Trail Run: Runyon Canyon Park

In the same way as there are many people who love to run along the beach or in the city, there are also many of those who enjoy running on trials in the mountains.

Runyon Canyon Park is located in the heart of Los Angeles, only a few miles away from Hollywood. It is one of the best places to go when you want to escape from the busy daily life and heal your stress. It is also a great place to wind down from a grueling day at work and the perfect free weekend getaway.

Runyon Canyon not only offers one of the best hiking/running trails in Los Angeles, breathtaking views of the city and an amazing dog friendly park, but it also offers free daily yoga classes with professional instructors and an atmosphere that anyone can enjoy.

It makes a great exercise either to run or jog or walk up the different paths in the park. The trails are short enough complete in less than an hour and it loops around the canyon and takes you back to where you started. Since there are not many big shady trees or bushes and there are quite a few people around, therefore, it is not that dangerous to even go alone.

When you reach the top, you can see the City of Los Angeles in all of its glory. You can see the Hollywood sign and Griffith Observatory to the left and all the way to the Pacific Ocean on the right. If you look straight, there is Downtown Los Angeles.

Sheila Hughes, a 19-year-old girl who comes to Runyon Canyon twice a month said, “This place is great for a moderate workout. I would always start off running up the paved road, and then I pass the abandoned tennis courts and graffiti houses. After that, I continue running on the trails and climb the hill.  I usually go during the late afternoon/evening to catch the sunset. All in all, Runyon Canyon is the trail that I love to run most.” 

There are also many other accessible mountain and desert trails in SoCal.
http://www.trails.com/catalog_product.aspx?productfamilyid=10025 

The Student Recreation Center @ Cal State Northridge

It has been approximately three months since the brand-new Student Recreation Center (SRC) opened at Cal State University, Northridge on Jan. 26.

Whenever I go to the SRC, I find many currently enrolled students who are taking advantage, as we receive memberships with no additional cost, enjoying their time at the cool facility.

The Student Recreation Center features an indoor jogging track along with many other facilities such as basketball and volleyball courts, a multi-activity court for indoor hockey and soccer, and even a rock-climbing wall in front of the entrance. The indoor track that lies at the topmost floor of the Center is 1/8 mile long. Students can enjoy running in a climate-controlled environment, regardless of the weather outside. The track's superior biomechanical design allows for consistent traction with a cushioned surface providing greater safety and comfort. The fact that it is carpeted certainly aids the runner attempting to add an extra mile to their run.

“I come here between classes or when I am stressed-out by home-works and papers to refresh myself. I just want to try to keep my body healthy, instead of sitting in front of the desk all day. It is also good to come here when you don’t want to think of anything and just reflect with yourself. Perhaps the most greatest thing is that we’re able to run being protected from the San Fernando Valley sun!” says Alonso Corona, a 22-year-old senior student who comes to the SRC about twice a week.

There is also a Total Training Zone located on the first floor of the SRC. The Training Zone is a large room with wall-to-wall mirrors and sprawling with treadmills and strength-training equipment.

If you are at school and you feel like running or activating your body, I suggest you to go straight to the SRC.

CSUN Student Recreation Center Opening

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRN95JHrpms

Follow CSUN SRC on Twitter

https://twitter.com/#!/csun_src

Track and Field: The Challenge of a Japanese Middle-Distance Runner

In March, I had a chance to interview Masato Yokota, a 24-year-old athlete, who is a member of The Japanese National Track and Field Team. Yokota holds the Japan record in the Men’s 800m, and happens to be one of the most famous middle-distance runners in Japan.

He is currently employed and supported by a Japanese company, Fujitsu, which is a leading provider of IT products and services for the global marketplace including hardware, software, networking, business solutions and more. Although he is not expected to do any deskwork as other employees do, his mission is simply to train hard and to success in the official competitions held throughout every year.

Yokota came to Los Angeles for training in January this year and stayed for approximately three months. “I came to train in Los Angeles because my good rival, Prince Mumba, invited me to train with him. He is training at The Santa Monica Track Club (SMTC) for a few years, so I came here to join.” said Yokota. “I thought this was a great opportunity because I am now the fastest runner in Japan’s 800m and there is no one that could run faster than me, which is not good for my practicing. Running with people who are faster than me is a much better way to practice and maintain my motivation.”

There was also another reason he flew all the way to California. “Japan is too cold to run and train hard in the winter. In order to be chosen as a candidate for the upcoming London Olympic, I still need to hit the prerequisite time that has been regulated by the Olympic Committee, so I need to keep training hard.” He said there was no way he could do that staying in Japan.

