Training
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Have a charity interested in becoming an Official Race Charity?
Please contact Dave Hussa, Director of Charity Relations at Elite Racing. dhussa@competitorgroup.com, (858) 768-6428
Kick-Off Parties Announced!
Celebrate the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon with some of your closest Bay Area running buddies! Join us at the San Francisco Kick-Off Party and experience the following perks:
- Learn about Fleet Feet’s killer ‘Rock N Run 13.1’ training program
- Sip sangrias while meeting and mingling with your fellow runners
- Shop for the newest training gear
- Rock out to a live acoustic performace by Leopold and His Fiction
- Raffle prizes include shoes, Fleet Feet gift certificates, CDs and massage coupons!
- Bring a friend and they’ll save $10 off registration
Run with the Pace Team
Join the camaraderie and stride towards the finish line with some support! Let experienced pacers from Pacific West Athletics, the Official Pace Team for the 2008 San Jose Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon, lead you to your goal! We hope you take advantage of this added benefit and have your most successful half marathon yet!
PacWest runners will pace each of the following finishing times:
- 1:30
- 1:45
- 2:00
- 2:15
- 2:30
- 2:45
Who are the Pace Leaders?
All PacWest pacers are experienced runners, having trained in PacWest’s run program in San Francisco, East Bay or Palo Alto. Each pacer is capable of running 10-15 minutes faster than the time they are pacing. This allows them the ability to direct, instruct and motivate runners throughout the race.
Why run with a Pace Leader?
Following a pace leader eliminates any guesswork and/or race strategy. Runners who are looking for a personal record or those who simply have trouble pacing themselves over 13.1 miles benefit the most from running with a pacer.
What is the Pace Team strategy?
All PacWest pace leaders will maintain a consistent pace throughout the race. Because of the mass start and crowds of runners, the first mile may not be the most accurate. However, the pace leaders will make-up any time difference gradually throughout the 13.1 mile course.
How do Pace Leaders provide support during the race?
Pace leaders act as personal coaches during the race. Pacers offer helpful advice and may suggest adjustments in order to stay on pace. Your pace leader might be a story teller, stand-up comedian, or simply a great motivator. The goal is to get you across the finish line on time
How do I find the Pace Leader on race day?
On race day there will be (2) pace leaders per pace group lined up in the corrals with the rest of the runners. Pace leaders will be carrying bright signage that denotes the goal arrival time. The sign will be attached to a stick so that it is visible throughout the race.
How do I sign up for the Pace Team?
It’s FREE. Simply drop by the PacWest booth at the EXPO and pick up a special color-coded bib with your pace finishing time:
- 1:30
- 1:45
- 2:00
- 2:15
- 2:30
- 2:45
Start training today with Cytomax!
Cytomax will be provided at seven stations along the course.Cytomax Performance Enhanced Drink is the only sport drink with patented energy source Alpha-L-Polylactate.
Recent studies comparing Cytomax to another popular sport drink show that the lactate in Polylactate provides energy faster than the leading sport drink, is used more efficiently and allows athletes to go longer. What’s it mean? More fuel energy start to finish! Available at GNC, specialty running stores or www.cytosport.com.
Cytomax Performance Enhanced Drink – What Fuels You?
Official National Charity Training Programs
The NF Endurance Team
In support of the Children's Tumor Foundation, the NF Endurance Team offers the opportunity to participate in team endurance sports, to raise money for research, promote awareness, and provide a network of caring support for those suffering with Neurofibromatosis (NF) and their families.
To learn more about The NF Endurance Team:
Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Bay Area Marathon Team
For 50 years, Big Brothers Big Sisters has been the lifeline that connects kids in Bay Area communities with caring adult role models. Our professionally supported, one-to-one mentoring relationships provide measurable impact, allowing children to reach their potential.
Our agency never charges for our services – enrolled kids and families don’t pay a cent.
By joining the Brothers Big Sisters of the Bay Area’s Marathon Team you can help us raise critical funds to support these vital mentoring services, while at the same time get yourself in great shape, meet new friends and accomplish a personal goal: completing 13.1 miles of the San Jose Rock ‘n Roll ½ Marathon! Regardless of your fitness level, our comprehensive training program will provide the tools and training you need to run or walk to the finish line.
So help us transform a child’s life – and maybe your own – by joining our BBBSBA Marathon Team today!
To learn more about Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Bay Area Marathon Team,
Other Training Groups:
Marathoning For Mortals: The Penguin’s Top Ten Tips
Runner's World columnist, author and accomplished runner, John Bingham (The Penguin), offers his advice on training with his top 10 training tips.
In no particular order:
- Choose a training program that’s right for you:
There’s no one program that fits everyone’s needs. Be honest with yourself before you start your training. Look at your time, your life, and your interest and then choose a program that will work best for you.
- Don’t overcomplicate your training program:
Training for a long-distance running event is mostly a matter of tenacity. You don’t need to have charts and graphs or a rigorous routine that stresses you out. Focus on the joy of the journey.
- Rest is as important as training:
You don’t get stronger while you’re running. You get stronger when you’re resting. Make sure you take enough time off to let your body adapt. No one ever got injured from over-resting.
- Variety is the spice of training:
No matter what your pace or goal, your training program should include a mix of training days. You need speed work to improve your form, tempo runs to improve your stamina, and long runs to improve your endurance.
- If you miss a workout, skip it and go on:
If you have to miss a training day, don’t try to go back and pick it up. The sequence of your training is more important than any particular workout. Make sure you stick to the order of your training days.
- Your shoes are your feet’s best friends:
Don’t skimp on your running shoes. You don’t have to buy the most expensive shoes in the store, but you do need to invest in shoes that work with your feet, your running style, and your training mileage.
- Make sure your goals, objectives, and strategies are reasonable:
It doesn’t do any good to overestimate your ability and underestimate your willingness to train. Find a balance between what you want and what you’re able to do.
- You can’t finish what you don’t start:
The biggest single reason why new runners and walkers don’t finish a marathon or half marathon is because they don’t start. They get injured during training. Be conservative in your training, and when in doubt, do less rather than more.
- Have a race strategy:
The elite runners have a strategy. You need one too. You need to think about how you want to approach the race, what your plan will be during the race, and how you’ll know when you need to change your strategy.
- Have three race goals:
Start the race with three goals; a best case, a worst case, and a doomsday scenario. Some races are great. Enjoy them. Some races are awful. Those you just need to struggle through. And some days you just need to walk away and try again later.
Read more advice from John "the Penguin" Bingham
