Doggie Dash - Splash and Dash

You gotta watch this video.

Once they lined up, I knew I had recorded gold. This was a great way to wrap up our 5k day.

Please share this video with others and spread the SoCalRunning.com word. Thanks!

Dog Focused, Steve Mackel - Animal Trainer

Pacific Open Water Challenge ‘08 - Post Race Interviews

I had just finished a 1 mile swim (that was longer than a mile), threw on my running shoes and hit the bike path and ran a 5k. Boy, I was tired after that swim and it showed in my run time. I still managed a podium spot but it is more about the finishing without a lot of specific training. Just training with the Beach Runners got me through

It was a great event, one to put on your calendar for next June. Watch this video. Comments welcome!

Race Focused, Steve Mackel USA Triathlon Coach

The ChiRunning River

“Be grateful for whoever comes, because each has been sent as a guide from beyond…” Rumi

About four years ago I sat in my room crosslegged meditating.

Listening to a whirling dervish trance musical spin into the unconscious.

And this sense of direction of came into me…a simple tugging…a calling for my future.

I picked up the phone as I opened my eyes and called Danny Dreyer of ChiRunning.

And told him I wanted to be a ChiRunning instructor.

He didn’t think the meditation vision was weird either. Cool. My kind of teacher.

The training was in Manhattan Beach…if it was anywhere outside of Los Angeles…I don’t think I’d have even attended.

Then after the first session…we were all partnered up to teach the script.

My first partner was Steve Mackel. He shared how he needed some help setting up a ChiRunning marathon group in Long Beach.

Somehow the topic of Think and Grow Rich by Napolean Hill came up.

That book has guided me like many entrepreneurs through our lives.

There’s this real cool concept in there of the Mastermind Principle. The idea works like this…when a group of people get together with a common purpose of helping one another…a third energy is created.

Like another ‘mind’…maybe the presence of God…maybe the frequencies coming together…whatever it is…it is more powerful than us individually. Great empires and business have been built with partnerships, mentors, teachers…a combination of people.

So super successful people put themselves in this Mastermind energy. Because they know the power of it.

The success of Beach Runners has been through this Mastermind principle. Through the combination of a thousand conversations between Steve and I. Through the contribution of our long time mentors like Larry, Bob, Christy, Barb, and Janet and many others.

When we sit in prayer at the end of a yoga session I invite God to join us to protect us to guide us in health and safety across the finish line.

And through all of this…magic happens. Steve and I and Beach Runners have gotten over a thousand runners over the finish line of a marathon or half marathon.

We’ve coached hundreds of people at our ChiRunning workshops.

You’re all part of a lineage of teaching that comes down not just from us but from our teachers…Danny, Steve Ilg, Rosie Good, Eben Pagen, Desikachar, Josh Waitzkin so many to mention.

You would all freak out if you saw what Steve and I spend on OUR EDUCATION every year.

We know that every dollar we spend goes back to our people our tribe. It helps people like you cross the finish line. It helps us use a system of training that makes running easy and safe.

Our teachers have taught us to teach yoga to all of you. Yoga is over 6,000 years old. It is our honor and pleasure to share this with all of you.

I haven’t been writing much lately…for I have been studying from a new teacher.

But now it is time. Time to share these ideas…these discoveries.

I teach through this blog, through Beach Runners, but also at my trail run and yoga class

http://www.socalrunning.com/yoga

Please come. You’ll learn some fantastic things and you will grow.

God Bless

Gary

Beach Runners Training Program Video

This video was taken last Saturday as we just started our Spring/Summer Training session. Please click the play button and watch it. Now is the time to join! Learn how to join the program

Just email me and ask me any questions.

Train Focused, Steve Mackel Beach Runners Head Coach

Steve Teaches ChiRunning® Posture Techniques

ChiRunning® is hot with all the marathons coming up and people getting started for their fall marathons, I thought I treat you to a quick lesson on finding the proper ChiRunning® posture.

The Beach Runners Starts This Saturday! We have a ChiRunning® One hour workshop with the Beach runners in Long Beach this Saturday, 7:00 AM

Beach Runners Marathon and Half Marathon Training Program

Beach Runners Saturday Group run meets at Marina Vista Park in Long Beach (on Eliot St. near Colorado St. right by the end of Marine Stadium) Free parking on street or in Marine Stadium parking lot.
Find Location

Train Focused, Steve Mackel - MarathonTraining.TV Head Coach

2008 Catalina Marathon Runumentry Part 2

Friends,

Part 2 is about the last 6 miles, the finish line, the awards, runner reviews, the after party and a special guest.

