Week One Of the BDC

08/08/09 - Big turnout this morning and glad to see many of you doing the 5 miler. Like to thank my buddy Steve for helping with the pacing too! I am uploading photos HERE. BRC results will be posted HERE if you wrote down your time. If I do not write your time down, send it to me along with the distance you ran to andynoise@yahoo.com. I also posted the complete results HERE & HERE.

08/07/09 - See you at Yokuts at 7am for the BTC Fun Run. Remember to get a stopwatch!

08/05/09 - On Thursday, we will be doing a tempo run based on your mile time from Tuesday. This Saturday, we will be meeting at Yokuts park for the BTC Fun Run at 7am. The upcoming week will be slightly different then most weeks due to two races that I have previously committed to shooting. Next week the Tuesday 6am will meet at Yokuts but the 6pm will be meeting at the BTC Summer Series 5k. Info HERE. This is the last of the six race series.

Thursday both 6am and 6pm sessions will be at Yokuts. On Saturday, we will competing at the McFarland Race of Champions 6k at 8am. Race info HERE.

08/04/09 - I want to thank all of you who signed up to day for the very first day of the Bakersfield Running Camp. If you have a friend who is interested, please bring them with you. One can enroll at any time and each session is 8 weeks from the time you enroll. This Thursday, we will preview the "Nickel and Dime to a Good Time" system. Then on Saturday, we will participate in the BTC Fun Run at Yokuts park at 7am. BTC Fun Run FaceBook HERE.

Today, we went over the Big Yokuts Loop (Map HERE) which is 1.2 miles and then we did a mile time trail to see were you are at.

08/03/09 - Practice starts this Tuesday (8/4/9) at 6am at Yokuts Park. Camp meets Tuesday and Thursday at 6am and 6pm. Also meets on Saturdays at 7am. Saturday we will be running the BTC Fun Run.

Yokuts Park Fun Run - A chance to get in a little speed work, practice racing, or just show off your new running gear. These low key out and back trail runs occur on the second Saturday of almost every month and feature no entry fees and no awards. Just show up around 6:45 to sign up to run a 1,2,3, or 5 mile course. The 1 mile starts at 7:00, and the 2,3,5 mile courses start after we all finish the 1 mile. Yokuts Park at 7am.

What is the Running Camp?

The goal of Building Better Bodies Runners Camp is to create a Group Running environment where almost anyone can improve their level of fitness and their running or walking ability, and learn to incorporate running into their very own Fitness Lifestyle. Our Running Camp will be coached by Paul Anderson (a.k.a. Andy Noise) along with myself and competitive runners and walkers from the Bakersfield Distance Project.

Paul was a triathlete (He won the first Bakersfield triathlon) and a sub three hour marathoner, who also ran in high school and college. In recent years, he has coached at the high school level and started his own USATF running club (The Bakersfield Distance Project) and took up marathon walking. Lastly, he has been covering the local running scene via his website AndyNoise.Com since 2006.

There are several programs available in the Camp, designed to accommodate virtually any fitness level and endurance endeavor. The program is based on the Run/Walk method, and each session is 8 weeks long, 3 days per week, for a total of 24 sessions. The camp will be held at Yokuts Park unless designated otherwise. The days are Tues and Thurs at 6 AM and 6 PM at Yokuts Park and Saturdays at 7 AM at the Panorama Bluffs or at local races.

For those who do not have a specific race goal, the program will prepare you for races from the 5k to the half marathon. As part of the camp, we will be competing in and supporting our local running races. For those interested in running a marathon or have a goal race in mind, the coaches will design a program for you. For races up to a half marathon, at least 8 weeks of training is needed. For the marathon, a minimum of 16 weeks is needed to have a positive marathoning experience.

What do I receive with my Building Better Bodies Running Camp courses?

Expert Coaching, Training Schedule, Text and/or Email Support, Group Support, Informative Training Clinics, a Building Better Bodies Training Shirt , and a stronger, fitter, faster you !!! More Information HERE.

What is the cost ?
Each 8 week session will only run you $100. The 16 week marathon training session is $190. Each race you enter and are photographed sporting your Building Better Bodies T-shirt will get you a $5 credit towards your next Run Camp, Boot Camp, or Circuit Class.

Since Paul covers most of the races in town, you should be able to receive this discount easily. Plus he has over 60,000 photos at AndyNoise.SmugMug.Com and his prices are very reasonable.

