Whatever Half Marathon Training Program

Whatever Half Marathon Training Program 

Register Here

For those that wish to continue with us into the fall, or return after a summer hiatus, we have the Whatever Training Program. Like the summer version, we’re focused on regaining or maintaining fitness but for a wider variety of events. Group size is limited to around 100 runners and the program follows a similar format. The difference is there is no specific race we train for. Thus, we each train for “whatever” we want.

Maybe you aim to run the popular Silver Strand Half Marathon in Nov. Could be you want a couple of hours of support while working up to a full marathon. Maybe you are looking to meet other runners like you training for “whatever” – you define the goal and distance. Events in Nov, Dec. and Jan would be great fit for this program.

Once the weather starts to cool, we move inland more often to run trails in Los Penasquitos Canyon Preserve and Mission Trails and San Diego Track Club fall cross-country races. The program ends with the annual Christmas Card Lane Run in December.

The program includes weekly Tuesday night group track workouts and Saturday morning long runs with aid station support, training schedules tailored for three running speeds (12:00 to 10:00 minutes per mile, 10:00 to 7:30 minutes per mile, and 7:30 minutes per mile and faster), seminar speakers, access to a half marathon training web site, and long run course maps/route descriptions and more.

At a Glance:

• Program runs 9/17/2016 - 12/17/2016. 
• Fee of $115* includes a technical T-shirt, program coaching, access to exclusive web site content and ‘closed’ group workouts  (Tue & Sat) and one year membership. Log in to see the member’s program only pricing of $65
• The program is capped at 100 runners

One year membership and entry into the “Whatever” half marathon program together. If you are already a member, log in to see the discounted “Whatever” only price.

Hope to see you out there!

-Ashley

Men's Teams Wild Duck 5K Recap

Men's Open Team

The San Diego Men's Open team was well represented at the Wild Duck 5K.  The Wild Duck is the opening race of the 2016 Dirt Dog Cross Country Series.  We had nine team members who were able to get the Track Club into 2nd place on the day.  Our first place finisher was Brian Valentini in 16:32 coming in at 14th place overall.  Just behind Brian was Alex Samarin in 16:39 and Charlie Gamble in 16:57.   We will be back racing next at our home course in Balboa Park for the Balboa 4 miler.

70+ Men's Team

 SDTC 70+ Dirt Dog XC Team at the Wild Duck 5K

I am happy and proud to announce that SDTC 70+ team members Gordon Lutes, Tom Sweet, Dennis Kasischke, Doug Kenyon, and Peter Stern ran their guts out at the Wild Duck 5K. 

Gordon Lutes ran a 22:43, Tom Sweet ran a 24:11, Dennis Kasischke ran a 26:02, Doug Kenyon ran a 26:04, and Peter Stern ran 26:32.  

San Diego beat the Florida Track Club by 1 point.  This race couldn't have been any closer!!

Way to go 70+ men!!

Dirt Dog Is Here!!!

Alex Samarin

"I love cross-country... on the track I feel like a hamster."

- Robin Williams

The start and end of any race are the same as every other. As I'm writing this, I'm northbound on a flight to San Jose.Tomorrow, a drive to Bodega Bay - and the next day, Humboldt. I'm accompanied by three friends and teammates on the San Diego Track Club: Charlie Gamble, Brian Valentini, and Bob James. Sunday we'll run the Humboldt Bay Marathon. We're shooting for a Boston Qualifier and although I've put in the long runs, I don't feel completely ready.

It's my first marathon, and Charlie's too.  Brian and Bob are seasoned and reassure us that it will be an "easy long run"... right. Though I'm a lifelong runner, my training and races have usually been geared toward shorter track and cross-country races, with the occasional 20-miler always being a mistake. The marathon training cyle has been a great experience that made me realize why a team is important. I couldn't do it myself.

A lot of you probably came to the Track Club through our marathon training program. You may or may not miss it, but I'm sure the marathon was something you are glad to have done.

I've decided that it's a little crazy since I really only started training two months ago. And again, that's why this start line is the same as every other. In my mind I'm not as prepared as I should be, but there's never a good time to tackle a new challenge. It will without a

doubt stretch my limits because it's something new that I haven't done before. And it's very close to the opening of our cross-country season (legs need time to heal!), so let me tell you a bit about that.

I'll start with a riddle:

There is a line on the grass in Balboa Park, and not everyone knows where it is. 

It doesn't divide lanes of traffic, or countries, or come at the end of a complex math problem.

It is a simple line. It is not particularly wide and no banner is strung along its short length. 

Unlike most lines, it doesn't separate; it brings together.

Though it has been there a long time, most days you can't find it - the line just isn't there.

You'll cross it going one way, but not the other. On one day a year if you know where it is, then you've earned         it -though in getting there you might fall apart. 

What is it?  

In this case, I'm talking about the start line of the Balboa Park 4-miler. But remember how I began: "the start and end of any race is the same as every other."  As I approach the start of my first marathon, let me encourage you to try something new and check out the Balboa 4-miler.  It's a race that the Track Club organizes, and it's part of the Dirt Dog cross-country series.  You may be looking for a new challenge, but you might not be sure that this should be it. Let me reassure you - you've been there before.  You may not have heard about the hills "Zig-zag" or "Powder", but I'm sure they're no worse than a marathon. At least I hope they aren't!

Whether it's at the end of 26.2 or after 4 miles and 3 hills, in the end we'll have crossed another line: difficulties overcome, lessons learned, decisions made. And that's how I approach every race, every new challenge - tackle it, and decide after if you should have done it.

See you at the finish.

