FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Inland Empire Runners Start Their Journey to the Honda LA Marathon;
Local Chapter of LA Roadrunners to Train First-Timers, Experienced Racers
Training Program Kicks Off Sept. 10th as Prep for
"Stadium to the Sea" Race in March
LOS ANGELES – For the past six years, Ken Itahara has joined hundreds of
runners in Chino Hills each Saturday morning for long training runs in
preparation for significant races. Now he's the program manager for the
Inland Empire chapter of LA Roadrunners in Chino Hills, which will train
nearly 200 runners for the 2012 Honda LA Marathon. Starting on September
10th, the 26-week training program is designed to get first-time runners
from the couch to the finish line, and assist experienced runners in
achieving a personal best.
"Our goal is to get every runner and walker to the starting line injury
free, and then across the finish line," Itahara said. "This training
program is a lot of fun and it works. I recommend it to everyone."
The LA Roadrunners program began in Venice, where more than 1,000 runners
meet each weekend for group runs through the community. The Chino Hills
location opened as an alternative for those runners who live in the Inland
Empire or the Eastern part of Los Angeles County.
Itahara points out another benefit of the Chino Hills program: "We train on
hills after two months, which really comes in handy. Hills come early in
the race, and runners are so excited that they fly through them. Then it
really catches up at about mile 20. Our runners, who are used to hills,
tend to maintain their pace as the race goes along."
The course that Itahara is referring to is the world-class "Stadium to the
Sea" route that takes runners from Dodger Stadium to the Santa Monica Pier,
with a highlight reel of sights in between: famous districts such as
Chinatown and Little Tokyo; iconic areas including the Sunset Strip and
Rodeo Drive; and noteworthy L.A. landmarks Walt Disney Concert Hall,
Grauman's Chinese Theater, the Capitol Records Building and many more.
LA Roadrunners is designed in such a way that everyone can take part –
whether they're aiming for a fast sub-four-hour performance or plan to walk
the race. As many as 15 pace groups will be formed in Chino Hills to give
everyone a chance to find the right way to train. Given that the pace
groups tend to be small – no more than 15 to 20 in each – the long training
runs also instill a true sense of community.
The LA Roadrunners program now includes programs in three different
locations: Chino Hills, Venice and Westlake Village. The LA Roadrunners in
Chino Hills will meet at Butterfield Park (17671 Mystic Canyon Drive) at
8:00 a.m. each week. Runners can sign up for the program at the same time
they register for the marathon at www.lamarathon.com. Registered
participants also receive a specially designed LA Roadrunners K-Swiss
training shirt. Those who sign up for both the race and LA Roadrunners
receive a substantial discount on the training program.
The LA Roadrunners is the official six-month training program of the Honda
LA Marathon, in which participants take part in weekly group training runs
led by experienced pace leaders, and benefit from a comprehensive training
manual and calendar, weekly guest speakers, as well as technique and
nutrition advice.
"The LA Roadrunners program is an effective and fun way for all runners to
train for the 2012 race, whether it's your first marathon or your 50th,"
said LA Roadrunners Coach Rod Dixon, an Olympic medalist and New York City
Marathon champion. "We take thousands of runners from the couch to the
finish line, and help keep our trainees on track to meet their goals. Each
year we see about 99% of LA Roadrunners participants who start the race
cross the finish line, many of whom reach a personal best."
"The LA Roadrunners program can train even the most inexperienced runners
and walkers to complete the 26.2 mile race, so we strongly encourage
first-timers to come out and join us," said LA MARATHON LLC Community
Relations Director Ginger Williams.
ABOUT LA MARATHON LLC
We inspire athletes and connect communities. With thousands of volunteers,
tens of thousands of participants, and hundreds of thousands of spectators,
the Honda LA Marathon is one of the largest organized road races in the
country.
###
|
