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Cycling for Runners
Here’s a short video on the some of the benefits of cycling can offer runners.
Train Focused, Steve Mackel USA Triathlon Coach
New Years Runs and Yoga in San Pedro
Running around figuratively and literally without the time to put a nice word on a page is really no way to live.
So I sit here tonight with the year coming to an end.
And am scribbling such beautiful words out of the end of a pen I had to share.
This time of year is good time for profound and deep reflection.
We must quiet our minds to allow new visions to come to us.
Christmas would normally be the ideal time for this…but if yours was anything like mine…deep spiritual moments were often interrupted by the flood of presents and food.
So then we have this very special week…this very holy week between the birth of our young spiritual selves and the new turning of the world in a new year.
How was your year? Did you run with your heart out?
Did you love someone til you cried? How did you treat the children of the world and the animals?
Did you do the races you wanted to run? Did you learn something new?
Could you find some peace some serenity in the midst of all this change?
Whatever you want to reflect and think about now is a good time.
More good writing to come from me…I promise. Good words will be needed in the years ahead.
I ask God for the courage and strength to write things that will help inspire and motivate you to be the best athletes yogis and people you can be.
It’s all we have at times. And the old notion is all we have is our words.
Now…what would be a SoCalRunning blogpost without an event for you to go to?
So here we are…three of them…
1. Tuesday December 30th last trail run of 2008. We will be meet at Trump Golf Course at 3:45 and will be running sharply at 4:00 p.m.
2. New Years Eve yoga with Gary on the beach below Trump Golf Course. Again meet at 3:45 bring mats, warm clothes, and cameras. We will watch the sun go down for the last time in 2008. I did this last year and it is very special and spiritual. Good time to say farewell to those we lost in the last year.
3. New Years Day Trail Run. Meet at 8 a.m Trump Golf Course. What a better way to bring in the New Years than get out to nature. Followed up by a 57 year tradition here in San Pedro as we will go to Cabrillo Beach for the Polar Bear Swim. You can watch my attempts at this last year right here.
Wow. That’s a busy next three days.
So if you’re looking to do something healthy something spiritual something natural to close out the year come join us.
Healthy people do healthy things.
Have a safe joyous New Years.
Coach Gary
Palos Verdes Trail Running Tonight @ 3:30
Want more experience running trails?
Want to run on God’s surface with a view of the ocean?
Come run with us tonight.
We will be meeting at Trump Golf Course at 3:30 p.m.
Yoga with Rosie Good afterwards.
Life doesn’t get much better.
Call me with any questions. Gary Smith 310 508 7133
Coach Gary’s Map to the Universe
The Map To The Universe
Coach Gary’s map of the trails on the Palos Verdes hill below Del Cerro. “If you get lost its okay :)”
Mary from our winter marathon training program posted a great article on her blog and it made me laugh. Below is a couple paragraphs and link to the rest of her article:
The Green Girl’s Very First Trail Run, December 15, 2008, by Mary – SoCalRunning.com Member
Before our usual training run yesterday, Coach Gary Smith held an hour long ChiRunning lesson. I’ve attended multiple Chirunning sessions but I enjoy participating in the classes because I always learn something new.
After the ChiRunning lesson, we broke up into the full and half marathon groups to start the run. Since I was diagnosed with runner’s knee, I haven’t been keeping up with my Surf City USA Half Marathon training schedule. I’ve been being really careful with my knee and after going a full week without any significant pain, I decided I was ready to push myself. Instead of joining the half marathoners, I went with the full marathon group. I had attached my patellar strap to my hydration belt in case my knee started to hurt while I was out on the run.
We all set our watches to beep after 55 minutes to indicate the time to turn around and head back. We were given small, handwritten maps to help guide us on our run. I folded the map up, stuck it in my pocket, started Mr. Green Garmin and headed out. My plan was to really take it easy but try to run the entire time.
Coach Steve Mackel passed by and suggested I increase my lean. I was grateful for his advice and concentrated on doing that. I could feel myself getting faster. TO READ MORE CLICK HERE
Navigate Focused, Steve Mackel, ChiRunning Instructor
Looks Like a Fun Race this Sunday
SCR Weekend Events: Friday, Saturday and Sunday
Friday, December 12 – Torrance Road Runner Sports VIP party 6:00 – 8:00 PM
Reasons to stop by tonight
-This party is open to everyone
-Refreshments like wine & cheese
-Free mini chair massages
-Great raffle prizes! ?
-$25 off any purchase over $100
Half Marathon Trainees Around the Friendship Bell in San Pedro
Saturday, December 13, 1-Hour ChiRunning® Workshop at 7 AM, Winter Full and Half Marathon Training Program Group Runs at 8 AM, Yoga after the Run at Pt. Fermin Park in San Pedro
-Join the World’s Only ChiRunning® and Yoga Marathon Training Program, in Palos Verdes
–For more information
Sunday, December 14, One-Day ChiRunning® Workshop, 9 AM – 4 PM
-Learn How to Become a ChiRunner
-Small Group Setting
-Learn Advanced ChiRunning® Techniques
–All the Details
Join Us!
