By Jill Sperling

Smokers offered a different option for kicking the habit

Aug 15, 2015 | 7:46 AM

A unique fitness program will provide an opportunity for cigarette smokers to make healthier choices.

The Prince Albert Cooperative Health Centre will be starting an eight week session of the Learn to Run program for smokers at the end of August.

The program is based on one that was developed through the Lung Association of Nova Scotia. Several years ago respiratory therapist Donna Turner got in contact with the association to ask about running a similar program. She was then provided with training materials to start the program up in Prince Albert.

The program officially started, albeit slowly, in the spring of 2014.

“The first group we had was five participants and they were very enthusiastic,” said Turner, “The theory is that if you only even have one participant at any of your programs then you’ve helped that one person who will then tell people how they’ve been helped.”

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Turner said the challenge is getting interest in the program. She said smokers often feel that physical fitness is not something to add to their plate when they haven’t stopped smoking yet.

“That’s where it’s tricky because we want them to understand you don’t have to come and quit smoking, we want you to just start exercising and then over time you may then exchange that smoking for a more healthy habit of running or walking.”

Because many of the people joining the program have been fairly inactive Turner said the program starts people off slowly.

“People who smoke tend to feel that physical activity hasn’t been their primary focus over the years, so we do find that we need to go slow with anyone who starts the program.”

Learn to Run enlists the help of a podiatrist, physiotherapist, and dietitian to incorporate an education aspect before every run.

By the end of the program the expectation is that participants will be able to walk or run 5 km continuously.

The program has a cost of $30 per person to cover the costs of such things as a water bottle, running shirt and exercise manual.

Turner said the cost may be waived if it prevented someone from attending.

The upcoming Learn to Run session begins at 5 p.m. Aug 31st at the Co-operative Health Centre on 8th Street East. The program will run on Mondays until Oct 31st.

For more information on the course, contact Donna Turner by phone at (306) 953-6259 or by email at deturner@pachc.ca.

jsperling@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jnsperling