I am a huge fan of the Xterra Races and this race is a must-do race. I usually train for the Catalina Buffalo Half but they have had some issues that I won’t go into here that caused me to bail on that half and find a new trail half. And, Boney Mtn is it. It gives you everything that the Buffalo Half has, the hills and the beauty. This is one tough race.

The best way to get an idea is to watch the video.

Train Focused, Steve Mackel, Certified ChiRunning® Instructor

Click here to open the complete pdf file of: A Running Dialogue – The Sole Runners Mentors Newsletter featuring Mentor Isabelle

Train Focused, Steve Mackel – Sole Runners Head Coach

What a great morning. What a great way to start the new year. What a great parade. This unofficial run, not race, is all about fun. This year it was warm, perfect running that morning. It is 5 miles up to the floats, then you turn around run back down Colorado Blvd.

Now that I have done this twice, here are the must do list:

The Sole Runners, as we train for full and half marathons, will make this an optional training run. Special thanks to the Inland Empire Running Club, Pasadena Tri Club, Pasadena Pacers and other running clubs for joining us.

See you next year!

Train Focused, Steve Mackel – Sole Runners Head Coach

This Thursday, January 12, 7:30 PM, at Breakthru Fitness we are starting my annual, kick-off the new year, 108 Sun Salutations. This week, we will do 54 Sun Salutations and Thursday, January 19 we will do another 54 to make the total of 108. Our focus this week will be purging out the clutter in our lives we don’t need. Get rid of bad feelings you may be harboring, release pent up anger, let go of guilt, grief, stress, insecurities, whatever may be holding you back. This “Sweatfest” will help you purge it out, so be prepared. This is a difficult class but all levels welcome, you move at your speed. Do what you can.

This year we are very blessed to have two of my favorite yoga teachers co-teaching the class with me. Susan Wiens – Yoga Beyond the Mat and Mark Frankel. You can attend even if you are not a BreakThru member. Non-Members only are only $10 for these two classes (normally $30) but you must tell the front desk person you are my guest. BreakThru Fitness has mats and towels if you need them.

Breakthru Fitness is located at 345 South Lake Ave., Pasadena, CA 91105 Phone: (626)396-1700, on the corner of Del Mar and Lake upstairs next to Trader Joes with plenty of free parking in the parking structure.

If you want more get there at 6:30 PM and take my Spinning class first. What a 1 – 2 punch!

Train Focused, Steve Mackel – Yogi in Training

Coach Steve Teaches Indoor Cycling and Athlete’s Yoga, Thursdays 6:30 PM Cycling, 7:30 PM Yoga, at beautiful Breakthru Fitness in Pasadena, on the corner of Del Mar and California, upstairs, next to Trader Joe’s.

Just tell the front desk person that you are my guest and they will only charge you $10. Come for one class or come for both. If you are new to Spinning, please get there a little early so I can help fit you on the bike. They have plenty of yoga mats so you don’t need to bring one. Come on in and try it.

Train Focused, Steve Mackel – MarathonTraining.TV Head Coach

This will be SoCalRunning.com’s first annual Rose Parade Bandit Run (Details Below the Video). There is nothing official about it. This is not a formal event. There is no entry fee, no medal, no shirt, nothing but fun at your own risk. Plan and Remember, the Rose Parade is never on a Sunday, it’s tradition, so we are meeting on Monday, January 2, 2012 at 4:45 AM.

I did it for the first time last year and it was a blast. This year being 2012, an ominous year, is the year to make sure you do it. You can check it off your bucket list and if you are into parades you can hang around and watch the parade after you finish your run and maybe, a little breakfast.

Last year, after a late night partying, I set my alarm clock but it didn’t go off. My internal alarm clock woke me up about 20 minutes late. I knew I missed the group of runners I had planed on doing this with. I rolled in bed thinking a warm bed was better than a cold morning outside. The runner in me wouldn’t let me sleep. It was difficult but I got in my car, parked and did it on my own, figuring I find them somewhere on Colorado Blvd.

Well, I never found my group but I found a lot of other fun, interesting people and sights. Once again the details are below the video if you want to join us.

This is an unofficial 11 mile run that starts at the Starbucks, 3429 East Foothill Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91107. There are many FREE parking spaces available at the Sierra Madre train station, which is across the street.

This run basically starts at the end of the Rose Parade route, goes to the beginning, where the floats are.