Yokota enjoyed training in SoCal and he wishes to come back soon. “If I win my seat as a candidate for London, I will come back and train here until the Olympics start in the summer. This was my first time to train outside of Japan, but I realized that there are many rivals and inspiring athletes here in the U.S. Of course, the level is much higher than Japan and the coach and the team are great as well. Even after the Olympics, I plan to officially move to SoCal because the weather is perfect throughout the year and the life rhythm here is more slower and relaxing than in Japan which is absolutely good for my training.”

However, in the meanwhile, Yokota's top priority is to be chosen as a candidate for the Olympics, which start July 23. “I hope I will be able to run in London! Fingers crossed!”

Finally Here! The Inaugural Hollywood Half Marathon

Hollywood finally had its own Half Marathon. Hollywood Half Marathon & 5K / 10K was a brand-new and exciting Hollywood themed event with a catch phrase of “Run with the Stars in The Entertainment Capital of the World.”

The Hollywood 10K & Walk of Fame 5K started on Hollywood Boulevard between Highland & Sycamore at 8 a.m. on April 7, which saw nearly 3,000 participants filling the street. It was quite a rare occasion to see Hollywood Boulevard, which is usually packed with tourists, closed besides such events as the premiers and the "red carpet" for movies/films.

Two hours in advance of the 5K & 10K, the half marathon started near Universal Studios City Walk. The marathon was limited to 7,500 participants, and was sold out months before the race date.

This 13.1mile took runners through the heart of Hollywood, Studio City, Sunset Boulevard, and along the Walk of Fame. Runners were welcomed to come as they are, but they were also encouraged to dress up as their favorite celebrity. As the runners reached the goal, they were to walk down a movie-premiere style red carpet and photo backdrop to celebrate their victory in style when receiving the beautiful Hollywood Star Medal.

“I decided to run this marathon because it was a brand new event, and the star medal seemed to be really gorgeous. The race was very entertaining and fun because the whole event had the essence of the world’s famous ‘Hollywood’ everywhere. It was my first time to be on the red carpet which was exciting too!” said Marian Leonard, a 31-year-old Hollywood Half Marathon finisher.

The next event organized is the Florida Hollywood Half Marathon on Dec. 2, 2012. This race is going to be the east coast edition of the Hollywood Half Marathon, which would be limited to only 5,000 participants. The organizers plan to have the red carpet to bring the glitz, glam, and star-studded theme to Florida. 

Also, the Hollywood Half Marathon & 5K / 10K next year is already scheduled on April 6, 2013. Register before it sells out and be sure to mark your calendar. 

Check out the details at the event's social network accounts.

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/HollywoodHalf

Twitter: Hollywood1/2Marathon @HollywoodHalf https://twitter.com/#!/hollywoodhalf

Soaking Up the LA Marathon 2012

Last Sunday, on March 18, 1 million spectators watched more than 23,000 runners run through the City of Angels in the 27th Annual Honda Los Angeles Marathon.

All participants started off at Dodger Stadium just after 7 a.m. under cold and cloudy skies. The weather forecast predicted there might be a chance of rain, as it did during last year's marathon, when 2.36 inches fell. However, there was no rain throughout the entire race.

The so-called "Stadium to the Sea" course, is considered to be among the top 10 marathons in the world. Runners continued through downtown L.A. and into Echo Park on the East side of town before hitting the famous landmarks, including Hollywood, West Hollywood, Sunset Boulevard, Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills and Santa Monica Boulevard. Then runners tackled an incline at the Veterans Administration grounds in Brentwood and continued to head west to the Pacific, crossed the finish line at the world’s famous Santa Monica Pier.

In the long history of L.A. Marathon, there has been a tradition for encouraging entertainment along the way. Music by local bands, dancing, cheerleading and other sorts of entertainment kept spirits up, runners going and spectators staying. Many spectators, families and friends of the runners were shouting out the runner’s name, as the bibs had their names printed on them.

The reward ahead in Santa Monica was the shiny blue Pacific in all its glory. Every finisher expressed joy, happiness and excitement when they reached the goal.

“The 26.2 mile journey was longer than I thought and was quite tough. But when I reached the goal, I forgot about all that. I was so excited and incredibly proud of myself for my big accomplishment. Many friends came out to support me and I had so much fun.” said Kevin Wagner, a 36-year-old first-time runner.

So now do you feel like participating in the Honda L.A. Marathon next year? Mark your calendars for March 17, 2013.

St. Patrick’s Day Community 5K Run/Walk

SoCal was pouring this Saturday with rain and wind starting up around 6 a.m. However, believe it or not, Redondo Beach painted the town green.

