“Doing a marathon is like having a baby,” confesses Cara Gabrielse, Littleton resident and parent at Front Range Christian School. “While doing it, all you can say is ‘Never again.’ But afterward, you find yourself looking forward to the next one.” Gabrielse is an unlikely champion for fitness. Having been a smoker for decades, she was transformed by the dedication of runners, their healthy lifestyle, and the rich community found in training. She now invites all residents of Southwest Metro Denver to participate in Commit to Get Fit in 2011, a community running program launched through Littleton's Front Range Christian School.

Commit to Get Fit 2011, which is open to the community, is a running program that encourages families to “get off the couch and lace up their running shoes.” Training in small groups, or “pods,” begins on January 1, 2011. Each pod will consist of people who are of similar fitness levels with common fitness goals. Pod leaders will meet with their groups weekly and, together, they will train toward either a 5k run/walk, 10k run/walk, half-marathon, or marathon. They will also have the chance to hear from speakers on various topics dealing with health and nutrition. Ron Alexander, Athletic Director at Front Range Christian, comments, “I think most people, at one point or another, have said, ‘Yeah, I’d like to do that, but I don’t have anybody to do it with.’ Well, this is their chance.”

Gabrielse’s motivation for launching the program comes from personal experience. Having smoked since high school, she didn’t believe a healthy lifestyle was in the cards for her. One day that changed. “We were at a beach resort near the finish line of the 1998 Honolulu Marathon,” she remembers. “Exhausted, bloodied, and broken bodies crossed the finish line. They were crying and the crowd was cheering. I remember thinking to myself, ‘These people are crazy. That settles it. I’ve got to do a marathon.’” On January 1, 1999, Gabrielse found a friend for her first workout. They walked around a local school track one time—and then went directly to Starbucks. The next week they did two laps. Over the months, they built up their endurance. She completed her first marathon in June of the same year.

Gabrielse has been encouraging people for years who don’t think they can get in shape. “More than 90% of running is mental,” she says. “What stops most people from getting active is the initial perception that they can’t do it.” She counsels those who are interested in a New Year’s resolution to get into shape, “Like any big project, break it down into small steps. And then find camaraderie in a group. Commit to Get Fit 2011 can provide just such accountability.”

Children and adults are encouraged to register for Commit to Get Fit 2011 on November 29 or December 15, 2010, at the Boulder Running Company (8116 W Bowles) in Littleton. Registrants will receive a long-sleeve tech training shirt, discounts on athletic apparel, and a customized training plan. Training culminates on May 1, 2011, at the Colorado Marathon in Fort Collins. For more information, go to mapmyrun.com and search for Front Range Christian School under Community > Groups.