I will be getting to Starbucks around 4:45 AM Depending on your speed you should plan on leaving between 4:50 – 5:15 AM to make it to the beginning of the parade around 6 am. Groups will be leaving about every 5 minutes. Since it is about 5.5 miles you can do the math but if we all get up to the beginning by 6 – 6:10 AM it will give us 45 minutes to walk around and check out the floats. Since we have many runners doing this, that run different paces, we will meet on the bridge at Colorado and St. John in the middle of the street around 6 AM. I will bring my phone and give people my number so we don’t get lost in the sea of humanity and find each other. The parade starts at 8 AM but we need to start running back around 7:15 AM. If we leave too late we will get thrown off the route.

It was cold last year so you need to dress appropriately. You much bring a hydration system or a bottle of water and money for warm drinks or goodies afterwards. Email Coach Steve if you want to join me or have questions.

Parade Focused, Steve Mackel – SoCalRunning.com co-founder, since 2006

Generic Events’ Xterra Series is in full swing now. The Topanga Turkey Trot the the second race in the series. I ran the 15k. They offered a 5k and a 10k too.

This Thanksgiving Day provided perfect weather for running. This race starts straight uphill for almost 2 miles before you hit the rolling single track. This is real single track. There are some technical spots. You have to beware of low branches and roots. Once on the single track it is almost impossible to pass other runners. I used it as a slight recovery section because at mile 5 the trail opens onto a fire road and the race is on. What do you you have left for the final 4 miles of up and down hills? You’ll find out.

The last mile is a screaming downhill. I didn’t get any finish line footage because I was running way too fast and in a neck and neck race with some other runner. My overall time was 1:26:35, 66th OA (overall) and and 6th in my AG (age group). Not bad considering I was filming this race but the competition was tough.

This is a must do race for trail runners and a great way to burn calories before you eat your T-Day dinner. Put it on your 2012 calendar and don’t forget to sign up early because it sells out.

Race Focused, Steve Mackel Certified ChiRunning® Instructor

Steve, Christy and Bruce Finished on the Podium in the 2007 Run for the Hungry

As I write this I am not feeling a fast race in me for this Thanksgiving’s Topanga Turkey Trot 15k, but sometimes I run fastest when I am not “feeling it.” I feel like hanging out and running with friends, enjoying the trails and getting in touch with nature. We’ll see what happens tomorrow but no matter what I’ll be out there early Earning My Bird.

There are lots of great local Turkey Trots. The Long Turkey Trot offering 10/5k and Kids Run and Run for the Hungry in La Canada, So Cal, are two of my favorites and have same day registration.

Run for the Hungry is a great race. You bring some canned food for a food bank, pay a small entry fee, run a up Foothill Blvd., turnaround and run back. This 5k makes you feel good and get ready for the big meal. If you run in a Local Turkey Trot, please send me a picture and race report. I’d like to hear about all the local So Cal Turkey Trots.

Running on Thanksgiving is a true way to Earn Your Bird.

*I have to give props to Coach Steve Ilg for starting the Earn Your Bird tradition. Years ago he had his own Earn Your Bird triathlon which consisted of meditation, yoga and running. Trust me this was hard and that’s how I earned my bird for the first time. Now I carry on the Earn Your Bird tradition in some way.

Join this time tested tradition and Earn Your Bird!

Eat Focused, Steve Mackel – Certified ChiRunning Instructor

Palos Verdes Sole RunnersWeek 5 Training – Saturday, November 24, at 8 AM at Trump National Golf Course, Rancho Palos Verdes 90275

Learn how to run. Learn ChiRunning® Join now before it is too late.

You’ll take lessons to learn other sports so why do you think you don’t need lessons to learn how to run? The Palos Verdes next ChiRunning® Lesson is Saturday morning, Saturday, November 12, at 8 AM.

We will meet at Trump National Golf Course, at the corner of Palos Verdes Drive South and Ocean Trails Road, ‘Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275

Please Email Coach Steve with Any Questions or call 818-414-9181

Train Focused,
Steve Mackel, Sole Runners Head Coach

MarathonTraining.TV Race Day Must Have!

Printable pdf Click on the Picture Above

With the Lon Beach Marathon coming up Sunday, October 9, I wanted to make the Race Day Checklist available for all of you.

Race Focused, Steve Mackel – MarathonTraining.TV Head Coach