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2008 Long Beach International City Bank Marathon and Half Marathon Training Schedules
Welcome to A Running Experience Club’s Long Beach International City Bank Marathon (LBICBM) and Half Marathon training program! The 2008 LBICBM events will take place on Sunday October 12. We at A.R.E.C. are committed to providing you with the experience and knowledge gained from members with numerous past marathons and half marathons, in addition to a comprehensive mileage-training program and the mental preparation necessary to complete this courageous goal.
The training runs will commence on Saturday May 17 at 7:00am in the parking lot adjacent to Joe’s Crab Shack located at 6550 E. Marina Dr. in Long Beach, and will continue every Saturday thereafter at 7:00am until race day, unless otherwise noted on the A.R.E.C. web site: www.arec-lb.com. Suggested training programs for both the full and half marathon distances are outlined on the following pages with columns for daily and total weekly mileage, and rest days. Our Saturday “long runs” are definitely the most important part of the training, though the remainder of the schedule may be modified as needed to fit any hectic lifestyle.
We will also be conducting valuable seminars/clinics with guest speakers on topics of interest such as the basics of marathoning, the LBICBM courses, clothing/shoe selection and injury prevention. We also may occasionally change location or run a race to spice things up a bit, so frequently check the Training Programs link from the A.R.E.C. home page for any new information. A weekly e-mail will also be sent out to all participants with that Saturday’s course description and a web link to the course.
Participation in the program is only $25 and includes membership in A.R.E.C., a club gym/race bag, a monthly newsletter, a pre-marathon pasta party and much more! A membership form, which must be filled out and returned immediately, is included in this packet. Checks must be made out to A.R.E.C. and should accompany the returned membership form. We look forward to assisting you in this potentially life-changing experience!
Please be aware that a full marathon (26.2 miles) is really not for the beginning runner. Ideally, one should have been running for at least 3-6 months and be currently running at least 15 miles per week prior to starting this program. If you do not meet this benchmark, you might want to consider training for the half marathon (13.1 miles) instead. If you are unsure, we can discuss your most appropriate option.
For further information regarding the training program or if you have any specific questions, please contact Club President and Road Runner Club of America (RRCA)-certified coach Todd Rose by e-mail or phone (562-252-6462).
And don’t forget about A.R.E.C.’s year-round Wednesday evening and Sunday morning fun runs. Go to the A.R.E.C. home page at www.arec-lb.com for details. We hope to see you soon and keep on running!
Updates
- The Current Training schedule PDFs are now posted.
- June 14 – We will meet at the Runner’s High store (5338 E. 2nd St.) instead of Joe’s at our usual 7:00am for 5 and 9 mile runs. Upon everyone’s return, be prepared to go inside for a 45 minute seminar given by store manager Thom Lacie on the subject of foot types and shoe selection. Thom has provided this talk for A.R.E.C. the last few years and has generously agreed to do it again. He has been in the running business a long time and knows what he is talking about. High arches, flat feet, heel strikers, pronators, supinators, curved last, motion control, stability or cushioned shoes… what does it all mean and how do you know what shoes to buy for you? Even if you have heard this talk before, this is some great information that is worth hearing again!
- June 19 – The Summer Solstice 5-Miler (a.k.a. The Watermelon Run) will take place in El Dorado Park in Long Beach at 6:00pm. Parking is off of Spring St. and there is a small charge for parking. This race is completely voluntary, but 1) will be a good barometer for where your fitness is at, 2) is local and 3) is a lot of fun… you get a watermelon after the run! I will provide entry forms at Saturday runs. Wear an A.R.E.C. shirt or singlet!!
- June 28 – We will meet at the Stoneybrook Condo complex clubhouse (500 Bellflower Blvd.) instead of Joe’s at our usual 7:00am for a 7 mile run. Upon everyone’s return (approximately 8:20am), be prepared to adjourn inside to the clubhouse where it is a bit quieter and more comfortable for a 45 minute seminar given by guest speaker Brooke Donberg from Clif Bar on the subject of nutrition strategy for endurance athletes (fueling, hydrating, and recovery). Brooke can explain the various Clif Bar products (gels, bars, bloks, electrolyte replacement and recovery powders, etc.) and what they are designed for. Now you will know what to use and when. Bring a change of clothes and some food/drink for recovery.
- August 16 - POSTPONED – The Huntington Beach Distance Derby will take place at 7:00am (10-miler) and 8:30am (5-miler) on the bike path at the pier where Pacific Coast Highway meets Main St. The 10-miler fits into our half and full marathon training schedules perfectly to again test your fitness level. Parking can be challenging in Huntington Beach, so I suggest getting there very early (by 6:00am at the latest) and using the parking structure on Walnut off of Main St. about 2 blocks north of P.C.H. Let’s meet by the registration booths at 6:45am for a quick pep talk and team unity before the race starts. I will provide entry forms at Saturday runs. Wear an A.R.E.C. shirt or singlet!!
The latest is that the race has been postponed to October (post-marathon), so this will not be part of our training this year.
- September 13 – Following everyone’s 12 mile run, stick around while Stacy Embretson, A.R.E.C. member and Director of Race Operations for International City Racing (who puts on the Long Beach Marathon and related events), provides us with new course descriptions, behind-the-scenes anecdotes, suggestions and much more valuable information about the Long Beach Marathon events. We will try to find a shady spot in the Joe’s parking lot and begin the talk at roughly 9:30am. Bring a beach chair, a change of clothes, and some food/drink for recovery.
This page created on January 8, 2006 and updated on June 27, 2008.