Marathon Training Program Comes to Area

Danielle Feltman practically has marathons in her blood.

“I was exposed to running my entire childhood," she said. "My dad was a marathon runner. He’s run 32 marathons, so as I grew older that was a way I could spend time with my dad.”

But even this strong marathon connection wasn't enough when she was looking for a personal marathon training program.

Feltman, a veteran of two New York Marathons and six triathlons, was looking for a training program for herself, but found when she moved to Newtown from Texas in 2008 that none existed in Fairfield County.

“My running suffered,” said Feltman. “In Texas, I ran a running group, and that’s how I trained for my first marathon. I definitely saw the benefits of running with a group — having the support, the motivation and the training plan.”

Feltman’s next step was to contact the Roadrunners Club of America, which in turn hooked her up with the Hartford Marathon Foundation.

As part of the Hartford Marathon Foundation, Feltman will now bring a formalized marathon training program to Fairfield County.

Hartford Marathon Foundation paired Feltman with another Fairfield County resident, Carrie Johnson. The two coaches and their group will meet Saturdays at Wilton High School at 6:30 a.m. starting June 25.

“We found a great area,” said Feltman about the training course. “It’s a big uphill for almost a mile and then you get to the running route and then you get the mile back down. It’s a really pretty area. We found a really safe course.”

The price for the 16-week session is $195 and includes entry to the Hartford marathon on Oct. 15.

“We give them a full marathon plan — a training plan — and this is what they’re going to need to do each week in order to accomplish their goal," Feltman said. "We explain to them what the course is that day, the route, the distance that we’re going, where the water stops are, what to look out for. We review safety with them and then they have a plan of what they’re going to run that day as well as in the upcoming week.”

Feltman said because the group will potentially attract runners of all levels and experience, the marathon plans can be adapted based on the needs of the individual.

“If runners have different concerns or physical issues, we tweak the plan," she said. "If they’re not able to commit to running five days a week, we tweak it for that. If they’re looking to run a faster time, we tweak the plan for that. We have an advanced plan and a beginner plan. Some people are looking to qualify for Boston (the Boston Marathon) and it’s got a strict time limit. Some people are just looking to finish their first marathon.”

Aspiring marathoners can find more information and sign up for the program at www.hartfordmarathon.com.

“Anything is possible,” Feltman said, referring to novice runners. “If you can walk to your mailbox, the next day you can run to your mailbox. The next day you can walk to the end of the street. The day after that you can run to the end of the street. You will see progress. It happens very quickly.”