Did you know that only 0.5% of the US population have ever ran a marathon? I guess that if it were…read moreeasy, more people would be doing it, right? LA Road Runners (LARR) is the official training program of the Skechers Performance Los Angeles Marathon. I joined LARR this year because I needed to change up my training, meet some new people, but mostly to keep myself safe during the LA Marathon training season. I had sustained injuries during my last 2 winter seasons in another group by running on trails, and I've had to sit on the sidelines and watch the last 2 LA Marathons. LARR is broken up into 20 different pace groups for you to choose from based on your fitness level. There are 10 run groups, 7 run/walk groups, and 3 walking groups. These groups are separated by pace and are lead by very qualified Pace Leaders who work under the supervision of the coaching staff. And, just like Goldilocks, if the pace group are in is too fast, or if it's too slow, you are able to switch groups until you find the one that's just right. The group runs are every Saturday morning for 26 weeks, The runs get longer and longer each week, along with hill training and marathon simulation runs mixed in. There are water stations on the routes, and there is post run recovery foods and drinks waiting for us afterwards, along with weekly lectures and additional training tips. We run our route as a group; two-by-two, so not only are you getting some of the best training around, but you're also developing friendships along the way. The training program culminates at the finish line of the Skechers Performance Los Angeles Marathon. Aside from the great staff, the one aspect of this program I like the best about is the sense of accountability that it instills me. The way that the program is set up, you MUST do your homework during the week because you need to be able to keep up with your group as the miles get longer and longer. Truth be told, I had always been the worst for my midweek runs and would suffer during the Saturday long runs, but not since joining the Road Runners. I would recommend the LA Road Runners for ANYONE wanting to run a marathon, or to just get some great training.

My mom was part of LA Road Runners many years ago when she trained form the LA Marathon. I just…read morestarted running last year. I finally ran into this group on the Santa Monica side as they are preparing for the LA Marathon. I will not join this group, because they are absolutely rude to other runners. One day I was running the opposite direction as a group. There was nothing to block their view of me coming. Instead of giving me room to run on the sidewalk, they ploughed through like I wasn't there. I actually had to go to the side in a driveway to keep from being run over by them. I mentioned it to their group leader they could have given me some way and all he did was apologize. Learn to share the road!! Also, they never acknowledge you as they run by you. I would rather join LA Leggers than this group. At least, when they pass me by they greet me or if they are coming up behind me on a run they acknowledge I am in their path. You may have the best record of people you join, but please learn some etiquette when it comes to sharing the road and actually share it. Does one runner really hurt your running?

The gold standard for LA running clubs. Structure, coaching, community, fun. It's got it allread more

I'd give the South Bay Runners six stars if they allowed me too. This is the best group of people…read moreto run with. Everyone is so friendly and the coaching at the Tuesday Night track nights is awesome! For the very reasonable price of $50 a year you have access to great coaches and a great community to run with. You will not only become a better runner but you will make a lot of good friends too. If you have been sitting on the couch and wanting to get in shape, or get back in shape to run a 5k or 10k or beyond, or just wanting to get some exercise, check out the Southbay Runners.

Definitely my second favorite 10K(second to Firecracker Run) Amazing elevations,crowd,beach view…read moreand course! I love it although there is no medal but the shirt was pretty with a beautiful MB pier portrait. New PR with one full bladder break at mile 2. I wasn't prepared for the fast rising temperature at all. I would run this again!

This is a Manhattan Beach tradition that began in 1978 when a few local residents decided to put…read moretogether a race for MB. It is always held on the Saturday morning of the annual Hometown Fair (early October) and is the one road race I really look forward to every year. Having grown up in MB, this is easily my favorite run all year. There are 2 starting lines, one on Ardmore and the other on Valley (I prefer the south starting area). It's a very festive starting area with a great band comprised of senior citizens playing live music. The start time is 7:30 and both starting groups merge around the police station. You run through several different MB neighborhoods after a brief run through the downtown area on Highland, and the streets are lined with local residents cheering you on. This is really nice because I quickly get bored after anything longer than 3 miles and the constant stimuli is a welcome attention grabber. There are a couple of rock bands playing throughout the course, and one band that plays calypso music at around the halfway point. I even see my 10th grade biology teacher at the same spot every year! (Did I mention this is my favorite race?) Overall, this is a well organized and fun race, especially if you live or grew up in the area. It is fairly flat with a couple of small hills in the beginning and one moderate incline at around mile 4.5, going past the National Guard Armory on Bell Ave and up Rosecrans. It's worth the effort, though, because the last mile or so is fast and flat on the Strand as you finish right by the Manhattan Beach Pier. The only thing that could be improved is registering for this race. There is no race day registration, so if you think you may not be able to attend until last minute and were thinking of just signing up at the race, it is not an option. You can register online but that deadline is a week before race day. Lastly, you can register in person but it is only at the MB Village Runner location. It would be nice if they let you register at the other Village Runner in Redondo Beach. Having said that, it's still not enough to make me take off a star. Note: this course appears to be just a touch too long. My Nike running app's GPS consistently measures it at 10,075 meters (6.26 miles).

