If your clothes are feeling a little tight after the holidays and you’re considering a New Year’s resolution to eat healthier and shed a few pounds in 2009, Kim Barnes has a challenge for you.

She’ll be the coach of a new 40-week wellness program in Vicksburg called Marathon Makeover, and she said the program can slowly transform even the biggest couch potato into a marathon runner — starting simply by walking.

“The program is designed for anybody, and it’s not an elite or intensive running group. It’s really more of an endurance training program,” said Barnes, a nurse at The Family Medicine Clinic. “Each week we have an educational class on a different topic and we work our way up to being in shape for a marathon, starting with walking a mile.”

An informative, kick-off meeting for people interested in joining Marathon Makeover will on Jan. 10 at the YMCA at 10 a.m. Barnes got involved with the program in Jackson two years ago, when she was turning 40 and resolved to get into shape. Although she had been a soccer player in high school, she hadn’t regularly exercised since then due to what she calls “gymphobia.”

“I needed something that was not in a gym; something that I could do outside,” she said. “Every time I made a benchmark — when I could run five miles and finally hit double digits and then 15 miles — it was amazing to think that I had accomplished that. It’s really an exhilarating experience, and you think ‘if I can accomplish that, what else can I accomplish in my life.’”

After signing up, Barnes said she had her doubts about actually running a marathon. However, she completed her second full marathon — 26.2 miles — in five hours and five minutes in Chicago last year. She said it was more than just the gradual strengthening classes and regular runs that allowed her to eventually compete in the marathons. 

“With this program you have partners who are working toward the same goal and there’s just a lot of support. The entire group helps motivate you through the weekly runs, and when you finish you’re really proud,” she said. “I’ve made friends that I will always have.” 

For the first 10 weeks of the program, classes are on Saturday mornings to begin training. Group training run/walks begin on the Saturday of the 11th week and gradually increase each week. A daily training schedule is provided to guide participants through their training in between Saturday runs. Barnes said an online support group will be established for the Vicksburg team, allowing them to blog about their experience and communicate with one another between weekly meetings. 

The fee for a beginner to enroll into the Marathon Makeover is $400, while second year participants pay $300 and enrollment for the third year and beyond is $200. There are payment options, as well as a one month money-back guarantee for those who participate for up to four weeks and decide the program is not for them.

While participants in past years had to seek out marathons in which to participate, Marathon Makeover will host two marathons in Jackson in 2009 for the first time. A half marathon will be held in June, while a half and full marathon will take place in October.

Marathon Makeover was founded in Jackson in 2004 with 22 participants, and has since grown to include approximately 490 people, with programs in Jackson, Brandon, Clinton, Ridgeland and Reservoir. Along with a-then-new program in Vicksburg — for which Barnes is aiming to recruit 75 people — a new program will also be launched in Mobile next year.

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Contact Steve Sanoski at ssanoski@vicksburgpost.com.