Doctors Hospital of Manteca (DHM) employees are helping kick off the Ripon Manteca Moves Training Team inaugural event at 7:15 a.m. Saturday that departs the Food 4 Less parking lot on Spreckels Avenue.
DHM Business Development staffer Kelly Carpo said the hospital administrators saw an opportunity to promote the health of community residents. They will be training for the upcoming Rina’s Run in Ripon on May 13.   
“We’re here to help with your New Year’s resolutions —  train for a 5K to a half marathon,” said Mike Mason who is promoting the program.
Some 115 potential runners/walkers  are planning to show up for the Saturday morning gathering.  On Saturday the workout will consist of a low level walk to introduce the group to the program and to each other as they move together down the Tidewater Bikeway, according to trainer Shirley Nutt. 
It consists of an 18-week training program with a monthly scheduled  calendar consisting of two group workouts each week – one in Ripon on Thursday and the other in Manteca on Saturday.  There are multiple training levels walking and running and beginner to experienced levels with mentor support. The ratio of coach to participant is 5 to 1 with RRCA certified coaches. 
The program’s mission is to promote a healthy lifestyle through education, safety, and wellness activities that give back to the local communities and charitable organizations.
Educational seminars in the program include Injury Prevention, Nutritional/Hydration, Shoe Fitting, Foot Care/Blister Care and Run/Walk Safety.  A fee of $80 includes one person’s membership and a shirt over four months.   There are also discounts for Shadow Chase Running Club members, Doctors Medical Center and Doctors Hospital of Manteca employees as well as W.E.L.L. members.
Those signing up for memberships on Saturday will be included in the list of charter family members in the group.  For additional questions, email RiponMantecaMoves@comcast.net or on Facebook go to Facebook@RiponMantecaMovesTrainingTeam.

To contact Glenn Kahl, email gkahl@mantecabulletin.com.