‘Woodville Hill Runners’ gives folks a chance to get up and moving

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WOODVILLE – “All ages and paces are welcome” is the motto of a new group based out of Woodville and devoted to bringing people together to work toward healthy goals.

The Woodville Hill Runners, a group of walkers, joggers and runners, sprung forth from an idea from Mike Cabaniss, and is quickly picking up the pace. Cabaniss, who is a competitive runner, and a veteran of many marathon events, said the impetus to start a group for runners was something he’d thought about for a while. He said the idea was more about getting people out of the house and up and moving, as opposed to fostering a climate for serious competitive running, however, some of the group’s members are working toward competing in marathons.

The group meets once a week on Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. in front of the Woodville High School campus, for a 1–3-mile trek, which participants can walk, jog or run. Cabaniss said the group will continue to meet in front of the high school, probably, until Daylight Savings Time begins in March, and then they will meet at the track.

The beginning of a new year is the time when many aspire to healthier lifestyles, and Cabaniss said the group offers a good conduit toward those goals. “It all starts with that first step in getting a healthy lifestyle going,” he said.

Starting an exercise routine is a popular New Year’s resolution for many Americans, but experts claim that abandoning such resolutions is nearly as common.

One fitness expert, Toby Brooks, Ph.D., who serves as the director of the Master of Athletic Training program at Texas Tech, said that oftentimes, people get discouraged by setbacks, but commitment, discipline and adaptability are paramount to succeeding in fitness goals.

“The best advice I can give anyone is to start where you are with what you have, how you are, and figure out a way to make do,” Brooks said in an interview about exercise programs.

The Woodville Hill Runners group make adaptability a key feature, as participants can move at their own pace, and with Cabaniss, the group has a capable and experienced leader who began to see a new life for himself after he began training at age 57.

He said that before he began running, he was out of shape and overweight, but since his initial commitment, he has competed in several marathons, including the most famous of them all, the Boston Marathon.

Throughout 13 years of training, Cabaniss said he has seen that with running clubs, it is easier to get motivated and stay on the right track when you’re with a group.

Experts claim that physical fitness also affects mental health in a positive way. A 2023 paper on the topic, funded by the National Institute of Health, states that physically inactive individuals have been reported to have higher rates of morbidity and healthcare costs. Exercise therapy, the study claims, is recommended to combat those challenges and preserve mental wellness.

Cabaniss is living proof of this idea.

At 69, and retired, he is likely one of the most energetic, upbeat and friendliest individuals one is likely to meet around Woodville, or anywhere. His enthusiasm for fitness along with his passion to serve his community made the creation of the group a natural fit. “I’d like to see all paces and ages come out, and there’s no limitations and no competition,” he said.

The number of participants keeps growing with the Woodville Hill Runners, and Cabaniss said he wants to see it continue growing.

“I’d like to see some older people coming out,” he said, and added that if participants can only walk, he will walk with them.

“It’s really gratifying to see the people who do show up, because they’re taking the initiative to get healthy.”

For anyone interested in the Woodville Hill Runners, Cabaniss encourages them to show up on Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. at Woodville High School. The group also has a Facebook page under its name.