Sponsors
Featured Races
Chinatown’s Friecracker 10K, Year of the Tiger 2-28-10
Another great day in So Cal and another great race!
Train Focused, Steve Mackel – SoCalRunning.com Co-founder
9 Hours and 46 Minutes Later
Steve and Lucy Pose at the Starting Line of the Tahoe Rim Trail 50k
If you scroll down you can look at the elevation chart, but what it doesn’t show you is that over 32.2 miles (33.9 on a fellow runner’s Garmin) there are hardly any flat spots on the course. We were going up an down with an average grade of 10%. I forgot to mention between 6800 – 9000 feet of altitude, spending a majority of it close to 8000 feet.
This was Lucy’s first ultra-marathon. She trained for it but until you run this race you don’t realize how the combination of steep climbs and decents at altitude can effect you. I felt it.
I was running this with Lucy, at her pace. I remember thinking when we were 7 hours into the race, this is the longest I have ever been out on a course and I knew I still had close to 3 hours to go.
The last 7 miles are mostly downhill and by this time your quads feel every step while you are trying to get to the finish. It was hot, in the high 80’s. Every step was worth it. Not only finishing my second ultra-marathon, the beautiful course but sharing the experience with my close friend.
A Runumentry video is on the way. You’ll want to watch it for the beauty alone. This was then most beautiful course ever; wide open alpine meadows, wildflowers, lakes, trees and spectacular views.
In the end, this is a difficult yet good first ultra-marathon. There is a 14 hour cut-off time, so most will finish. 9 hours and 46 minutes later I took my shoes off, put my feet in a bucket of cold water and sent a thank you out to all the volunteers. This race had the best aid stations ever and I gave me a very memorable experience. Thanks Lucy.
Lucy Crosses the Finish Line
Train Focused, Steve Mackel ChiRunning® Instrcutor
Keep LA Running 10k Runumentry 7-12-09
Setting baselines during your training seasons are important. As I start my journey to qualify for Boston, by the end of the year, I wanted to get an idea of where I am in my training. At the same time I wanted to make another Runumentry.
Here’s something I found out. It is much harder getting video interviews running 7 minute miles verus 10 minute miles. There is more space in between runners and sometimes I had a hard time catching up to people. In fact, my few on course interviews are people I am passing.
Overall I had a good day achieving my personal goals of a sub 45:00 race, shooting this video and having fun. Now I have a baseline and feel that much closer to Boston. This race is on the calendar for next year. Join us.
Train Focused, Steve Mackel – Sole Runners Head Coach
Always Happy Jason Race Report from the L.A. Marathon 2009
Always Happy Jason – Showing His Stuff Early in the LA Marathon
The night before the marathon is the time when I set up all my stuff for the morning. This is when I really know that I’m getting ready to run another marathon.
This is my 4th marathon and my first time writing about my experience at a marathon. I do wonder why it took me sometime to decide on doing a running blog. I guess I was not ready yet. I’m ready now. Here we go.
I woke up around 4:00 a.m. took a shower, and drank my Mega juice. I got all my gear and I was out the door. I was feeling pretty relaxed that morning. I was telling myself that this is going to be a great day for me to run another marathon. Boy…there were so many people up early, and at the starting line. I made sure to take a lot of pictures. I love taking pictures. It shows that you were there to experience this event and it feels good to smile. It was so cramped (that word is going to be important later) at the starting line. The horn went off and we where off on Figueroa. It was amazing the parade of people on the course, it was so awesome. While on the course I saw a gentlemen named Ed that I had seen running in my neighborhood. Before that I had seen him in San Pedro running so I introduced myself. It’s a small world to see him in the L.A. Marathon with over 14,000 people. I was feeling pretty good. I was taking it slow not to go out to fast.
It was about after mile four that Coach Steve and another member of the Sole Runners saw me. It was so cool to see them. Steve ran with me for about mile and a half. We talked about how things were going and then he wanted to know my heart rate. It was around 162 bpm at the time. He told me to slow down. He suggested for me to keep my heart rate down around the 140-150 bpm range until 10:00 a.m., then see I how I felt. I took his advice and I’m grateful to have a great coach and a great friend to help me out. Thanks Coach Steve.
