HIGH POINT – The number 13, long associated with bad luck, will actually bring good fortune to the individuals chosen to participate in a new fitness program being offered by High Point Regional Health System.

The program, called “The Lucky 13 Challenge,” will provide free personal fitness training for 13 men and women who are out of shape but would like to get in good enough shape to run 13 miles – there’s that lucky number again – at the North Carolina Half Marathon, which will be held March 20 in High Point, in conjunction with the North Carolina Marathon.

“The purpose is to show how an everyday person can sign up for this event and accomplish it,” explains Steve Golinski, exercise physiologist at the health system’s Fitness Center, who will coordinate the challenge.

“We’re going to take these people out of their normal element and show them what they’re capable of. And what’s going to be neat is to see how people lose weight and reduce or even go off medications as they get healthier.”

Interested individuals are asked to submit a letter to Golinski explaining why they should be chosen as one of the “Lucky 13” participants. The letter should be submitted by Monday.

According to Golinski, the program specifically targets out-of-shape men and women who need to reshape the way they think about exercise and nutrition.

“That’s the exciting part – getting people excited about exercise and changing their lives,” he says. “Maybe there are working moms or other people out there who don’t think they can fit it in their schedule, but we’re going to show them you can fit it in as long as you get the right direction.”

That’s where Golinski enters the picture. An accomplished runner, he will provide participants with all the tools they need to get in shape for the run, from an individualized workout program and nutrition guidance to a gait analysis and pre-race tips.

Selected participants will be given a fitness assessment to ensure they’re healthy enough to train. Participants will receive 20 free supervised weeks of personal training by Golinski, three educational workshops at The Fitness Center, one free run/walk gait analysis, a discount on Fitness Center membership, metabolic testing and a team T-shirt.

The training program will require about four workouts a week, though they don’t necessarily have to be done at The Fitness Center.

For those who consider running a half marathon too daunting an adventure, Golinski offers encouragement.

“It’s like the old question of how do you eat an elephant – one bite at a time,” he says. “The same is true of running a half marathon – it’s one step at a time. The important thing is the behavior change.”

Not only will Golinski provide a training program for the “Lucky 13,” he’ll also offer advice on how to avoid some of the injuries that are common to novice runners when they first begin training.

“Without proper direction, you can still go out and run, but oftentimes you can overtrain and actually decrease your performance,” he says. “And there’s also the problem of running too fast too soon, which can increase your risk of injury.”

Furthermore, being part of the “Lucky 13” team will provide additional motivation and accountability, according to Golinski.

“When you’re in a group setting like that, accountability goes a long way,” he explains. “If you see your friend going through some of the same challenges you’re going through, you feel better about where you are. Instead of feeling like you’re on an island by yourself, you feel like you’re not alone.”