The wildly popular St. Patrick's Day 5k Run/Community Walk & Kids Dash Little Leprechaun “Dash for the Gold” Event, put by the Village Runner, took place on March 17 at Redondo Beach, Calif.

The event was open to the entire public and a portion of registration fees benefit Saint Lawrence Martyr Education Foundation located in Redondo Beach.

As the clock hit 8 a.m., all participants started either walking, jogging or running. There were such a variety of people in the event. For example, there were people jogging with their dogs, couples walking with their baby-cart and a group wearing a pair of shoes that had heels more than 10cm high.

An 80-year-old woman, who was the oldest participant in the race, celebrated her birthday that day by jogging with her daughter and grandchildren. Many participants praised her when she reached the goal.

All participants received a St. Patrick's Day Run t-shirt. There were also age division awards and cash prizes to the top three overall male and female finishers in the 5K.

Although it was a raining so hard, everyone had smiles on their faces. 

 “I enjoyed running with my friends in the neighborhood. My mom bought me these green T-shirt and socks for me.” a 7-year-old boy Edward Murray said, with a big clover face print.

This race might be the perfect example of why people love the South Bay. There is always a great community celebration going on right in their own backyard, and you could feel the sense of community.

The participants had a happy and healthy St. Patrick’s Day for sure.

Santa Monica Track Club

Santa Monica Track Club (SMTC) is one of the most competitive track clubs in the United States, and possibly the most successful in the world. This has been particularly evident at the Olympics and World Championships.

The Club’s dedication to its athletes has yielded 27 medals, including 19 gold, 5 silver and 3 bronze. Twenty-seven Club athletes have qualified for the Olympics in 53 different events. Also, the Club has won 18 world championships, set or tied 37 world records and 60 American records.

The Club’s alumni include such luminaries as Carl Lewis, Leroy Burrell, Danny Everett, Steve Lewis, Kevin Young, Johnny Gray, Jenny Spangler, Carol Lewis, Joe DeLoach and Mike Marsh. None of these great athletes would have achieved their goals without the support from the Club and Foundation in their developing years.

In an interview, Prince Mumba, an Olympian said, “The reason I came to Los Angeles in 2008 was because I knew that Santa Monica Track Club was an excellent club and I always wanted to train as a part of it.”

SMTC was founded in 1972 by Joe Douglas, who still serves as the Club’s President and head coach, with the mission to help track and field athletes achieve their best. The Club has also created programs for youth and community athletes.

“I want to support those who love to run, that’s all,” says Douglas, who has spent more than 40 years of his career in this field. “In my opinion, athletes have to be focused and disciplined in order to be successful. I just help them do that, and we do it as a team.”

While the Club’s mission is to train and guidance track and field athletes and road running athletes of all levels, the focus has remained on developing post-collegiate athletes seeking to represent the United States in the Olympics and World Championships. 

Aiming for a bright Olympic medal in London 2012

Last Wednesday, I had a chance to interview Prince Mumba, a 27-year-old athlete, who is a member of Zambia's national track and field team. Mumba is already chosen as a candidate for the Men’s 800m in the upcoming London Olympic 2012 scheduled this summer.

He is now an Olympic athlete in track and field, but back in his youth, his dream was to become a soccer player. “Unfortunately, I injured my knee and I had to quit soccer when I was 12 years old. Then I started to run.” 

In his home country Zambia, soccer is promoted more than any other sport, and track, not as much. This is the reason he moved to the United States and chose Southern California as a place to train since the weather was similar to his home country.

“Even after I became a runner, I am still having a hard time with the condition of my knees, but I have to live with it. When it hurts badly or when the training is hard, it makes me want to quit running, but I wake up next day and I end up running. After all, I guess I love to run.”

Mumba trains everyday except for Sunday. “I train three hours a day, either at Santa Monica College or at the beach. I enjoy running both. Tracks are better for my knees and it is also better to keep track of my time. However, running along the beach is sometimes a good refresh.”

At the end of the interview, he told me what he wants to accomplish in the near future. “My goal and motivation are very simple. I want to compete in the London Olympics and win the medal. Even if I can’t get a medal, I definitely want to finish in the top 10,” Mumba said firmly.

“I am really looking forward to London and I am so excited to run the race. For the meantime, I have to keep training hard and take very good care of my knee so that I can compete with the top level athletes across the world.”

※ Take a look at how he trains : 

  Prince Mumba Shaping Up - Track Practice

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ul-lsEAY6FI

SoCal Runners Traveling to Run

Four runners out of seven runners that I have contacted so far for this project were not in town this weekend. That was all for the same reason. They all flew to Japan to participate in the Tokyo Marathon 2012, the largest marathon in my home country Japan, which was held on Feb. 26. The four participants included one Japanese, one Korean and two Americans all living in Southern California.

