LA based clubs/organizations

Which reminds me, what ever happened to Santa Monica Track Club?

I always dreamed of racing in those blue uniforms of theirs.

Were there any distance runners of note who ran for them other than that miler who liked to wear the speed suit, Cushing-Murray?

I think that they are still around. Contact Skip Stolley. I am not sure what his phone number is or email, but they are a pretty good crew that meet 5 days a week. Good Luck

LA is a big place, so it depends where you'll be staying. I would recommend hooking up with some of the local college kids in the area. If you're a decent college runner or better, you're going to find running clubs to be social gatherings at 8-min pace, not good preparation for xc season. Where in LA, exactly will you be? I'm familiar with the area and might be able to help...

For big group 5 or 8 mile tempo runs at any pace down to 5:30/miles at different locations M-Th, contact Niketown.

For Saturday long runs and track workouts on Tuesdays, TrackClubLA.org has guys that run 5:10 mile repeats (and many who are slower). See the website for previous workouts.

http://www.fasterrunning.com/craig.htm

for slightly faster Santa Clarita Runners Club a bit north of L.A.

track west meets three times a week (M, W, Sa)...

Where in LA? LA is a huge place and there are several clubs throughout the city.

I will be staying in the Oakwood Housing complex. From what I'm told it is located minutes from Burbank and Hollywood. I have only run a 27:07 for 8k, so I'm not sure which club would be the best for me. Also, I am somewhat interested in racing a little over the summer, be it on the track or on the roads. Any suggestions?

I live in (near) LA and train with a fairly low key club in Manhattan Beach. We for one tempo run, one track workout, and one long hilly run a week. Although it's low key, there are guys who run as fast as 5:00-5:10 for their tempos.

I hear good things about Track Club LA. I think their schedule is similar to ours, but they have more fast runners and meet in Santa Monica.

From what I've seen, Track West's summer training is pretty minimal. They get back together in the fall to train for the XC season.

There are lots of races (mostly 5k's and 10k's) in the summer and also at least two weekly allcomer track meets.

continued...

for races, check out raceplace.com

Here is how SMTC works. The sprinters train in Houston, and 800m and up train in LA. There are some exceptions: Steve Lewis and Danny Everett lived and trained exclusively in LA.

I knew some of the guys on the team, so keep in mind it is still 2nd hand information. The group there was really centered around the 800m group, and more specifically Khadevis Robinson. In some cases, there was an "appearance" that some of the other 800m guys' training was compromised to fit Khadevis' training. It truly was a great 800m group, but I think for the most part, from what I heard, they were severely over-trained. Too many of the workouts were like races. Crazy stuff like 1:14-1:15 for 600m, then a couple of really quick quarters (47-48). In 2000, Johnny Gray left his coach (Merl), and trained under Joe Douglass. The fellas really trained there butts off, but it didn't work out. Al Royster,Johnny, Ned Brooks and Einars Tupuritis all retired after that disappointing year. Miler, Mark Hauser came down with chronic fatigue syndrome and did not compete and I haven't seen his name in results recently. Nick McFalls left, and has had some success with the Farm Team. Tania Fischer, a 15:40 5k runner retired.

As for distance runners, Jenny Spangler trained under Willie Rios in 1996 when she won the Olympic Trials. She trained under Douglass from 1996-2000 when she retired. During that time she was constantly hurt. Anne Schaefer-Cole finished 6th at the 2000 trials, though she spent most of her time in Chicago training, not LA.

In spring 2002, Khadevis left. He lowered his PR to 1:44 this summer. His departure was followed by Meisha Marzell and B. Langerholc after the summer. The ladies joined after 2000. I do not know who that leaves in the SMTC stable right now (Jean Destine?). As for sprinters, I have no clue. That part of the club may still be thriving. Jenny Adams is still with the club, as well as a decent female PV. Carl Lewis used to fund the club, substantially, but I don't think he was happy with some of the performances. That funding may be gone now, I don't know.

To answer your second question: Other good SMTC runners were Todd Harbor (3:51 mile), Jenny Spangler '96 OT Trials marathon champ, Bill McChesney as a post collegiate, Bob Schul in SMTC's predecessor, David Mack, Earl Jones, Claudette Groendahl (Sp?) off the top of my head. And of course, Christian Cushing-Murray.

i would try to contact some runners at ucla and see what they are up to. you are not far from the great santa monica trail system, which is perfect for hilly long runs. runs from santa barbara all the way to la! fabulous running.