Training for a marathon...training for life

3,000 SRLA Students are coming down the stretch to the marathon

The 3,000 middle and high school students of Students Run LA (SRLA) are nearly ready!  They have been training with their volunteer teacher/leaders since last summer, and only have SRLA’s annual 18-Mile Friendship Run to complete before they have earned their marathon uniforms and entries.

We invite you to mark your calendars for these two big events:

• SRLA’s 18^th annual 18-Mile Friendship Run takes place at Hansen Dam in Lakeview Terrace on Sunday, February 10^th.  This rigorous course is two loops around the park and across the dam…truly testing the physical endurance and mental toughness of our students.  Many have told us that one they completed this race, they were confident that they could run the full 26.2-mile marathon.  Registration is open to the public at http://www.imathlete.com/events/EventOverview.aspx?fEID=14493. 

If you don’t feel like running the full 18-mile course, there is the option to run ten miles instead.

• The LA Marathon ® is Sunday, March 17^th.   Look for our SRLA runners in their bright green singlets beginning at Dodger Stadium, then running through downtown Los Angeles, Hollywood and West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, and West LA, and ending up along San Vicente Boulevard and Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica.  Please celebrate St. Patrick’s Day this year by coming to the marathon and cheering for all of the runners!

These two events will mark the end of our SRLA season, but not the end of the impacts of SRLA.  SRLA is changing lives.  As Kevin, one of last year’s SRLA students told us:

“After joining SRLA I became more open to the idea of new things.  I made new friends and gained a new healthier appearance.

“Before running, I used to see college success as a dream that was only achievable by the elite.  But after crossing the finish line I realized that I can accomplish anything with hard work.

You can change a teenager’s life for $300.  Please contribute to Students Run LA.

Students Run LA...In It For The Long Run...26.2 Miles