Register for the Bakersfield Running Camp HERE.

Andy Noise A.K.A.

Since 1987, I have been know as Andy by most. Especially by the younger crowd. First it was for my alternative record store and then it was for my running website by the same name. The name came from my college radio days, my handle was Andy Noise. Andy was short for Anderson and well I played what many considered Noise.

Before Andy Noise, I was known as Paul Anderson, the runner by many. I started running daily way back in 1979, when I gave up team sports to run track in my sophomore year. I was riding the pine and in mid-season I quit the baseball team and went out for track. At the last meet of the year (league meet at BC stadium) I broke 5 minutes for the mile (yes we ran yards and miles back then) and I was hooked for life.

Right from the start, I was interested in road racing and started running the local races. I also started reading everything I could find about running. I wanted to know the history and how to get faster (Sure wish google was around back then). In the fall of my junior year, I ran cross country for Highland for the very first time. I had some success and got my 3 mile time into the low 17s but I found out that I was really suited for much longer races.

So that winter, I continued my running education and decided to run the BTC marathon in February of my junior year. I did not have a coach but there were quite a few older athletes in town who were running sub three hour marathons and I asked as many questions as they were willing to answer.

I put in a lot of miles but I definitely did not do long enough runs. But at 16 I was on the starting line of my first marathon and I was ready. The early miles felt easy and the first lap of the race with the half marathoners was real easy. I was cruising along at 6 minute or so pace and thought this is easy.

But then the halfers went on to finish and it got lonely on foggy second lap of the course. I was good to go but the pan flat course around the streets near CSUB were starting to take their toll on my legs. I had just learned another marathoning lesson.

One, do not go out with the halfers and two, do not run a flat course. A flat course is fast but you use the same muscles in the same way for hours. A few hills makes things a lot easier.

At twenty miles or both these lessons came to fruition. I hit the wall, my 6 minute pace became 10 minute pace. I went through 20 miles in a little over 2 hours but the next 6 miles would take an hour. As I struggled to the finishline, my dream of breaking three hours was fading fast. In the end I ran 3:01 and was crushed. To break three hours one has to run 6:52 pace for 26.2 miles and I did not.

My senior year I got faster and was under 16 minutes for the 5k consistently. I even ran 15:10 on my home 3 mile course at Highland and run a 34 minute 10k too. So I expected big things at the BTC Marathon in February of 1981 but I did a repeat of the previous year and died even worse this time and ran 3:03.

Then during track season, I had a minor bike accident, whose impact would be felt for years. I hurt my hip and to this day it has never felt right and at times hurts a lot. This injury did not get in the way of my running for the most part. It just made it uncomfortable at times when I was not running more then when I was running.

What did bother it was running on the track so my senior year, I curtailed my track competition and started to focus on road racing even more. As a graduation present to myself, I went to the Lompoc marathon and finally got my sub three. I ran a smarter race and ended up running 2:55.

Then I went of to UC San Diego and ran cross country there for two years before pursuing triathlons. I ran on the varsity squad both years and after my sophomore season I ran my fastest marathon, at the San Diego race where I ran 2:50 and qualified for Boston.

too be continued ...

What To Expect at the Running Academy

In conjunction with Building Better Bodies Boot Camp,
I am starting a running/walking program for athletes of all abilities. The goal is to help athletes meet an endurance performance goal. My focus is to train athletes to complete half marathons (13.1 miles) and beyond. There are a couple local upcoming events to choose from:

November 14

BTC Half Marathon Part 2 - 13.1 mile and 5K events. Check the webpage for all of the fun details. Online registration is available at Active.com. Or you can download a printable entry form.

December 5

Mr. Toads Wild Run - 5K, 20K Trail Runs starting at the Sheriff's Department shooting range in Hart Park, Bakersfield

Along the way, we will be competing at other local events that are shorter in distance. The running
academy will meet at 6am and 6pm on Tuesdays and Thursday at Yokuts Park. We will also meet at 7am on Saturdays at various locations including races. You will be able to enroll in the academy at BuildingBetterBodies.Com.

Besides enrolling in the academy, you will need a few items:

1. Good running shoes (I can help you pick some out).
2. Running clothes.
3. A watch with stop watch capabilities. I recommend the Timex Ironman Watch HERE.
4. An Open Mind.
   
   

One other item that I highly suggest is a Garmin GPS Watch HERE, they are amazing training tools and well worth the money!

