through June cul- minated in some participants doing a June 18 "Superhero Race." ere are lots of seniors who participate in New Boundaries; it is a progressive program with clinics to ensure safety. "You can use any mode of move- ment: walk, run/walk or run," says Head Coach Melani Amaris. "All body types and levels of fitness are welcome. It is a great way to see the community and make new friends while you increase your fit- ness," Amaris adds. Seniors comprise over half of each NB training group. e oldest participant Amaris has worked with since she began coaching the program is an 83-year-old Soquel woman who has completed the 10- week training group three times. Amaris loves training with seniors. "ey bring a sense of community," she says. "When they decide to be a part of something, they make it personal and give one hundred percent to their success and the success of others. e Fleet Feet community would not be the same if not for the many seniors that frequent our groups." Amaris has been Head Coach of New Boundaries, formerly No Boundaries, since 2010. rough early 2017, this was a nationwide Fleet Feet program sponsored by New Balance. "New Balance stopped sponsoring, but it was so popular at Fleet Feet Aptos that they kept the program and re- named it New Boundaries, with Melani continuing to inspire the participants," says longtime attend- ee Marianne Franks. It's clear that Amaris is excellent at what she does: From the entire pool of coaches at Fleet Feet stores throughout the US, Amaris was awarded the New Balance National Coach of the Year in 2015. Soon aer joining Fleet Feet, Amaris created the clinic series. Clinics include Good Form, Goal Setting, Nutrition/Hydration, Injury Prevention and Race Ready. "At our Tuesday sessions we are all together," Says Amaris. "We emphasize form and work on our speed. Saturday sessions we call the LSD (Long Slow Distance) with an emphasis on building our endurance." Athletes self-select pace groups, and Amaris and other coaches and mentors par- ticipate among the groups to ensure "no athlete is ever le behind." At the beginning of training cycles, each group learns they can earn beads for attendance and sTrEngThEn yoUr sTrIdE wITh FLEET FEET–EVEn IF yoU'rE noT an aThLETE B y t a r a F a t e m i W a l k e r p h o t o B y m e l a n i a m a r i s p h o t o C o n t r i B u t e D