Team in Training is such a wonderful program, and both the coaches and participants are truly high…read moreclass. Here in LaLa Land, it can be so easy to fall prey to the distractions of Hollywood drama and glitz. You can really lose yourself in a big city like this, and TnT will yank your head out of the clouds and get your feet back on the ground in two shakes of a lamb's tail. This is hard work, but it is so rewarding and this team showed me that ANYONE can be successful and achieve their goals while making a difference in the lives of those suffering from Leukemia & Lymphoma. This is a perfect option for anyone who has ever had that little glimmer of curiosity about marathons, triathlons, cycling. I have always admired people who could accomplish amazing physical goals, but I was never one of them myself. Don't get me wrong, I've been physically active all my life. But I just never saw myself competing in any hardcore running distances or multisport events. I was a big chicken! Well, as part of my resolution in 2008, I decided to at least go to a TnT recruitment meeting. Everyone was so inspiring, and after hearing the testimonials of past participants and our honored teammates who have struggled with their own physical ailments because of blood cancers, I finally realized it was now or never. It wasn't until the 2nd month of training with my new teammates (who were just as scared as me) that I began to recognize the strength I've always had. Like they always say, your mind is the biggest obstacle to achieving your dreams. Your muscles, heart, lungs and soul are always up for a challenge and will amaze you if you allow them to do so. You will grow as a person both mentally and physically, under the mentorship of your coaches and support staff. You will meet wonderful, interesting, down to earth people who truly embrace the bigger picture in life. I have so many great memories of chowing down at The Shack with the entire team after a rigorous swim practice, of laughing into the wee hours on our team camping weekend, playing Rock Band together, and reuniting for the holidays to celebrate our race accomplishments and our coach's new litter of golden retriever puppies. I can't recommend the Team in Training experience enough. I am now an actual triathlete about to compete in my 5th event in March. Take a chance on yourself, and do something great for charity while accomplishing a few things you never thought possible. You will not regret it!

TNT - An Amazing Program!…read more I ran in high school - and then stopped and got so out of shape. Running a marathon had always been a goal of mine. Last year I heard an ad on the radio about the new LA Marathon Stadium to Sea course - Enter Team in Training. I have lost two family members to Leukemia and Lymphoma, so I know the cause is a good one. I trained with the South Bay team. What a fantastic group of professional, friendly people. Being new to the LA area, this was a great way to meet people as well! I was out of shape, overweight, and scared - I was given professional coaching support, motivation, the chance to meet amazing people affected by blood cancers. Team in Training can get ANYONE across the finish line. If you're willing to go to practices once per week and can follow a schedule on your own, YOU CAN DO IT! On March 21, 2010, I finished the LA Marathon. As she ran me across the finish line, my coach asked "Will you do another marathon?" My answer " YES!" I'm currently training with TNT as a mentor for the Nike Women's marathon in San Fran. Now I'm back, a marathoner for life, and ready to join the Triathlon Team! TNT is an absolutely life changing amazing program. GO TEAM!

I joined the LA Leggers for the 2019-2020 marathon training season, making the switch after being a…read morelong-time member of another training program.  The LA Leggers "clubhouse" is inside the historic Santa Monica Camera Obscura building overlooking the Pacific Ocean in Palisades Park near the world-famous Santa Monica Pier.  It is not a bad place to start your Saturday long run. The Leggers organization celebrated their 30-year anniversary during the 2019-2020 season and do they have their stuff down.  The weekly runs for each pace group are led by "Mentors".  There are 15+ groups which run and run/walk at different paces.  There are several walking groups as well. The LA Leggers offer something for everyone of all fitness levels who want to put in the work to become a "Marathoner".   Membership in the LA Leggers is for one year of weekly runs, although the marathon training season begins in late summer, culminating with the LA Marathon in March.  LA Leggers is a great organization and I recommend.   Weekly group runs have been suspended due to the pandemic and replaced with weekly Zoom meetings in order to provide support to the members.

