by Glen Korstrom
Northern News Services

NNSL (Apr 15/98) - As enthusiastic runners don track suits, buy new shoes and ready themselves for an endorphin rush, veterans say the best advice is to go slow.

Rushing into going too far, too fast could dampen the summer with a nagging strain.

But Easter weekend has kicked off springtime running, complete with many competitors wearing bunny ears.

"It was my first race since 1984," said Barry Zellen, who finished the bunny run in 24 minutes. "It was amazing."

But Zellen has been preparing for the running season on the treadmill three to four times a week the past few months, he said Monday after a run.

Many Yellowknifers made it to a Saturday distance-running workshop put on by 46-year-old Brian Borgford, who won Sunday's race with a time of 20.06 to better many racers years his junior.

"I drank heavily, smoked heavily and was overweight," said the fit and youthful-looking Borgford of his life before running. "I didn't think it was a good model for my sons."

First, Borgford quit smoking, then he lessened his drinking from heavy to social while starting to exercise.

Finally the four-year Yellowknife resident cut alcohol out of his system completely and has since added caffeine to that list -- except for the occasional dose of chocolate.

After getting in shape between 1982 and 1985, Borgford started racing competitively in 1991.

That first triathlon led to three more before the year was out, and by 1993 he was ranked in the top 10 triathletes in Canada. He competed in the 1993 world championships in Manchester England.

To help new runners, Body Works is starting a "Learn to Run" program which jogs from April 27 through June 17. Participants will get support and education, said body works director Terry Chang.

"The first week will be running for 30 seconds then walking for four and a half minutes. And we do that nine times," she said.

"Each subsequent week we'll increase the running by 30 seconds and decrease the walking by 30 seconds."

Chang, who has been running for 10 years and stepped up the amount about four years ago, said running helps with stress relief and weight loss.

Arctic Runners Club members and others can meet at Body Works each Saturday at 9 a.m. and are usually paired according to pace and distance.

Upcoming distance runs include a ski-run-ski event April 19 at the Yk Ski Club and a five-kilometre Mother's Day fun run on May 10.

The big race of the season is the Midnight Sun triathlon June 7 starting at the pool.