Train Focused, Steve Mackel – Certified ChiRunning® Instructor
Join us this Friday at the Road Runner Sports Torrance VIP PARTY 6 PM – 8 PM
Road Runner Sports Torrance VIP PARTY Friday, December 12, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Road Runners Sports has always been a big supporter of SoCalRunning.com so they have invited and our members and their friends to this Friday’s VIP PARTY to wish everyone a Happy Holidays, thank you for your support and keep you running!
Come and enjoy refreshments like wine & cheese, free mini chair massages and great raffle prizes!
It is also a great time to do some shopping, save money, meet runners and check out winter running clothes.
Courtesy of Road Runner Sports Torrance
Please present this letter to a Fit Expert to help you select the perfect running gear for you at the following retail store location:
Road Runner Sports Torrance Click Here for Map
25359 Crenshaw Blvd.
Torrance, Ca 90505
(310) 326-8530
Party Focused, Steve Mackel – Runner, See you there!
Off Topic – Buyer Beware Boycott Affordable Portables
Unopened, never used, silver Jawbone, only $120, save $30 call Steve at 818.414.9181
I’ve never written a post like this before but it is my site and I can do what I want. I did a dumb thing and it might be to your benefit. At least this knowledge may help you.
I use my cell phone exclusively and I needed a hands-free bluetooth headset so I invested in one of the best for AT&T phones, a “Jawbone”. Its unique technology allows background noise to be filtered out. It looks pretty cool too.
Well I thought I lost it. I have old, ok, head set one but I really like the Jawbone’s noise-filtering feature. After a week of think should I drop the cash for this expensive unit, I decided to help stimulate the economy and went to Affordable Portables. They kinda pose as an AT&T store.
I went in and asked for a Jawbone. A nice girl got one and handed it to me. “Cool, Silver,” I thought. My last one was black. I asked the price and a guy from behind the counter said $149. I said I paid $129 for the one I lost, how come this one was more. He asked me if mine was the updated Jawbone 2. I thought that must be the reason. Still I wasn’t sure and asked him to check the price again and he came back with $139. I bought it figuring I could return it if my old one was found or if he was over-charging me. I had to sign a piece of paper along with the receipt. (First mistake) And of course I didn’t read the fine print.
I went home and found the old box. One the bottom was the price tag, $129. It was the same, just a different color and I haven’t even found anywhere that there is really a Jawbone 2. The next morning I decided that store was jacking the price up on me, the guy behind the counter was anything but helpful and I would return it.
When I went into the store the next day, a different guy behind the counter told me that they didn’t give refunds. He told me I could get a store credit. I asked for a gift card but they don’t do gift cards so that option was out. Now I was mad at myself for not reading the paper I signed, that in fine print read, “no refunds, all sales final.” I wanted to take it out on the guy behind the counter but I didn’t. I was still mad, the box wasn’t opened and it was less than 24 hours. I was thinking this is how they get people.
Now, I have found my old Jawbone and my loss can be your gain. First always read the fine print and ask refund policies in stores. I will choose do to little business with stores that don’t have reasonable return policies. Second, you can get a Jawbone below the store price, without the tax, see abvove. Third, buyer beware and Boycott Affordable Portables.
Shop Focused (next time I will), Steve Mackel – bummed consumer
Member Report – Silicon Valley Turkey Trot ‘08
So Cal Noretta (in red), Family and Friends Invade No Cal for a Turkey Trot
It was a cold morning and I was worried it was going to rain just like Surf City early this year, because it rained yesterday when we picked up our bibs. It was a different scenario for me because none of my cousins have run a long distance race. They thought I was some serious runner with my pre-race day preparations, body looseners & what not. =)
There were a lot of people, young, old, group of friends, families with strollers, some wearing turkey costumes, some in their best running gear, some all bundled up. Everyone was cheerful.
It was crowded all throughout the course. I was trying to live up to the tradition of passing someone along the course so I had to zigzag my way around. I thought I was running fast but I noticed that most people are just walking. When I finally saw a photographer, I made sure no one was in front of me, gave my 2 thumbs and ran to the finish. It was awesome and I had a great time.
My cousins & I have been talking about running together in an event. Now we finally got matching shirts. Why did we pick this event? We can be done in less than an hour, the event is 30 mins away from their house and so we have an excuse for pigging out later at dinner time. Happy Thanksgiving!
Take care,
Noretta – SoCalRunning.com member
Founder – Coach Steve
Running Shoe Store of the Month – Jan/Feb 2017
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