USATF Southern California

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Run OC: A Snail’s Pace Laguna Hills and South Coast Road Runners

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As a part of promoting the 2011 USATF Southern California Road Mile Championships, I had a chance to meet up with some of the running groups in the greater Irvine/Orange County area. Last week was a double header, with the Laguna Hills chapter of A Snail’s Pace Running Club meeting on Wednesday, August 3, and the South Coast Road Runners meeting on Thursday, August 4.

Runners meeting at A Snail’s Pace running shop in Laguna Hills.

I wayyyy underestimated the traffic on the 405 as I headed south on Wednesday. After one hour in my car, I had only traveled 6 miles. This is the point when every runner thinks, even on my worst day, I could be running faster than my car is moving right now! I missed the start of the Snail’s Pace run, but followed the directions to head out behind the store, and before I knew it I was on the Aliso Creek Bikeway. This beautiful bikepath takes us by Clarington Park to Aliso Park. I started to see runners returning from their run, and soon ran into Bob Morris, manager of A Snail’s Pace Running Shop in Laguna Hills. Bob and I headed back to the store, where I got a chance to talk to New Balance rep Monica. Much to my surprise, I also had the opportunity to visit with Rebecca Trahan. Rebecca has been kind enough to volunteer at many of the Road Running Championships races this year. I asked if she knew Bob Morris, and it turns out that Bob is one of her students in her Monday night yoga class! Thanks again for the help Rebecca!

Rebecca Trahan (left) and Bob Morris (right)

After enjoying some mix1 recovery shakes (chocolate) we headed over to the monthly meeting of the Laguna Hills chapter, at Antonucci’s Restaurant. We arrived to find plenty of pizza waiting for us, and I had a chance to listen in on ASPRC plans for upcoming races and social events. This club has been around since 1979, and it is easy to see why. They keep an interesting and exciting schedule of events for their members, and they are great folks to run with.

Pizza and Birthday cake at Antonucci’s Restaurant, Mission Viejo.

Thursday I allowed extra time for my drive, and got the chance to see mix1 field marketing specialist Natalie Gatrell at the Peters Canyon run before meeting with the South Coast Road Runners at Heritage Park in Irvine. Natalie provided some extra mix1 for the SRCC Thursday run. I again joined Bob Morris for the run, and this time we headed away from Heritage Park, jumping onto the Walnut Trail. Like Wednesday night’s run, I was impressed with the ready availability of paths and trails for running in Orange County. When we hit our 2.5 mile turnaround, I noticed we were just across the street from the El Toro Airfield, site of the Road Mile Championships!

South Coast Road Runners August meeting, Grand Prix genius Mike Friedl (front row, far right)

I added the mix1 recovery drink to the well-stocked supplies for post-run refueling. In addition to Gatorade and water we had fresh, warm, home-made cookies! Wow! Then we headed to a large meeting room in the Heritage Park facility. A SCRR meeting is full of current running events: the meeting starts with a run-down of the current leaders in the SCRR running Grand Prix, plus notes on the social calendar, announcement of the runner/member of the month, and more. HINT: hosting a great BBQ can lead to being a runner-of-the-month! After I spoke about the Road Mile, there was a vote for the October SCRR road race, and the winner was the Long Beach Marathon/Half-Marathon/5K. Great choice! The Long Beach 1/2 Marathon is the 2011 USATF Southern California 1/2 Marathon Championships race! SCRR members can participate in any of these Long Beach races, and have their age-graded scores added to the Grand Prix. If this sounds familiar, the USATF Southern California Grand Prix is based on the SCRR Grand Prix, with much help provided by Mike Friedl. As a thanks for their help, Bob Morris, Mike Friedl and Quang Pham received USATF National Team hats, though Quang Pham was not on hand Thursday night.

The ubiquitous Bob Morris wearing a USATF National Team Hat, courtesy USATF

The post-meeting feast was at Lampost Pizza, with plenty of salad, pizza and beer for everyone! Dave Parsel  modeled his fashionable USATF Cross Country Championships t-shirt from February of this year, and John Gardiner and Brad Wobig were wearing their USATF Road Mile Championship T-shirts as well.

Dave Parsel styling the 2011 USA Cross Country Championships T-shirt

I really had a great time this week, and look forward to meeting with the Fountain Valley Chapter of A Snail’s Pace Running Club on August 10! Thanks to everyone for the great hospitality!

John Gardiner replenishes essential carbohydrates at Lampost Pizza, Irvine CA.

LA84 Cross Country Clinic on 8/20 at Mt SAC

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Cross country season is just around the corner, and there can be no better way to prepare for this season while getting excited for the year than by attending the free LA84Foundation cross country clinic on August 20 featuring the absolute best high school cross country coaches in the country.

Featured presenters include Jim O’Brien of Arcadia HS—2010 California State DI Champions and NXN National Champions; Lalo Diaz of Loyola HS—2010 California State D II Champions; Chuck Woolridge of Campolindo HS—2010 California State D III champions; and Ken Reeves and Bill Tokar, whose teams have won 14 state championships.

The entire clinic, which is absolutely free to all coaches and interested adults who would like to attend, will be held on Saturday, August 20, at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut, and it will feature a full slate of Advanced sessions, a full slate of Beginning sessions, and a full slate of injury prevention and training sessions.

Click here for the full clinic agenda, so you can make plans as to which sessions you would like to attend.

