It’s no secret: Americans have increasingly become sedentary and unhealthy. We tend to spend more time sitting than moving. Obesity rates are up and continue to grow (no pun intended). According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2010, 28.2 percent of the population in Illinois was obese — people with a body mass index (BMI) of more than 30, a number that continues to climb.

Medical insurance and prescriptions have increased with high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, heart disease, diabetes and more. The good news is many of these issues are preventable with exercise. No, you don’t have to become an Olympic athlete or bodybuilder. Simply by getting up and moving, you can make a huge difference. And it’s easy to get started.

Happy Feet
Good health through exercise all begins with a little education about the part of your body that’s going to set you in motion — your feet. As the assistant manager of The Running Depot in downtown Crystal Lake (aka “Chief Endorphin Pusher”), one of the most common things I hear is, “I do not run and I never intend to run — you can’t make me run.” No sweat! Our goal is simply to get people up and moving and enjoying the great outdoors in general.

Regardless of your workout of choice, we can all agree it all starts with comfortable feet. Without happy feet, we can become miserable and unmotivated. If we are wearing incorrect shoes, our ankles may become off kilter, which can throw off our knees, our hips, our pelvic floor, our lower back and more.  

In order to find the right shoe, a member of our staff or I watch you walk, determine which type of shoe best fits your gait, measure your feet for length and width, and then select a couple of pairs of shoes for you. You will try on several different pairs and test them out on an in-store treadmill until you find the pair that makes your feet happy.

A Group Effort
Workout partners help keep each other motivated and encourage one another to stay fit. The Running Depot hosts Fun Runs and Talk ‘n Walks every Saturday at 7:30 a.m. All fitness levels are encouraged to come out and run or walk together.

The last Saturday of every month is devoted to Adopt a Trail where walkers and runners clean up the bike path between Crystal Lake Ski and Bike (905a Pyott Rd.) and Rakow Road.

The groups enjoy running through Crystal Lake and the surrounding area. Neighborhoods are explored, trails are discovered, hills are conquered, lakes are circled and parks are appreciated. Not only do you meet new friends and see new things, you will gain the health benefits of moving. Refreshments and lots of chatting always follow these Saturday events.

Programs for All
The store’s BAm! I Can Run a 5K and BAm! I Can Run a Half Marathon training programs are designed for novice runners, newer to running or newer to running longer distances. BAm!’s motto is “No runner left behind.” The BAm! programs have helped more than 200 people cross the finish line in upright, vertical positions with a smiles on their faces.

The Running Depot also offers one-on-one coaching through a program called Fast Finish Coaching. A certified running coach will work closely with individuals to help them achieve their personal goals.

Whether you want to qualify for the Olympics or learn to run a 5K, there is a coach for you. This individualized program has been very successful in helping people run their best, reach their goals and stay healthy.

The coaches key in on every aspect of their clients, give clients tools to help prevent injury, create schedules that fit different lifestyles and make sure their clients are working to their full potential. 

Turning kids on to a lifelong love for running is important to The Running Depot. The Zephyrs program is a year-round program geared toward middle school students. These sessions ready the kids for cross-country or track and field, depending on the time of year. Camaraderie, self-esteem, teamwork, good running form and goal setting are some of the many lessons learned through Zephyrs. The certified coaches make this a fun, enjoyable time for participants.

>> The Running Depot is located at 30-E N. Williams St. in downtown Crystal Lake. For more, call 815-788-9755 or visit www.therunningdepot.com.