There are tons of marathons and running events in California, but why would they go all the way to Japan just to run? 

“When you run in California, unfortunately the view does not change much within the 26.2 miles” said Emily Jo, a 21-year-old college student wearing a “Hong Kong Marathon Finisher” T-shirt. She said she enjoys going abroad to participate in marathons in small countries because the scenery changes and never gets her bored during the race.


In fact, the course of the Tokyo Marathon symbolizes the past, present and the future of Tokyo. During the unforgettable 26.2 mile journey, the runners had the chance to thoroughly enjoy numerous famous sightseeing spots, such as the Imperial Palace, Tokyo Tower and the world’s largest fish market, and reached their goal at Tokyo Big Sight Convention Center.

Some runner’s purpose is traveling, like Andrea Wood, 28, an office worker who began running five years ago and competed three marathons around the world. “I always wanted to visit Japan and I thought this marathon would be a good opportunity to make it happen. I also ran the Amsterdam Marathon because I wanted to travel to Holland. ” She started running to get fit and add some spice to her travel experiences. 

Zack Dixon, 36, was participating for the “International Friendship Run” and the charity “Tsunagu.”  The Tokyo Marathon this year was held as a major fundraising event for those affected by the 2011 Japanese earthquake and tsunami. Zack said “I wanted to do something for Japan after the tsunami, and I thought I could contribute by running, which is the one thing I am good at.” “Many people came to cheer,” he said, “and it was awesome running in the middle of the capital.”

Another participant, Chihiro Tamada, 32, a Japanese woman runner’s motivation was different. “I always wanted to run the Tokyo Marathon, but when I was living in Japan, I couldn’t get selected. But now I live in the states and it is much easier to be accepted to participate.” The marathon tends to be 10 times over subscribed.

More than 35,000 runners took part in the Tokyo Marathon 2012, with around 10% of those being international. 

It seems that each runner have their own good reason to travel all the way to run in foreign countries from sunny California.

Surf City, Here We Run!

The 16^th annual Surf City USA Marathon drew 20,000 runners to Huntington Beach. The Surf City USA Marathon, also called the California’s Classic Oceanfront Marathon, is conducted on Super Bowl Sunday which was Feb. 5 this year. The race featured a full marathon, which saw 3,000 participants, and a half marathon, which saw 17,000.

All races started on Pacific Coast Highway at Huntington Street in front of the Waterfront Beach Resort. Huntington Beach stretches for miles with wide, uninterrupted golden beachfront as far as the eye can see, perfect for barefoot strolls and California sunsets. Runners wind through the legendary surfing beaches of Southern California. Many retro surf bands entertained along the course and also at the Finish Line Festival (Beer Garden Beach Party) at the end of the race.

All finishers received a unique surfboard medal. This is called the Signature Surfboard Medal Series and many runners travel from all over the world to run for the famous Surfboard Finisher Medallions, which is an "original" surfboard style medal for this particular marathon.

Every element in this marathon is “SoCal (Southern California) style.”

As I was watching the runners pass by, I noticed such a variety of runners. Runners who are dressed in all sorts of costumes such as a tuxedos, rabbit-suit, and cheer-leader uniforms. There were also some participants who were holding the U.S. flag, runners wearing the exact same run-wear as their friends running together, and runners running with their dog, etc. Watching the colorful crowd, you would also recognize that some runner runs for different motivations.

Alongside the course was filled with people who have come to support and cheer the runners, as well as the volunteers. The supporters were families of runners, friends, and people who did not even know any single runner running this marathon. They were all cheering the runners in their own way. The whole event was filled with a sense of unity.

Running right beside the ocean and the dynamic waves, listening to the cheers and music performed, running under the blue sky and bright sun, running with the wind. The runners definitely looked good running through the exclusive oceanfront course. Marathon is surely a tough recreation/sport, yet makes the runners look so good, fresh, and excited. The expressions on the supporter’s faces cheering for the runners were amazing as well.

Pacific Coast Highway never looked so good!

The Surf City USA Marathon is owned and operated by Pacific Shoreline Marathon, LLC. The organization is committed to creating unique experiences to inspire active lifestyles for participants from all over the world, and for years to come. There is another big event associated with the Surf City USA Marathon.

The Beach Cities Challenge is a race series that includes three Southern California marathons – the Surf City Marathon in Huntington Beach, the Orange County Marathon, and the Long Beach International City Bank Marathon. Runners who complete any combination of half or full marathons in all three events consecutively will receive a special Beach Cities Challenge Medal.

Coming next is The OC Marathon on May 6, 2012.