Sports
Months Before Race, Mt. Wilson Runners Begin Training
Local fitness coach offering popular free 18-week course for sixth consecutive year.
Even with Sierra Madre’s annual still four months away, interested and perennial runners both are already in full training mode. Two weeks ago, Saturday, Jan. 29, marked the beginning of the sixth straight year of a free, 18-week training program lead by Coach Eric LeClair of , a Monrovia-based personal and group physical fitness company.
The 18-week course is intended to prepare both seasoned and amateur runners for the grueling Mt. Wilson Trail Race, which challenges runners to race from Kersting Court to the top of Mt. Wilson along the so-named trail and back.
The total distance covered by the runners is more than 8 1/2 miles, with an elevation change of 2,100 vertical feet over that distance.
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Over the past five years, Coach LeClair has helped train hundreds of runners and competitive racers alike, with more than 15 graduates of the program finishing in first, second or third place during that time.
The training sessions are will be held on the next 16 consecutive weeks, with beginning trail runners and veteran racers meeting at 6 a.m. sharp on Saturday mornings in Kersting Court. While it’s always recommended that runners begin training on the first week of the course (and follow through to the end of the course), late-comers are still welcome to join, and each Saturday morning session will feature a different training run.
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Those needing more information about the training program can reach Coach LeClair by phone at (626) 437-8739 or visit the CrossFit Facebook page.
This year’s Mt. Wilson Trail race is slated for 7:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 28. The entry fee is $45 per runner, and they're already accepting entries via their website.