Sport Today

can anyone send me contact information for road running clubs in los
angeles?  i'm just starting to train for distance running (i've only run
above five miles a few times before) and would like to get hooked into
some organization for information, advice, a source of training
companions, etc.

also, if anyone knows of a good running shoe store in los angeles with
knowledgeable salespeople, i'd appreciate hearing about it.

thanks,
mark rubin

mark, you have one right across the freeway from ucla----frontrunners is
on the upper end of san vicente, right where it curves & becomes
federal/before wilshire.  they're not very cheap, but they have good stuff
& advice.   if you know what you want, cheaper is top to top, on wilshire
around 23rd or so, north side of the street.
    in these stores & also in the public libraries (at least in santa
monica) are freebies---magazines which list races & clubs or groups.
competitor, city sports, the schedule---these 3 do the above.
   hope this helps.

The best club in West LA is the Santa Monica Track Club.  Many elite
runners train with that club, but I've heard that the club is open to
the unwashed masses as well.  The LA Roadrunners and the LA Leggers are
two very popular clubs which are oriented around training for the LA
Marathon.  The Trail Runners Club holds weekly Sunday runs in the Santa
Monica Mts on trails and fireroads.  They have a website too.
Unfortunately I don't have any of the urls for these sites, but you can
track them down with a little digging, I'm sure.  Feel free to send me a
message directly if you'd like more info.

Matt

Encino, CA

The LA rRoadRunners is the training program for the LA MArathon. It
starts up in July and runs through the following March. Pat Connelly
of the Road Runners is starting a new club. Send me an email and I'll
give you contact info.

-jim-