Don's Diary

running : Saturday, 5/11/13 - Prelims Results

Posted by donmclean on 2013/5/11 13:03:38 (320 reads)

Jogger terrorized in Valencia. Story.

Yes, you're smart, energetic, and a leader... And will probably want to apply for one of these choice job openings:

Valencia Head Boys XC Coach
Golden Valley Head Boys and Girls XC Coach
Canyon Head Boys and Girls XC Coach

Golden Valley's Francisco 20203 Perez is our only ranked boys frosh distance runner in CA. Link. ...2013 and best PR should be your middle name. Easier for us to figure if you're any good.

Doha results.

Alysia Montano: My First Conference Championship

Flotrack: Oregon Project (Alberto's gang) at large in Park City, Utah photos. Spending too much time at 7-11.

PAC-12 Conference Championships (today and tomorrow) results here.

Many Santa Claritians winos and runners (mostly the same) competed today in the Santa Barbara Wine Country Half Marathon. Kevin McSweeney (1:25:10) won the Master's trophy, with Greg Garman (1:27:55) and Kelley Schranz (1:52:42) age group champs. Results.

NYT: Hidden Threats To Young Athletes

D1 Prelims live results. Taylor Welker, Marisa Magsarili, and Olivia Pear have all qualified.

While looking at PAC-12 1500m results, under records...

NCAA D1: N 3:59.90 6/7/2009 Simpson, Jenny, Colorado
PAC 12: C 4:07.69 2003 Lena Nilsson, UCLA
Stadum: S 4:12.44 5/6/1995 Darcy Arreola, Unatt.

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running : Q&A with Alan and Elaine Bingham

Posted by donmclean on 2013/5/5 0:58:44 (104 reads)

Alan and Elaine Bingham have been a major force in Santa Clarita running since 1986, though neiher were runners until then. Since 2003, the Santa Clarita Storm of which Alan is founder and president and Elaine the head coach, has been the largest of several youth (ages 6-16) running programs.

1. How did it all start?

Elaine: After going to a football practice with my son and hearing the language, I was unhappy and wanted a more positive environment for my son. , I saw a little ad in the Signal advertising Warrior Cross Country. I wasn’t even sure what it was at first. with only about 20 kids on the team, including my oldest son.

2. Elaine, if memory serves, in 1986 started hauling your brood to the SCV Warrior cross country program at COC, and within a year were a runner and the head coach. How did it happen so quickly?

Elaine: Bob and Kitty Conent was the director and coach for the first 2 years we ran. When he didn’t return the following year, someone needed to step up and so I did. I had 3 kids running at the time and they loved it. I went to clinics and started learning as much as I could. I also started going to the COC Summer Series and recruited real runners to help. That is where I found Lui Bernal,and many others. I did not run at the time and I needed people to run with the kids. I started running for myself in 1993 and did my first marathon in 1995. I say my kids gave me the gift of running. and I have met many good friends for life through it.

3. Back then, it was only the SCV Warriors. How many participated then? How many programs are available now, and how many participants?

My first year there were about 35 runners. 2nd year there were 85 on the Cross Country team and 540 on the track team. Before I started in track there was at one time over 900 athletes in track. That was before there were so many other sports available here. In 1995 our conference forced us to split to form the COC team and the Canyon Country team and then in 2004 Alan started the Storm Team. He wanted an organization that focused on running only.

today, there are 3 teams, 1 Warrior team, 1 Canyon Country Hawks team, and 1 Storm club The Storm has enrolled this year 363 athletes, and in Cross Country last year they have 100. This is the 14th year for Storm. We are the largest club in Santa Clarita and have to turn away hundreds of kids every year for track.

4. The Storm started SOAR in Santa Clarita. What is that, and how has it evolved?

Alan: SOAR stands for “Students Off And Running” It has always been a Goal setting program using the Marathon to teach Local high school students they can accomplish anything if they set obtainable goals, using the Marathon and the training period to set small goals up to finally running LA marathon each year. We seek donations for the program and fund the program for the students completely. We host a 5K race to also help raise fund for that program. It cost us between $750.00 and $1000.00 per student to get them to the finish line on marathon day. Our first year we had 4 students who joined and completed, we’ve just finished our 6th marathon, and we had 16 students run LA 2013, I;’ve just added it up and we’ve had 75 students completed the marathon. Kevin Sarkissian is the director and head coach of this program and it was his idea from the beginning, wanting to start a Students Run LA program up here he found they only go into Los Angeles School districts, when I heard of his problem, I suggested that we use the Santa Clarita Track Club corporation that I founded and put it on under our umbrella. It is strange for me with my experience with the marathon myself to be support at the finishline on race day. Who knows there may be another marathon in me yet. time will tell.

5. Elaine, around 2006, you gave a moving and strong pitch before the City Parks and Recreation commission for a decent cross country course at Central Park. And, recently, you again made a pitch for protection over what we have now, and for enhancements. Specifically, what are we looking for?

We need a course that is not constantly changing and we would love to have a place to host National Events. The city is putting in new utility fields at Central Park and they are doing the work during XC season. Tthis interrupts the H S and youth programs. At the community meeting we asked for assurance that we can continue to use the coarse We also asked for water to be available near the finish line. We would like to have bathrooms near the start area but were told that that will not happen. As it is now the runners have to cross a very busy parking lot to get to the small bathrooms. and water.

6. What, if anything, is the City doing in response? How can the running community get involved?

Elaine They assured us that they will keep the course open during construction and look into the water. I think we all need to stay aware of what the city is doing and use our voice to keep the City aware of how much the community needs this. Running on streets and sidewalks are not safe.

7. Alan, you produce excellent and fast race results at the Foothill Track & Field Finals. Is it your company, and are your services available for more events? All fans, parents, and racers love race results.

Its an extension of the Santa Clarita Storm Track Club. Fast results posted to the web during the meets was just taking it to the next level. When we realized that in the modern world we live in, many people now days, have phones with unlimited data plans, they could easily sit in the stands, and view the results posted as the meet progressed. Last year we were using the “built in feature” of our results software, which is real good for someone sitting at home on a desk top computer, however this year, we are simply posting results through out the meet, We’ve found that 1 file with all the results is much better than a web page in a frame that people had to scroll down a list to pick the event they wanted to see, then scroll back up to see the results. So though out the meet, we will be re-uploading the file, which means that a simple refresh of the page and you get the most current data. I am available to time other races on weekends. It is a fun part time business.

8. What changes do you foresee in SCV running in the next 5-10 years.

Elaine We live in such a great running community and I hope it continues to grow. I am excited to now be coaching the kids of many of my first athletes and it is great to see the love still there. It has always been my goal to teach the athletes to love running and carry it with them. Running is the sport that can last a life time. The high schools will continue to be the strongest around. and you will always see the adults out. Santa Clarita is a unique top running meca, and it can only keep growing.

9. Especially for youth, what sort of running shoes do you recommend?
Elaine I like almost any good sturdy trainer. New Balance and Asics seem to make the most youth shoes, although Nike and Socony are in it too.

10. Are you still doing the jelly beans?
Oh yeah! we have added jolly ranchers too, for the kids with braces. Those kids work hard for the jelly beans. I can always get another lap for extra jelly beans!!