I continued to drink and check my Garmin to make sure I was in the target zone. So far so good. While I was on Venice Blvd. I saw some more Sole Runners that had come to cheer on the Marathoners. It was great to see them and kept my spirits up. Sole Runners…You guys are awesome!
I check my time and it was 10:30 a.m. My feeling at that time was so so. The first half of the marathon was not too bad, but… (always a but) the second half was challenging. I believe at mile 15 or 16 I started feeling tight in my calf area. It was not feeling good at all. I was cramping up. This feeling has come up before but not this bad. I continued going on. One step at a time. Looking back now I should had stretched it out. I also believe that I should have drank more electrolytes. This was a learning experience for me. I worked on using my ChiWalking® for the rest of the Marathon. This helped a lot. The support at the water stations and on the course was amazing and greatly appreciated. That continued to help me to go on.
I was between mile 25 and 26 and I heard a runner tell me, ”Boy…you have a good walking pace.” Then we met in the final stretch of the race and his hands were on his knees. I came by him at told him, “You are almost there.” That helped him to continue. He told me that he signed up for this marathon on Saturday. He has done marathons before but this one he did not train at all for. I was amazed. His name was Carlos. I attempted to run the last .2 miles but my calves were still in pain.
I finished this L.A. Marathon (Yah) one minute faster than last year. The course was pretty good and the weather was great. I’m humble and thankful to have this time to share my experience on the marathon.
This marathon was dedicated to two people that I care about a lot. Pastor E.C. Carson and Ricardo Gordillo’s mom. Fight On. (LIVESTRONG).
AlwayshappyJason – Sole Runners and SoCalRunning.com member
Coach Gary’s Catalina Marathon 2009 Part I
http://www.socalrunning.com/
Coach Gary of SoCalRunning.com does the Catalina Marathon with the rest of the gang from Solerunners.
It was my fourth Catalina Marathon and my most enjoyable one.
Thanks to everyone involved for such a wonderful experience.
God Bless, Gary
Catalina Marathon Saturday, March 14, 2009
Here it is, up only 48 hours after the race. I never know how it is going to turn out while I am filming and I wanted to show the whole day, because the Catalina Marathon is so much more than just a race. I hope this video does it some justice.
As usual, I had a great time and wished I could have interviewed more people. I was going for a PR which makes it difficult to pull the camera out in some sections, when I was pushing through some pain or flying down hills. Sorry if I missed you.
Remember, if you see me come up and say hello. I will pull out my camera and film you.
Steve Mackel – Sole Runners, Head Coach
Tour de Palm Springs 2-14-09
Get on a Bike and Ride!
This Saturday was spent on the bike at the Tour de Palm Springs. This video provides only a glimpse of a great day. I am still learning the skills filming and riding.
Run and Ride, it can change your running for the better and the beauty can’t be beat.
Ride Focused, Coach Steve
Oxtails, Kale Juice and Great Support Help Bring Coach Steve First in His Age Group
Below is My Race Report
Sunday, February 8, 2009, South Pasadena – I sit here at home reflecting on the Catalina Buffalo Half Marathon. This was my third time running this race, so I know the course. I consider it toughest half marathon, and probably the overall toughest race, mile for mile, I have run. I think the fact that it is in Catalina, meaning a boat trip is required to get to the starting line, that it is such a difficult half marathon and that it is in February keep the crowds small yet at the same time the warriors come out for this race. On top of all that it was raining that morning and had rained for the past two days, meaning sloppy conditions.
The meal the night before and the morning of a race, can make or break your experience. Coach Gary and I kicked back Friday night taking in some performance art and a Tapas dinner. I ordered a Oxtail and gnocchi plate. I liked it and told Gary that it may become my new pre-race meal if I did well. I didn’t really think Oxtail was the tail of an Ox until I got home and looked it up. We followed it up with fresh Kale juice at 4:45 in the morning.
We were waiting at the dock for our boat to take us to Catalina at 5:20 AM. The seas were manageable for a stormy day. We motored through a storm into a beautiful, cloudy sunrise. Soon we pulled into Avalon harbor and proceeded to the starting line.
