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Jason Bruton, Race Director for International City Racing (IRC), recently kicked off the Long Beach half marathon and marathon training program, drawing over 50 runners of all levels to listen to experienced coaches talk about the benefits of the 21-week program and spark enthusiasm for the hands-on training sessions.

“We wanted to make this program a little different than others,” said Bruton, a former Long Beach State track star. “This program is designed to meet everyone’s needs. Whether you run a 10 minute mile or a seven minute mile, it will help you reach your racing goal.”

Bruton started the ICR training club a year ago merging with Orange County’s Beach Runners club and implementing more targeted training programs for racing. The IRC’s 100 plus runners meet twice a week, Tuesday’s at the Newport Dunes in Newport Beach and Saturdays at Whaley Park in Long Beach.

2009 SCA Marathon Champion, and ICR running coach Eulogio Rodriguez (left), SCA LDR Co-Chair Lily Zepeda (center), and Jason Bruton, USATF runner and ICR coach/race director.
The former 1500 meter and 5k competitor also heads the IRC Track Club which includes hand-picked elite runners such as, USATF’s OC Marathon Road Championship Series Winner, Eulogio Rodriguez and Jimmy Grabow, Bruton’s high school running mate and top racer at the Coaster Run 5k. Bruton hopes his track club will add some healthy competition for local track clubs like Nike Club Run LA and the Fluffy Bunnies. Rodriguez has proven himself a stand-out runner. In the 2009 SCA USATF Road Running Grand Prix men’s division, Eulogio Rodriguez is the current overall leader, taking first place in all three 2009 Grand Prix races.

International City Racing, led by Olympic Gold Medalist Bob Seagren, provides race management for other events, including two of Southern California USATF’s Road Championship Series races, the Dana Point Turkey Trot and the OC Marathon. Their signature event, the Long Beach International City Bank Marathon is now in its 25th year. An estimated 18,000 plus competitors are expected to participate in the Long Beach International City Bank Marathon, Half-Marathon, Marathon Bike Tour, Run Forest Run 5k Run / Walk and Kids 1 Mile Fun Run on Sunday, October 11.

The Run Forest Run 5K is also part of the 2009 SCA USATF Road Running Grand Prix series (www.scagrandprix.org). Runners can register online for the October 11 2009 Run Forest Run 5K at:
http://www.active.com/page/Event_Details.htm?event_id=1643362

And choosing the 5K event. Also, a $5 registration discount is available to current 2009 Southern California Association USATF members. Email [email protected] with your current membership number to receive the discount.

– Lily Zepeda, co-chair open athletics, long distance running

SCA Road Running Grand Prix
Brentwood 10K
June 7, 2009

• Brentwood 10K Information and Online Entry
• SCA Grand Prix Press Release (PDF)
• Subscribe to receive e-mail updates:
• [email protected]

BRENTWOOD, CA–Competition in the inaugural Southern California USATF Road Running Grand Prix Series is heating up with the 3rd stop in the 7-race series being the Brentwood 10K on Sunday, June 7—one of the most popular late spring Los Angeles area road races.

Thanks to its ideal, year-round training conditions, Southern California boasts some of the nation’s finest distance runners…including the Santa Monica-based Fluffy Bunny Track Club, winners of the 2008 USATF National Masters Cross Country Championships held in Spokane, Washington, last December. On the women’s side, The Janes Elite Racing Team, a USATF Elite Athlete Development Club also based in Santa Monica, has won two national cross country team titles led by their captain, the nationally-ranked Tania Fischer.

While the SCA recognizes the accomplishments of individual athletes in its Road Running Championships, the 7-race, 2009 Grand Prix Series is a new competition that emphasizes and rewards team-based competition as well. “We are very excited about working with W2 Promotions to bring our Grand Prix series to Brentwood,” says Long Distance Running chair, Wayne Joness. “The Brentwood 10K is a very popular local race and our USATF clubs are looking forward to the opportunity to compete against each other towards the individual and team cash prizes that will be awarded at the end of the Series.”

