Training Tips
One of the most important training tips is to avoid getting injured. It's much easier to achieve your goals when your body is healthy. Beginning runners need to be mindful to keep a manageable pace and to stick to shorter distances until their body is ready to go further/faster. Everyone is different, but this usually takes longer than most runners are willing to wait. A suggested approach is to use a "couch to 5k" plan, which sets reasonable goals for a new runner. It is important to remember that even these plans can be too agressive if pain becomes an issue. My biggest advice to beginners is to have a knowledgeable runner assess their gait and help them run as silently as possible. Proper gait can take a long time to develop, but is the key to running longevity!
Upcoming Races
Per the Ventura Marathon website:
The fast and scenic Ventura Marathon is back this year. This point-to-point marathon is the perfect amount of downhill starting in Ojai and ending in Ventura. The course winds along the paved paths of the Ojai Valley Trail and Ventura River Trail bringing runners towards the coast and one of Southern California's most popular surf destinations. Qualify for Boston or run a new PR and spend a weekend in beautiful Ventura.
Featured Runner
Persistence pays off! While qualifying for the Boston Marathon is never an easy task, if you can continue running as you get older, the qualifying times become more forgiving. For example, an 18-34 year old male needs to run a sub-three hour marathon. An 18-34 year old female needs to run under 3:30. For individuals 50-54, males must run 3:25 and females need to run a 3:55 marathon. These are the times that allow the individual to register for the race. Actual cutoff times are calculated by evaluating the number of registrants versus the number of available slots, which is usually 30,000 runners.