Photo courtesy of Paula Harkin, Portland Running Club tracking in the snow Fit Right Northwest launched their new training program this year, which means that all four of Portland's technical running stores now have their own annual program, each with their own unique market.
The Fit Right Northwest's Get Fit Live Fit run and walk programs are the most expensive, but one of the most technically complete. Three sessions are offered in 2008, each ending with a goal to walk or run an event in the Portland / Vancouver area. The cost is $89.99 for a twelve-week session. The first session ran from January through March, and the Hood to Coast and Portland to Coast programs start on June 11th.
Fit Right Northwest have had weekly group runs for some time now, and their Portland location has always been popular on the weekends due to the easy access up Thurman to Leif Erickson and the Wildwood Trail. In fact, they have been hosting weekly runs for the Portland Marathon Clinic, which seems to be a good partnership. Fit Right Northwest has also brought in partnerships from their neighbors of their Northwest Portland and Vancouver locations - the directors of Physical Therapy from Therapeutic Associates, Inc., and the fitness experts at Northwest Personal Training. These organizations add to with Fit Right Northwest's individualized training programs, which are in part maintained by their new web presence, getfitlivefit.org. The program includes a detailed training manual with educational tips on several different topics, and all the online tools you can imagine. The program includes a technical t-shirt, socks, and 10% off at Fit Right NW Running & Walking Stores.
"The Saturday group is pretty big right now," Dave Sobolik said. "We have 25 to 60 runners weekly, and when the Portland Marathon Clinic joins in, we're looking at 150 plus on Saturdays, so it will be busy!"
Meanwhile, Foot Traffic continues their program, now dubbed Foot Traffic University, aimed at preparing runners and walkers to complete the Foot Traffic Flat Half marathon on the Fourth of July. The program started in February, and for those who want to continue on to train for the Portland Marathon, an additional phase is offered to train members starting July 19th at no additional cost. Fit Right NW has allied with the Portland Marathon Clinic and Portland Running Company has always had an alliance with Portland Fit, so this is Foot Traffic's way of getting in on the Portland Marathon training action. They were able to partner with the Oregon Road Runners Club for a year or two, and then brought on Team Red Lizard as their sponsored running club, so extending their training program into the marathon might be the best area in which to expand.
Pace groups are advertised as ranging from 7 minute miles to 20 minute miles, meeting three Saturdays a month. The program includes a tech t-shirt, informational seminars on Saturday mornings, weekly schedules, and unlimited email contact with experienced coaches. Also, optional conditioning programs are available at either Alameda Fitness Center in NE Portland, or Providence Mercantile Health and Fitness Center in Lake Oswego. The cost is $75, which does not include an entry for the Foot Traffic Flat Half Marathon, but it does provide a $15 race fee discount. The optional conditioning program is $115. Also, each new member referral gives you $5 towards anything at a Foot Traffic store.
"It's been great," Sean Rivers said. "We are at about 200 members this year, and we've still managed to keep the program pretty personal. We'll cap it at 300 in the years to come to maintain that quality coaching experience, but we definitely like seeing the program grow and see people refer friends to it. The marathon should be a nice addition this year, and I think at least half of our members are planning on continuing on to that distance."
Of course, I couldn't mention running store-sponsored training groups without mentioning the Portland Running Club. Portland Running Company is a big sponsor of Portland Fit (and Vancouver Fit), who have in return always sponsored Run With Paula Events, especially the Helvetia Half Marathon. So, when Portland Running Company and Run With Paula Events created the Portland Running Club years ago, what developed was a smaller, more social group with a range of personal goals.
The cost is $35, and includes a tech t-shirt, 15% off merchandise at Portland Running Company stores, Runwithpaula Dollars good at any Runwithpaula Event, group runs, and clinic-based seminars."We have an awesome club this year," Paula Harkin said. "We meet every Tuesday for a track workout - we've had snow, ice, and rain, but have an awesome, dedicated group. We have two of our employees that are leading a group run on Wildwood every Saturday. Both are ultra marathoners, Kristin Lynn and Joe Grant. Joe won an ultra in Mexico in March, beating Scott Jervik's course record! We have Sunday group runs with the Ironhead Triathlon Club at Grand Avenue, and every Monday and Wednesday evening at Scholls we have a great group with varied paces."
Pacesetter Athletic has their training program, as well, but this one provides training and coaching for the community's youth. Dave Clingan and Andy Shotts first started the club as a cross country team in the fall of 2003. They had five runners that spanned several age groups. Robert Curry and Katrina Harvey joined them the following spring, and the club grew to a track team with 30 athletes. Now, PSA Youth Running Club has a membership of nearly 100 middle school runners that competes in the USATF Junior Olympic track and cross country programs.
What's special about this program is that it is provided at no cost to the participants. Pacesetter Athletic supports the team's uniform needs, the coaches are all volunteers, facilities are free, and the friends and families of the team help raise money during the season to help support meet entry fees and travel costs for some of the athletes that have qualified for the Junior Olympic national meet.
"PSA is expanding its mission this year in hosting the Portland Track Festival on May 31st at Mt. Hood Community College," Craig Rice said. "The meet will bring together the best youth talent in the northwest and beyond, along with select high school, open and masters events to create a great spectator event for Portland area track fans. The meet will include invitational boys' mile and girls' 1500m events that has drawn athletes from seven different states, and will be the fastest mile outside of the Junior Olympic finals."
Our link of the week is the Portland Track Festival
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