Professor forms training group

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - Next weekend nearly 100 runners and walkers from Purdue University will lace up their shoes for the annual OneAmerica Indianapolis 500 Festival Mini-Marathon in Indianapolis.

When Kristen Wilde started running just a year ago, she did so on her own. But this year she is working out along with nearly 100 other Purdue University students and staff as a part of a mini-marathon training program developed by Purdue professor Wayne Campbell.

"As soon as they got the website up and running I got on the message boards and a couple of us now run routinely after work," Wilde said.

Professor Campbell created the group that at first, included just a few people.

"When I found a core group of people who were going to walk it then it gave me a real good marketing tool for other people join," Campbell said.

Through word of mouth and Campbell's persistence, the group grew to include nearly 100 runners and walkers from the Department of Health and Human Sciences.

"This is for faculty and staff and their families and friends. The people who are participating in this from the college are in their twenties all the way up into their sixties," he said.

With the help of the department, a website and training program were created to help keep everyone on track.

"We have training programs, we have groups that are getting together for group exercise but mostly it's just a matter of having some fun while we're getting in shape and having something to do this spring," he said.

Kristen Wilde has been so inspired by the training she is setting her sights on an even bigger goal.

"One of my goals for next year or so is to actually try to train for a full marathon," Wilde said.

She said the mini-marathon will get her one step closer to that finish line.

The OneAmerica Indianapolis 500 Festival Mini-Marathon is next Saturday, May 7th in Indianapolis.