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It's a difficult week to embrace fitness and nutrition, given our thoughts of turkey and pumpkin pie. But if you can clear that hurdle, the N.C. Marathon's training schools can begin helping you get ready for the three races scheduled for March 20 in High Point.

Liz Lindsay, the owner of the Janes on the Run Women's Running Network and co-owner of Greensboro Fitness Co., is the training coordinator for the 5K, half-marathon and marathon in High Point.

"The goal of any participant should be to train safely for the event," Lindsay says. "Obviously we want people to get to the starting line as well as the finish line strong. So that's our goal. We want to help them take on the challenge of the event, whether it's the marathon, the half or the 5K, under the guidance of certified fitness trainers but with the support of fellow runners."

Lindsay is directing schools for each distance. The marathon school is 18 weeks and will cost $195; half-marathon training is 16 weeks for $175; and the 5K school is 10 weeks for $125. Lindsay says she will return a portion of the fees to Foster Friends of North Carolina, the race beneficiary.

Runners will receive customized training schedules for guidance during the week. Then the groups will meet on Saturdays, getting instruction on running technique, injury prevention, nutrition and cross training. "We'll talk about how things are going in training," Lindsay says, "then we run. We run, we run, we run."

Training for the 26.2-mile race is under way, but it's not too late to join the group, Lindsay says. Training for the half will begin Dec. 5, with 5K workouts starting Jan. 9.

Lindsay also says the Peaks to Piedmont Girl Scouts will take part in a running school on Saturday afternoons to prepare for the 5K.

To learn more about the training schools, call Lindsay at 402-3985 or visit the N.C. Marathon web site at www.NCMarathon.org

Mistletoe set for Dec. 5

Organizers of the Mistletoe Run in Winston-Salem have a riddle on their hands. The field for their fun run, 5K and half-marathon has doubled in the past two years, and they're not exactly sure why.

"We've had some running focus groups this year to try to get a handle on it," says Beth Hair, the race director for the event starting at the White Family YMCA on Dec. 5. "What about our race is different? The majority say it's a good, fun race, it involves families, and there are three different runs."

Hair is expecting up to 1,400 runners for the 5K and about 1,000 for the half-marathon in the Mistletoe's 26th year.

The 5K and half-marathon races will start and end in the same locations. The 5K course will loop through the West Highlands and Buena Vista neighborhoods. The half-marathon's rolling course will take runners on a beautiful route through the Graylyn estate and Reynolda Manor and onto the Wake Forest University campus before a return to the White YMCA.

Even with the recent price bump, registration (which includes a long-sleeved T-shirt) remains a good bargain at $35. On race day, it'll jump to $40.

The best treat comes at race's end, thanks to a new item on the post-race menu, chicken-and-rice soup from the Diamondback Grill. Owners Kimberly and Murphy Gregg will serve up 30 gallons of it.

Proceeds from the race go for scholarships to YMCA programs, Hair says, such as afterschool care, summer camps and senior swim lessons. Hair says the race has put $35,000 into the Y's budget each year.

The race still needs more volunteers. To learn more about the Mistletoe Run or to volunteer, email Hair at b.hair@ymcanwnc.org, call 721-2100 or go to central.ymcanwnc.org.

Contact Eddie Wooten at 373-7093 or eddie.wooten@news-record.com