ADVANCED CLINIC SESSIONS: These sessions will feature three great presenters who have all lead their schools to California State Cross Country Championships.

Jim O’Brien: Arcadia High School – 2010 Cal DI State Champions & NXN National Champions—Arcadia High School produced quite possibly the greatest season in all of California High School sports history last year. Not only were they undefeated but they also set new team course records at both Mt. SAC and at the California State Meet.

Lalo Diaz: Loyola High School – Cal DII State Champions—There has been no high school in the country that can match the level of success that Loyola has achieved over the past couple of decades, and last year the team once again peaked at just the right time to win the California State D II championship. Coach Diaz is not only one of the great coaches in the sport but he is also one of the absolute best presenters.

Chuck Woolridge: Campolindo High School – Cal State DIII Champions – Chuck became the first coach in California state cross country meet history to lead two different schools to state championships as his Campolindo squad won the DIII title last season. A true “student of the sport” Chuck has proven he not only knows how to build great programs but also how to guide elite athletes to national success as the same time..

BEGINNING CLINIC SESSIONS: Bill Tokar, Ken Reeves and Tim O’Rourke have all coached multiple state championship teams that have won at the highest levels of the sport.

The full slate of beginning level sessions will take the new coach or volunteer and give them not only the physiological foundations of training the high school distance runner but also lessons on how to recruit new runners, what are the rules coaches need to know, and at the end of the day each attendee will leave with their own team’s training plan for this season.

Bring any new assistants you have or parents who will be helping you this year. They can attend the Beginning Sessions and you can attend the Advanced sessions, and then you can all talk about your upcoming season at lunch time or later in the week.

HEALTH AND TRAINING CLINIC SESSIONS: Bill Ito, a USATF trainer, will present four separate sessions that will build upon each other. The first session will be on basic preparation to handle health and injury problems that may occur at a cross country practice or meet. Then, the next three sessions will go in depth into what specific drills and exercises your runners need to be doing to not only prevent injuries but also improve performance.

You can save yourself a great deal of time in the morning of the clinic if you pre-register at our web site: LA84Foundation.com. The cost is absolutely free to everyone thanks to the great sponsorship of the LA84Foundation.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Devin Elizondo at the LA84Foundation office (323-730-4618 or [email protected] or Tim O’Rourke [email protected].

Hope you will join us on August 20 at Mt. SAC.

Tim O’Rourke

A Runner’s Circle – A Community of Running

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“A Runner’s Circle” – the very name of this Los Feliz/Glendale running store suggests a different philosophy towards running. “A runner’s circle,” calls to mind a gathering a friends, a meeting of folks who just share a common passion for running. Owner Joe Matias has built his successful business around the idea of simply helping people to share the joy of running. I made a trip last week to visit ARC on the occasion of their annual election of ARC club officers.

ARC officer elections, July 21, 2011

I was looking forward to stopping by for several reasons: it is hard to find a shoe store more supportive of USATF. The first ARC running singlet I saw was worn by Tove Berg, an elite runner sponsored by ARC. Berg battled through torrential downpours at the 2008 Dana Point Turkey Trot to win the USATF Southern California 10K Championships title in 35:49. But she was just part of the USATF affiliated ARC running team. ARC requires all the pace leaders of their very popular Thursday fun runs to be members of USATF, and regularly stresses the importance of being a USATF member.

ARC President Tricia Dunn

The Thursday fun runs offer several options to runners. My knee had developed a slight twinge since I added in a second track workout a few weeks ago, so I was looking forward to the 5 mile trail run on paths that cross through Griffith Park, adjacent to the ARC store. There is also a 3 mile run, and I just learned that there is a super challenging 8 mile run that charges up some of the steepest hills in the park.

ARC Coach Gerard Deegan

My knee enjoyed the relief from the streets of Culver City, and I had a chance to talk with ARC pace leader Heather Heath. In addition to leading the 8 – 9 mile pace group, Heather is also the founder of Green Running Events, an organization that puts on eco-friendly races. Last year Heather organized the Elysian Park Eco Trail Run which was part of the 2010 USATF Southern California Cross Country Grand Prix. The Eco Trail Run received generous support from ARC. Following the success of last years race, the Eco Trail Run will be held on October 22, with a new and improved course. Other ARC sponsored events include the upcoming 38th Annual Bellarmine-Griffith Park Invitational cross country race to held on September 24, 2011.

ARC Owner Joe Matias and me (Wayne Joness)

Following our run we enjoyed plenty of refreshments, fresh fruit and snacks, then ARC held their elections. Perhaps it was the sound of Coach Deegan’s Irish brogue, but it was hard not to be moved when he addressed the crowd and reminded everyone to “Take pride in your club.” Coach Deegan stressed that every runner was important, and that every runner, regardless of their finishing time, contributed to the success of the club. I always enjoy talking to coach Deegan, a world-class duathlete, who stresses the value of club competition. And club competition is a big part of the Road Running Grand Prix. I noticed in attendance were members of USATF club Gritty City Track Club, John Burgos and Choy Bacor. The Gritty City Track Club is working their way up the club scoring by consistently participating in races.

USATF Club Certificate hangs proudly on the store wall!

All too soon it was time to head back to Culver City, but I again have to thank Joe Matias and his great crew at A Runner’s Circle for supporting USATF, and the sport we all love so much: running!