Well-known runner-writer Amby Burfoot has partnered with Final Surge to produce a first-of-its-kind interactive training program for beginning runners. The site, RunWithAmby.com, delivers individualized training plans and allows users to communicate directly with Burfoot for personalized support.
Where other running plans for beginners follow a one-size-fits-all format, the plans at “Run With Amby” are tailored to the user’s age, sex, weight, and current exercise routine, or lack thereof. This personalized approach virtually guarantees that beginning runners will succeed by being less likely to grow frustrated and quit.
“The individualized-plan approach has been used before for veteran runners,” says Burfoot, who has spent 40 years at Runner’s World magazine writing and designing training programs. “But as far as I know, it has never been used for beginners, who are the ones who really need it.”
All Run With Amby training plans follow a variation of the proven run-walk method, but each plan is different. Some plans begin with as little as 5 seconds of running at a time, but each plan reaches its conclusion when the user can run continuously for 30 minutes at a time. This may take anywhere from 8 to 24 weeks. According to worldwide medical and health organizations like the American Heart Association, running 30 minutes, three times a week is sufficient to gain major lifelong health benefits.
Run With Amby allows people just thinking about starting a running program to communicate with Burfoot before actually committing to, or paying for, a training plan. Then, after joining Run With Amby, all users gain access to a special message board where they can keep the exceptional communication going. “To begin running is an intimidating process for many people,” notes Burfoot. “The communication system built into RunWithAmby.com is as important as the training plans themselves.”
Run with Amby chose Final Surge because they have a strong reputation with top coaches and performance-oriented runners yet have the flexibility and ease of use critical to beginning runners. Also, Final Surge is extraordinarily powerful in supporting communication between coach and athlete, which is the backbone of Run With Amby. “We cannot overstate the value of making it easy and affordable for running legends like Amby to educate, motivate, and support the people just beginning their lifetime journey of benefitting from running,” says Coach Bob Butler, COO of Final Surge.
Run With Amby can be found at http://www.RunWithAmby.com
About Amby Burfoot
Amby Burfoot won the 1968 Boston Marathon and plans to run Boston again on April 16, the 50th anniversary of his Boston victory. He has finished the last five Bostons, as well as 55 consecutive Manchester 5-Miles on Thanksgiving Day. All told, Burfoot, now 71, has run about 110,000 miles in his life. He has a particular interest in beginning runners and the benefits of lifetime fitness. His new book, Run Forever: Your Complete Guide to Healthy Lifetime Running, will be available at online and retail bookstores March 27.
Team Final Surge