I hope to run with you too. Say hello, tell me you saw this I’ll try to get you in my next movie.

Watch Focused, Steve Mackel - Catalina Marathon Videographer

2008 Catalina Marathon Runumentry Part 1

Friends,

I still have no clue if it will be a two or three part Runumentry. I just wanted to get something up ASAP. The sub-plot is about a first time marathoner and Beach Runners, Christy, running this fantastic marathon. She is also running to win the American Trail Championship, in her Age Group, which is the lowest combined time of the Catalina Buffalo Run half marathon and the Catalina marathon.

I met some great people and some footage I had hoped would make the movie wound up MIA. If that was you, I am very sorry. This movie provides a great look at the course, the wonderfully kind participants, volunteers and staff.

Watch Focused, Steve Mackel - Catalina Marathon Videographer

The Buffalo Run – The Ultimate Trail Run Race Report by Steve Mackel

Medal Finshers
Podium Spots for Beach Runners L-R Sara, Steve, Gary, Mina, Christy, Duncan, Haley

WOW! What a race. This has got to be one of the most difficult Half Marathons in the US if not the world without going somewhere or doing something ridiculous.

The first 5 miles are up, tough up hill, followed by a screaming couple miles down hill, then back up and then back down. This race starts at sea level, climbs to the top of the mountain behind Avalon then turns around and brings you back to town. It is primarily on fire roads. You have nothing out of the ordinary to deal with except Mother Nature yet Mother Nature can always have the final say. Fantastic views are around every corner and we ran through some burn areas so we could see the hillsides starting to regenerate.

Here’s what I have to say about the race. The first hour is tough. You just figure how to get through without walking. Then the race gets steeper in both directions, up and down. I read somewhere that there is 4 times the amount of force exerted on the body going down hill. Whatever the number is we know it is more than running on flats and up hill. There are some steep down hills sections after miles 5.5 and the race finishes with 3 miles of steep down hills. You just get to the point where you can’t stop. These parts eat up your legs and my legs a feeling it today.

Beach Runners use ChiRunning® techniques. We train our athletes to run smart up hill and fly down hill. We use gravity. This is an area I have to continue to work on. I was passed by 7 people on the down hills. I was still running fast, sub 7 minute miles yet I was governed by some fear, fear of injury, protecting my back, fear of truly letting go. I watched these people motor past me on some very steep terrain. Maybe next year.

In the end it was Gary’s day. Catalina is like home court advantage for Gary. He has been training hard for this it paid off. I couldn’t keep up with him on the up hills and forget about it on the down hills. He finished 12th overall 1st in his age group. I still had a good day 30th overall and 2nd in my age group. I value this medal as much as any.

I want to congratulate everyone who made the trip over and participated in this great race. The Beach Runners had a fantastic showing bringing over 20+ athletes and finishing with 7 podium spots. We don’t train people to run fast, we train people to be successful and every Beach Runner finished, some quickly.

Now we are looking forward to the Catalina Marathon and Los Angeles Marathon. We have a couple more weeks before the big days. The Beach Runners are ready and we showed it yesterday. Our training programs work – “For your best marathon ever” join us.

A special congratulations goes out to Beach Runners Mentor Barb and Beach Runners Sissy, who never gave up.

Thank you to all the volunteers, race officials and the Catalina Conservancy for staging this wonderful race.

Steve Mackel, Head Coach – MarathonTraining.TV and Beach Runners

Beach Runners Buffalo Run
Many of the Beach Runners Pose for a Photo After the Race.

The Hidden Beach Runner Video by John Graham

You need to a flashplayer enabled browser to view this YouTube video
You never know what you’ll find out in cyberspace. I just happened to find this on YouTube. It’s a 9 minute gem produced by Alumni Beach Runner John Graham. He actually did the 26 mile bike tour, got off his bike and started his marathon. Triathletes call this a very long brick workout. Wow!Train Focused, Steve Mackel - USA Cycling Coach

Snow Capped Run

Snow Capped Run
Only in LA or Should I Say Long Beach

It was an incredible Saturday. In fact, it was the most beautiful day of the year so far. We have had rain, yet not on Saturdays. The rains last week brought snow and the cold temperatures lowered the snow levels to 2,500 feet. The mountains across the horizon were white. It was so beautiful. How how do long runs get better than that? They don’t.

beach runners in LB
Getting Ready to Go Long in Long Beach

Train Focused, Steve Mackel - Head Coach Beach Runners

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