Wednesday, July 22, 2026
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Serving Kosciusko County and parts of Elkhart, Marshall & Noble Counties Know Your Neighbor . 2➤ Good Neighbors . . . . . . 4 Elkhart County Fair . . . . 6-7
Vol. 56, No. 4
Milford (574) 658-4111 • Warsaw (574) 269-2932 • Syracuse (574) 457-3666
114 W. Market, Warsaw, Indiana 46580
OFF AND RUNNING — Runners at the Wawasee Flotilla 5K road race start the race strong. Photo by Nathan Pace.
Shepherd’s roadmap to running By ABBY OLIVER Staff Writer Brian Shepherd’s first run in eighth grade at Prairie Heights Middle School was not a good one. “My first run was horrible,” he said. “I had to walk more than I ran.” But with encouragement from Coach Jack Vranna, Shepherd kept at it. Nearly five decades later, he is still running 5Ks and other races and encouraging others to follow in his footsteps. Shepherd has spent much of his career encouraging young athletes. He has coached cross country for 20 years and has worked at West Noble for nearly 40 years, where he currently serves as principal at West Noble Primary. For new runners, Shepherd said it starts with one question. “What’s your why?” Shepherd said. Your “why” can change over time. Once you complete your first goal - for example, finishing a 5K - maybe you want to finish faster, run without walking or move to the front. Others may be
content in a group. “You don’t have to be a professional athlete ... wins don’t come from finishing first; they come from finishing,” Shepherd said. Getting into running is simple; keeping with it and pushing yourself is not easy. “The biggest mistake is you jump in too fast ... you don’t want to discourage yourself with soreness,” Shepherd said. When going on a run for the first time, try Shepherd’s run-walk method. Run for a minute, then walk for a minute. As your endurance builds, increase the run time and decrease the walk time. “It’s definitely a process of teaching your body how to run more and walk less,” Shepherd said. The method also allows you to gain that “dopamine release,” he said. “You have to make sure you just take your time and understand that this is a journey,” Shepherd said. “I am always correcting the way I train.” As an older runner, Shepherd knows he will need to adjust his training to ac-
commodate his body’s needs. Although younger people may accomplish their goals more quickly, he urges them to take their time. “That’s going to take some patience, but in the end, it’s going to help you with your longevity,” Shepherd said. When building up your mileage, use the 10% rule. Each week, add 10% of what you ran the previous week. This method may take six months to reach your goal. The gradual pace of the 10% rule prevents injury or discouragement, Shepherd said, but can make it harder to stay motivated. That’s where an “accountability buddy” can help. For Shepherd, the person who kept him accountable at the start of his running career was his coach. “Running can be lonely,” Shepherd said. “But if you have somebody with you, that holds you accountable, I think that’s a great encouragement, too.” Shepherd says the running community is one of understanding and support. “The people you meet are the best Continued on page 2
FINAL PUSH — Runners approach the finish line at the Wawasee Flotilla 5K road race. Photo by Nathan Pace.
SHEPHERD SHARES STRIDES — Lifelong runner Brian Shepherd encourages others to try running. “Running will teach you a lot about life, that’s for sure,” Shepherd said. Photo provided by Brian Shepherd.