“The distance running talent that lines up at the starting line for the Brentwood 10K is outstanding,” Wayne continues. Runners that other races would fly-in to compete just happen to live a within a short drive the beautiful West Los Angeles Brentwood community!” In addition to the elite running teams like the Fluffy Bunnies, The Janes, and Nike Team Run LA, other local USATF clubs include the Elite Health Track Club based in Culver City, the Santa Monica Track Club, Track Club LA, Track West, and the VS Athletics Track Club—all based in Santa Monica. These clubs include more than a few local heroes, with runners who range in age from 19 to 69.”

Regardless of your fitness level, it is a good idea to have a well-planned strategy on race day. The Brentwood 10K is an out-and-back loop, with runners repeating the 5K loop twice before finishing in the middle of the Brentwood business district on beautiful San Vicente Boulevard. There is a slight uphill grade at the beginning and, consequently, a slight downhill grade to the finish line.

“I have been surveying some of our more experienced runners for suggestions on how best to approach racing the 10K,” Wayne noted. “USATF member Tyrus Deminter, who runs with Team Runners High, suggests focusing on holding a consistent effort the second time you hit the gradual uphill at the beginning of the second loop. He advises not to worry if you slow down a bit, just keep your effort the same. Then, when you make the turn-around before 26th Street, let the downhill assist you in building turnover for a strong finish and a final kick. Tyrus should know, as he has been the overall winner of the Brentwood 10K on more than one occasion!”

Veterans of the Brentwood 10K may be surprised to learn that it has been quite a while since Southern California USATF has conducted a competitive road running series. With the Southern California Association encompassing 34,000 square miles, this year’s Grand Prix Series features races from Dana Point in the South to Santa Barbara in the North. “For numerous local USATF runners, the grassy San Vicente Boulevard island is where their training runs start or end,” Wayne notes. “Runners you see circling the dirt path around the Brentwood Golf course later show up on the covers of Runners World and Cal Track and Running News magazines.”

USA Track & Field is about far more than just elite-level runners, however. For the Grand Prix Series, it uses age-graded scoring—which is a way of providing equal recognition and rewards for those who produce a great effort on race day based on their sex and age. Typically, Grand Prix Teams are a mixture of men and women teammates of various ages. USATF Clubs provide training groups that help runners of every ability improve their running. The energy and dynamics of training with a group inspires everyone to work harder and increases every member’s potential to achieve success. The effort to increase and expand club-based training and competition opportunities is a new priority for Southern California USATF and is what created its Road Running Grand Prix Series.

CONTACT:
Wayne Joness, Chair
Open Athletics Long Distance Running Committee
Southern California Association / USA Track & Field
Cell (310) 600-5332 Email: [email protected]

Jim Bush So Cal Championships
USATF West Region Championships
June 6, 2009
Mt San Antonio College

• SCA Jim Bush Track & Field Championships
• Championships Information (PDF)
• Subscribe to receive e-mail updates:
• [email protected]

USATF MEMBERSHIP:
All competitors must be a 2009 member of USA Track & Field. A current 2009 membership number will be required to submit an online meet entry. Athletes can join/renew their memberships at www.usatf.org/membership/application. For athletes entering the meet on‐site, you will be able to join USATF for the annual fee of $30.00. (There is an additional $5 processing fee for issuing USATF memberships for residents of Associations outside Southern California.)

ENTRY PROCEDURE & DEADLINE:
All pre‐meet entries must be made on‐line at www.usatf.org by 11:59pm PDT on Sunday May 31. Athletes must be entered as “unattached” if they are not members of a USATF‐registered club. Pre‐meet entries will be posted at www.usatf.org and updated hourly as received. “A” section heats and flights will be posted at www.flashresults.com/flashwest on Thursday, June 4.

LATE ENTRIES:
Please note the late entry fee is $30.00.