Since we only have a hour on Tuesdays and Thursdays, we will be moving the whole hour. Our schedule will be an active warm up, the main workout and a cool down, I really want to get an entire hour of running/walking in. On Saturdays, we will be having much longer workouts planned. In fact, before your event, we will have a workout as long as your expected finish time in the event.

too be contined ...

BAA Registration Question

Dear Mr. Holt,

Qualifying times are based on your age on race day, not how old you are when you achieve it.

If you will be an 18 year old male on April 19, 2010, then you must achieve a 3:10:59 qualifying time or faster in a certified marathon between September 27, 2008 and approximately January, 2010 (or when we reach our entrant maximum).

Based on the information you provided, you would be qualified for the 2010 Boston Marathon.

Registration for the 114th Boston Marathon on April 19, 2010 is scheduled to begin on September 9, 2009 via our web site. www.baa.org

You may check back at that time to register online or print out an application and mail it to us.

Thank you for your interest in the Boston Marathon.

Sincerely,

Boston Athletic Association
Registration Office
One Ash Street
Hopkinton, MA 01748
508-435-6905

Please reply to registration@baa.org for further questions or comments.

Zachary Holt Ran 2:45:38 at the San Francisco Marathon!

2:45:38! What a great time! Zach just posted one of the best local time in years at the San Francisco marathon. He ran his first marathon at 6:20 per mile pace and according to the race website, these were his splits:

Splits:	7.6 Mi	Half	20 mi	Finish
Times:	46:27	1:21:49	2:00:54	2:45:38
Pace:	6:07	6:15	6:03	6:20

Interestingly Zach is following in my footsteps. I started running in high school my sophomore year in track and so did Zach. We both started getting serious with cross country during our junior years and started during road races soon there after. We both ended up enjoying cross country and road races a lot more then track too.

But with his 2:45 day, he killed my high school best of 2:55 (Lompoc 1981) and my PR of 2:50 that I ran at the San Diego marathon my sophomore year of college. With this great debut, hopefully Zach will get the attention of some NAIA colleges because his time would qualify him for the marathon at their national track & field championships.

I spoke to Zach shortly after his race and he was lamenting his mistakes more then his huge achievement. He said he went out way too hard and wore racing flats that gave his some problems but he did walk through the aid stations which he said saved him. I had counseled going out slower and wearing his trainers but he 6:20 pace for 26.2 miles means he must of done something right.

If anything, I underestimated his potential and really though sub three was realistic but not a sure thing. Because everyone has been so slow here lately, I did not even think 2:45 was possible. I also trained my son to run a marathon earlier this year and he ran 3:16 and everyone thought that was an outstanding time.

For what has been done lately in marathoning locally it was good but hopefully Zach's time will make others realize that faster times can be achieved. What makes Zach's time impressive is that he went out hard and did not fade to badly in the last miles. He did slow down but he didnt die out there.

He told me at mile 15 he actually stopped and sat down for a bit. Someone asked him what BHS stood for and then he was told the lead women was near and he decided to get back in the race. The first women ended up running 2:46:34 for 20th place overall. Officially they have Zach coming in 15th overall as of Sunday night and he won the male 01 to 19 age group. Interestingly, 7th place was 2:41:16 and tenth was only 2 minutes in front of him.

The best time this year, that I could find for a Bakersfield runner was run by David Bacus at the OC Marathon. He was fourth there in a time of 2:52:57, Zach's time would of gotten him second there.

Now Zach is hooked on marathons and will have to decide which one is next. In the meantime, he plans on running cross country for BC and wants to run Boston next spring now that he has a qualifying mark. I plan on holding some fund raisers to send him to this great race. His time at San Fran would place him in the top 300 in the race and in the top 25 Californians in the race. So if you would like to help this young man go to Boston, please contact me.

Building Better Bodies at Yokuts

Building Better Bodies: Boot Camp Fitness Training in Bakersfield, California:

The Bakersfield Distance Project's home park is Yokuts and we share it with many groups. One group that we all noticed on the first day was the bumble bees with Hasay and a really big fit guy leading them on. I knew who the big guy was immediately.

It was ultra-cyclist Joe Peterson who is a 5 time Race Across America winner and transcontinental record holder, Joe Petersen has been an inspiration to many. With his commitment to fitness and athletic excellence, Joe has developed a result-driven challenge with the Building Better Bodies Fitness Boot Camp. Learn more....

His assistant has super long hair like Jordan Hasay btw.