After registering, we had about 50 minutes to get ready. I had to decide on what I was going to wear and carry. It wasn’t raining yet but looked ominous. In a race like this, lighter is better. I picked my gear, put it on and started the Body Loosners with our group of runners. I packed the rest of my stuff in a plastic bag (to keep it dry) and ran to the starting line.
I love the excitement minutes before the start of a race. I am pumped up. I wish racers well, jump around enjoy the moment. The starting horn failed so the starter shouted “Go!” and we were off.
When I run I like talking to the people around me. It takes my mind off the race. I started talking to a guy I recognized. His name was Bobby. I realized this guy passed me in the last mile of last years race. I was starting to see who I would have to keep my eye one. I felt good and started thinking about taking this race seriously.
For the last three months I have said I would just run this race for fun and make a movie. I have been working on my base and I knew I could last, but at what speed? I have been running slow, having fun, coaching our group, but out there, in the first mile, I felt I had a chance to have a good race. I decided it was, “Game On!”
I am a strong uphill runner. The first 5 miles are uphill. I started taking advantage of my skills. I was passing people while keeping it in perspective; there was still a lot of race in front of us. Around mile 7, I took my first short walk. It was up a steep hill and I though I wouldn’t lose too much speed and lower my heart rate. I was losing ground to the guys in front of me so I started running again. When I approached the turnaround I saw the guys in front of me but I was truly concerned with some of the guys behind me. The last two years, I have seen lots of guys pass me on the downhill in this race. I didn’t think I could hold them off.
I coach people how to run downhill. I know how I am supposed to do it but I haven’t had those miles of flowing down steeper terrain, only flashes. Suddenly, everything I teach came together inside me and I was moving faster than ever. I started closing in on the people in front of me and passing them. I almost didn’t know what to think. I wasn’t holding back. I had only been passed by one runner and a mile later I was on his heels, and then passed him again.
The trail ended and we were back on the streets. It was still downhill but not as steep. There was one mile left and I was slowing down. I just couldn’t get my body to move much faster. I thought if I keep my feet moving at the same pace, maybe I could hold off most of the guys behind me.
I heard footsteps and was passed by the guy I had passed shortly before. Now I was getting worried. I knew I was on pace for my best finish ever in this race. I am a competitor. I was trying to justify people passing me, (a bad thought). I had to move into a “One-step-at-a-time” mindset. I had to find the competitive juice. I just kept going. I saw the finish line down at the end of the street. I knew a couple of guys were closing quickly. With 200 yards to go, the race was on but they both had a stronger kick than I could muster. Thank God they were not in my age group.
I slowed down, crossed the finish line with my hands in the air. I had little to nothing left. I had my best downhill running ever and my best time. I finished 17th overall and 1st in my age group. I was happy and know what I have to work on.
Coach Gary finished close behind me and MarathonTraining.TV had three runners in the top 20, with Mentor Matt Brown finishing 10th overall.
There is still more to write about, all our runners, all our medals, our first timers, the new PR’s, all our finishers. All a can say is that I am so proud of every person who got out of bed on a cold, wet day, to battle the conditions.
Every runner in this race has special qualities; they like the trails, they like the beauty, they like the company and they like to test their limits.
Thank you to all the runners, volunteers, race officials and the residents of Catalina. See you next year. Look for more on this great race.
Train Focused, Steve Mackel – Head Coach MarathonTraining.TV
Redondo Beach Super Bowl Sunday 5k/10k
I like running on the morning of big eating days and Super Bowl Sunday is definitely one of them. I haven’t run on Super Bowl Sunday in a few years so I spent the night at my buddy’s house, a couple of miles from the start of the Redondo Beach 5k/10k, woke up by the beach and rode a bike to the starting line this year.
This is a fun race. It has a real party atmosphere. Many people were in costumes, wearing their favorite football team’s jerseys or just being goofy. That is the part of the race I participated in while the serious runners were probably already finished. Check out the video and always look for me out on the course. I’d love to put you in the next one.
Train Focused, Steve Mackel – SoCalRunning.com co-founder
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
Co-Founders