-By Alex Samarin

Rockin’ ‘N’ Runnin’ 2016 (Part 2 of 2)

Rockin’ ‘N’ Runnin’ 2016 (Part 2 of 2)

SDTC Blog Post

By: Melissa Stokely

http://sdtc.com/

I joined the San Diego Track Club and the Rockin’ ‘N’ Runnin’ Training Program in early January this year with my husband Jerry. We heard about it from our friend Miyuki Takahashi who seemed to really enjoy it last year when she did her first half marathon. We’ve been triathletes since 2008, with approx. 50 triathlons, mostly sprints, a few Olympics and one half for Jerry under our belts!

I started running for the first time at age 51 when I started triathlons. I got plantar fasciitis right off the bat, was in a boot for 2 mos. and got out of it just in time to finish training for and compete in my first tri at the Mission Bay Triathlon. For the next 7 years, my longest run was 7 miles, between running injuries and a general dislike for running.

I did the least running I could get by with and be successful at sprint tri’s. I didn’t like running, but I loved tris! Last year I was introduced to trail running and did two XTERRA trail 10k’s - Getting a 1st place AG at Laguna (of one in my AG)!! and a 3rd place AG at The XTERRA World Championships in Maui in October! I was over the moon. We watched our coach, Lesley Paterson get a 2nd place in the XTERRA race. The whole podium thing was a blast! In Maui, we raced the same course as the XTERRA athletes, only just the run part! There were 9 in my AG! For the first time, I was really excited about running!

Throughout 2014 and 2015 I was coached by Lesley and I improved a great deal! It was during her coaching that I got the trail running bug! In July last summer, I felt like I was in the best shape of my life, was at my racing weight for the first time in 7 years of work! I was signed up for my first half marathon event in September and was training and having a great time.

Then bam! We were on a week long cycling adventure in Montana and my doctor called with some scary news. They wanted me to come in the next day regarding the mammogram I had before I left on my trip. There was nothing I could do being on my bike tour, and not wanting to overreact, I made lemonade out of lemons and rode out the trip, no pun intended!! It was going to be our 1st ever 2 week vacation with plans to fish and relax in Montana after the bike ride.

We however rushed home at the end of the ride and I was at Kaiser the next morning being diagnosed with breast cancer. It was early stage thanks to the routine mammogram. Surgery and radiation followed, with my last radiation treatment the last week of December. I managed to train throughout the process, however at a much easier pace and mostly for fun and stress relief. All races got cancelled. I stayed coaching with Lesley through December, a decision I don’t regret; She kept me going and connected with easy training plans and trained me for the Maui race on Halloween. I decided in December though, during radiation, that it was just too much and needed a break and time to recover. I was also feeling like it was time to find more of a group training style of program. That’s when we decided to join the San Diego Track Club.

At our first meeting at Balboa Stadium, we showed up not knowing what to expect. I quickly became very excited and felt like a kid again! It felt reminiscent of school days, in a good way! On the first sat run at Hospitality Point, Wendelien Anderson introduced herself and we became run partners for the entire 5 months and ran the race together, both of us doing our first half marathon! I also met other friends I already knew from tri club! The positivity and support was so great. We really felt the love!

We quickly realized what a commitment we had signed up for! Because I work from home, I set my hours and prefer to train later in the mornings! Getting up at 5am on sat after a long week was tough! We decided that the best way to handle this was to consider our early sat workout to be our last “job” of the week, and that our weekend would begin after the sat runs, around 10 am or so!! Tuesday nights were equally hard, getting off work in time and being tired! See, I’m not a morning or a night person, and I was recovering from 5 months of treatments! And was just starting a 5-year oncology regimen.

The Tuesday nights and Saturday AM’s were a big shock to my system! But knowing my new friends were expecting me made it very easy to be accountable. Having someone to run with was awesome. It was the first time in 7 years I had people to consistently run with and run on a coached plan together! So, rain or shine, happy or sad, feeling like it or not, off we went!!!

As the runs got longer, we found ways to make it fun: stories, being social and helping each other thru - there were days when one or another of us wasn’t feeling our best, but showed up anyway!! We quickly became very fond of Coach Paul and the other leaders and volunteers. It was an amazing program! We realized the benefits and value and couldn’t have been happier we found this program!

The feeling of amazement and satisfaction after setting records: 10 miles, 11 miles, 13 miles was awesome! I never thought I’d ever be running these distances! All the fun touches were so appreciated! The finish lines, otter pops, and Coach Paul out on the various courses! The pre- and post-run stretching, and the planks! OH those planks!!! The camaraderie was the best! The track workouts were challenging but really really fun with all the fun, inclusive, and helpful people! Again the positivity, and support was so helpful!

    

Race day quickly arrived and we felt more than prepared and expected to have a great time! Since it was my first half, my goal was mainly to finish, but had specified a finish time of 2:30 in mind. We finished in 2:41, very happy.

 

So happy and excited in fact, Jerry quickly talked me into upgrading my Mammoth 5k entry to the Mammoth Half Marathon! I was very hesitant, as we have been making the trek to mammoth for the last 3 years for Jerry to run the half. I always did the 5k, no joke at the elevation and my lack of running ability! I did podium every time, though, with 8-10 in my AG! I wanted one more podium, so I really struggled and then I realized (the struggle is real) that I was trained for a half (this one is only 2 weeks after Rock ‘N’ Roll Half Marathon.) I decided that a finisher medal for a half was probably going to give me more satisfaction than a 5k Top 3 medal! So I upgraded, and as I write we are up here getting acclimated for Sundays race! I am so excited!

We are very grateful for the SDTC RNR program! Here I am starting to love running! You make a difference in my life!!!