Runners take off for the 15K event at the 9th annual FRESH 15 race on in March.

A series of free performance and running clinics will soon be held in Tyler as CHRISTUS Human Performance Center aims to educate the local fitness community.

According to CHRISTUS Health spokesperson Will Knous, the center is aiming to cater to the large and very active fitness and running community in Tyler by providing helpful information from experts.

Topics will include injury prevention, strength training, proper running mechanics and more from sports medicine physicians, physiology PhDs and more.

Ryan Dupré, head strength and conditioning coach at CHRISTUS Human Performance Center, said there are numerous reasons for putting on the free clinics.

“One of the biggest questions we always get – all over the facility – is ‘How’? People from all walks of life and all levels of fitness and running experience ask us, ‘How can I run faster? How can I fix the pain in my knee when I run? How can I improve my 10K time? How do I get started,'” Dupré said.

Dupré said the goal is to take all those questions, combine them with an extended wealth of knowledge on all things running and endurance, and provide it to the community.

“Education is one of the cornerstones at the human performance center and it is our mission to educate all of East Texas on all things performance-related,” Dupré said. “Being able to work with Dr. Allison Tobola and Dr. Cathy Fieseler to provide these clinics to everyone has been such an amazing opportunity and experience. East Texas has such a large endurance community, and they are all always looking for a way to get a competitive edge – but there is also an even larger population of individuals that simply want to know where to start. Our Running Clinics provide education for all those questions.”

One of the clinics is set for Saturday, where attendees will have the opportunity to hear Dr. Scott Speier, a health and kinesiology professor, discuss exercise physiology basics for runners along with Physical Therapist Ryan Bennett, who will discuss blood flow restriction training.

The event will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. at CHRISTUS Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Institute Community Room (first floor), 8591 S. Broadway Ave., Tyler.

Dupré said the CHRISTUS team is dedicated to providing this education and serving the local community.

“When we say ‘we are here for your journey’ or ‘we will take your performance to the next level,’ it’s not just a slogan, every member of this team truly believes in that vision for all of East Texas,” Dupré said. “I am excited about continuing to extend that vision through more running clinics and other performance clinics down the road.”

Another clinic is set for 9 to 11 a.m. May 21 with William Ritter, running coach, speaking on training for 5K and 10K races and RJ Cowan, another running coach, speaking on training for half and full marathons.

To reserve a seat for Saturday’s clinic or for more information, call 903-606-8855 or visit christusorthosportsmed.org.