By Daily Press staff
If you want to run the Los Angeles Marathon or another springtime marathon, then you best start get a move on, according to holistic marathon coach Steve Mackel.
Mackel, head coach of the Beach Runners marathon training program in Long Beach, suggests that runners who want to run in the Los Angeles Marathon on March 4, 2007, need to begin training immediately.
“Too many runners procrastinate training until the new year, then risk injury by trying to squeeze in too many long runs without enough time to recuperate,” warns Mackel.
Mackel, along with Gary Smith, recently coached more than 200 people to finish their first marathons and half marathons at the Long Beach International City Bank Marathon.
“The experience of athletes was inspiring,” adds Smith, “we had one girl lose 40 pounds, others found peace from stressful workplaces, and couples deepened their love affairs by training together.”
Mackel and Smith are certified ChiRunning instructors, personally trained by Danny Dreyer, the originator and author of the running system. ChiRunning combines the principles of Tai Chi with the modern science of running to create a way of running that reduces the pounding, pain and damage from running.
“More than 65 percent of runners in the U.S, which works out to 15.6 million people, will have to stop running because of injuries this year,” Mackel said, “but runners who take a holistic, low-impact, approach to training such as using ChiRunning and practicing yoga, can run year round without any injuries.”
The training duo offers coaching advice when you sign up for their web site at http://www.SoCalRunning.com.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on October 27, 2006. Read the original PDF.