Whether you need to shed newly acquired baby weight or simply want to live a healthier lifestyle, Cabot’s Women Can Run/Walk Clinic is an opportunity to get moving and meet some great people in the process.

The statewide Women Can Run/Walk clinics began in Conway in 1997 and quickly expanded to 30-plus cities around the state. At each local clinic, veteran runners lead groups designed for all abilities from those just beginning to walk for exercise to experienced runners. After 10 weeks of hard work, clinic participants from around the state gather in Conway for a 5K (3.1 miles) race, which will be held this year on May 7.

Any female age 12 and older can participate in a clinic, and the 5K has a special category for mothers and daughters participating together. According to the Women Run Arkansas website, “It is an inspiring race, with some runners and walkers completing their first competitive event, while participants from previous clinics and races return to compete and cheer on their sister athletes.”

While running and walking can provide recreation, calorie burn, and stress relief, their benefits are not simply physical. According to Jane Gunter, co-director of the Cabot clinic, “The Women Can Run/Walk clinics not only provides a proven method of training, but we also offer support and encouragement to women. Many times, ladies make lifelong friends through the clinic.”

This has been the case for Shelia Hulsizer, who first participated in the Cabot clinic in 2007. Having recently lost weight, Hulsizer wanted to start some form of exercise and signed up for the clinic, not knowing it would change her life. In 2008, she participated in the beginning runner group and “put one foot in front of the other and slowly increased my distance, walking for a minute, running three minutes, and over the course of the clinic, running a 5K.”

Since then, she has run several 5Ks, a 10K (6.2 miles), a 20K (12.4 miles), and five half-marathons (13.1 miles). Hulsizer is planning to run her first marathon in December. She says, “I have met some fabulous ladies and have made friendships with many. Had I not gone to that Women Can Run/Walk clinic back in 2008, our paths probably would have never crossed. I cannot imagine my life without these dear friends who are so inspirational to me.”

The Cabot clinic, now in its sixth year, is one of the largest in the state with more than 300 women signing up for the 2010 clinic and 131 participating in the 5K. Women wishing to participate in the clinic, which is free, can register online at ArkansasRunner.com/Women/WCR.htm.

Orientation and further registration will be held from 2-3:30 p.m. Feb. 27 at the Cabot High School Fieldhouse. The Cabot clinic will begin at 6 p.m. Feb. 28, also meeting at the Fieldhouse the first night. For mmore information contact clinic co-directors Vicki Ingram at VickiIngram@Suddenlink.net or (501) 941-8715 or Jane T. Gunter at JTGunter@Suddenlink.net or (501) 259-0646.