It’s that time again Southern California! Be you a Roadrunner,  LA Legger, Coyote or otherwise… Los Angeles Marathon training has officially started. Plenty of groups scattered across the county specializing in taking the couch potato to the finish line are now holding information sessions and first time group training runs. For those of you in the Inland Empire, (Chino Hills specifically) there will be a FREE walking clinic hosted by the Inland Empire Running Club of Chino Hills this Saturday September 4, 2010 at 7am. A marathon walking clinic is set up for people who are looking to cross the finish line without having to run.

If you have never completed  a marathon before, or have it checked off your list but are looking to do another, training  groups and clinics are great way to get off the bat with basics/getting back to basics – whichever the case may be. I’ve found group training to be particularly helpful during the rough patches of marathon training and am currently looking for a local group to kick start training for 2011’s LA Marathon.

Coach Bob Hickey, who will be guest speaking for the IE Running Club, sounds like an all around marathon rock star. Not only has he completed a handful of across the country relays, he’s also a Guiness Book of World Records holder for distance running. I don’t know about you, but if someone like this is coaching a walking marathon completion, all previous shame regarding run-walks, etc  have suddenly diminished in my mind.
For more information on meeting times and places for the Inland Empire Road Runner’s club please visit the Road Runners LA Marathon web site.