I am not an athlete. It sounds kind of weird when I say that in the same breath that I say I've…read morecompleted 10 triathlons, a handful of 70+ mile bike rides and am currently in my second year training for the LA Marathon. But it's true just the same: I'm not an athlete. I'm a fat, slow, aging couch potato with big dreams. One of my big dreams is to do an Ironman some day...but boy, that means I have to a MARATHON. Ugh. My least favorite thing: running. Enter the LA Leggers. There are several big running groups out and about on the west side, including the HUGE one affiliated with the LA Marathon itself. I've run into that group a few times down on the beach, yelling out run chants like Army bootcamp and taking up the entire path. They look sweaty, tired and disgruntled. But every time I'd seen the LA Leggers groups running, people are laughing, smiling, enjoying the day and making running look - dare I say it? - FUN. What? Crazy talk! I joined last year and trained for the 2009 LA Marathon. Injury in November, bad sickness in December and all the crazy LAM date juggling and I was out for the season in January. August came around and I signed up for the 2010 season, determined to try again. As a non-athlete, it's been wonderful to find a "running" club as awesome as the LA Leggers. Encouraging, well-structured mentoring programs and terrific leadership combined with a truly GOOD group of people = wanting to show up and do the training every single weekend no matter how early. You make friends out there with people you would never meet otherwise, and the energy is always up up up. They welcome a wide spread of pace groups (I am in the slowest, 20 minute miles walking pace and YES, they do have walker programs!). I'm looking forward to completing my very first marathon in March, proudly wearing the Leggers name! GO LEGGERS! (And if you needed one more reason to join next year, the LA Leggers were just voted Best Running Club in LA by Competitor Magazine. All that for less than $75 bucks for an entire season! Almost unbelievable!)

The class, the vibe, the energy, the teacher! Classes are reasonably priced and fun! Thanks for…read morebringing it to the Windsor Hills area!

This is a unique and fun workout! For someone who does not like the gym environment but want to…read morefind a way to just move your body, this is something you should definitely try. Who knew that such simple movements could give you such a good cardio workout?! The owner and creator of this, Dina, is a fantastic teacher. She is fun! And she creates a space where everyone, at all levels, can feel welcomed and supported. This is an amazing must try workout for people of all ages.

Dagan's hard work and dedication for health and fitness is ever-present. From the first initial…read moretalk I had with Dagan, he was able to quickly grasp where I was with my fitness/nutrition and create a workout plan containing mixed sessions of endurance, strength, technique, along with a brief discuss on nutrition. This plan was not only achievable, but challenging enough to push me further than I could ever imagine. I have to say that it certainly makes a difference when a trainer cares so much about his client's health and well-being that they go out of their way to keep informed on achievements and possible downfalls. When a trainer maintains that connection with his client(s), the client will certainly see the importance in maintaining their health and fitness goals, and focus on making them a reality. I feel Dagan went above and beyond, not only with his training methods, but with the way he communicated the genuine attainability of maintaining my health and fitness goals...and for that I am very grateful.

I have been going to Dagan at Forged Fit for over three years. I could talk about many good aspects…read moreDagan has achieved with my training program but will just touch on a few. My trainer (Dagan) has a philosophy that everyone is a little different in their training needs. He evaluated mine and what my goals were long term and short. We agreed on our course of action. I am a older guy, now 61, and was unsure that a younger trainer could relate to my concerns and needs. That was soon proven to not be a issue. Dagan established a training program tailored to my goals but always with my health concerns as part of the plan. (I am a old guy after all). I started going three times a week and maintained that schedule for a year than dropped down to two times a week. I started off a little (Plump) at 190 lbs. Was hoping to drop 20 and have a little more stamina. Four months into my training I weighed in at 162 had increased my oxygen intake efficiently by over 35%. He taught me how to adjust my eating habits and to maintain a healthy and realistic exercise program that really works for me. I understand that my results were probably a little higher than considered normal. I contribute the results to having the one on one private training by a very knowledgeable, pleasant, completely participating trainer. He tells me I did a great job, but I only did what he told and directed me to do. The private Gym is well stocked with all the necessary implements of torture that all good trainers have at their disposal. It is a very clean comfortable place to work out in total one on one privacy. Sometimes I see other clients coming as I am going. Interestingly they range from a 16 year old High School Athlete, to people in my age group. Everyone in between. They currently have two very pregnant young ladies, A bunch of families, parents teens and adult children and their spouses. Once you start, you just keep doing it. My wife started a couple of years ago, she has her own story but is hooked and visits twice a week also. If you want someone to help you do, what you kinda have been wanting to do for a long time, get into better shape, become a better athlete or just have more energy and be happier with yourself, I recommend that you have Forged Fit help you take the leap. You wont regret it.

If you live in the South Bay area and like to run, Ed Avol's group affectionately known as Club Ed…read moreis a great place for runners of all abilities to come to run. We meet at the Mira Costa High School Track off of Peck on Wednesdays at 6 pm. On Saturdays, we meet at Malaga Cove Plaza in Palos Verdes Estates at 7 am for some great trail runs and hills ~11 miles. There is also Monday Night Madness on Monday nights at the Manhattan Beach pier and the strand for a run to Knob Hill and back (I think they meet at 6). Anyhow, they have a flyer at Village runner in Manhattan Beach if you want more info or you can send me a messsage. I started running with Ed in November (2009) and have developed a love for running. Well, maybe a love hate would be more accurate. The group is awesome! They have Marathoners, Ultra runners, and casual runners, and everyone in between. Ed is an awesome coach. Everybody loves him. Check it out!