Last month, Todd Byers outlined some benefits an AREC runner would receive by becoming a member. Last month, both Todds met with the race director of the Long Beach Marathon (LBICM), John Goldman, to discuss the possibility of forming a partnership with AREC.
What AREC offers to the marathon group is some volunteers for the race, and a local running group that helps prepare people for the marathon.
What the LB Marathon group offers is promotion of AREC to a wider audience, and more benefits to members.
Some of the ideas in the works are:
Last year, some of you pay recall that LBICM extended the lower price deadline for two weeks to encourage local marathon runners. This partnership can bring some great bonus perks to being a member of AREC.
For those of you who are concerned that AREC might just become an offshoot of the Long Beach Marathon, never fear! AREC is first and foremost, A Running EXPERIENCE Club, which means what it has always meant: we walk or run for all our various reasons (marathons, sprints, or exercise) and above all, HAVE FUN!
The key to this partnership is that AREC runners get involved by giving myself and the two Todds input about any reservations they have or what they want from this partnership. Together, we can make AREC great!!